Elm Recurve

[Marc St Louis]

I tried making one of these with Buckthorn a few months ago and it failed in a spectacular way



I liked the looks of the bow, before it exploded on me, and decided I wanted to make one out of something that wouldn't explode, like Elm.  The Elm I used is not top quality but it is decent, it's wood I cut a couple years ago.  I bent the curves with steam, setting them in place with dry-heat after, and reflexed and heat-treated the belly into about 6" of reflex.  The bow is 65" long with limbs 1 5/8" wide tapering to 3/8" wide nocks.  I tillered the bow to 28" where it pulls 55#.  Here's a few pics







I shot it a few times and it shoots quite well.  Performance is not spectacular but decent.  My shooting range is in the shop as there's too much snow outside so I only have a 30" range

[osage outlaw]

Nice looking recurve Marc.  Your buckthorn bow looks almost grey in that picture.  Was it dead before it was cut?  I've got a couple of pieces of BT and it has a much brighter color than what you posted.

[bjrogg]

That sure is a beautiful bend Marc. To bad about the buckthorn.
Bjrogg

[Marc St Louis]

No the Buckthorn was live but seasoned with the bark on

[lebhuntfish]

I really like the shape! And the tiller is sweet!

Patrick

[upstatenybowyer]

You are the king of the bend Marc. The undisputed king.   

[Pat B]

Nice elm recurve, Marc.   

[---GUTSHOT--->]

That's a pretty bend and nice looking bow.

[joachimM]

everytime I see you posted a new bow I can't wait to see it, and you never disappoint me.
That's a sweet bow!

[Pappy]

Very nice bow Marc, I am working on am Elm  now, hope it turns out half as nice.
 Pappy

[Marc St Louis]

Thanks guys.  Been awhile since I made a plain simple recurve like this.  I actually started this bow several months ago but shelved it for awhile because other things came up. 

[simson]

I like the simplicity and elegance in that bow - she is a beauty!

On the buckthorn I had the same idea like Clint.
Here in Germany that wood is rare, I found some but had lot of failures because of the low quality wood. I had similar tension breaks.

[leonwood]

Lovely bow, simple and elegant taken to perfection, just the way I like them!

[mullet]

Something to be said about a nice, plain recurve. Very nic, Marc. Looks like you're slacking on your target shooting.

[Marc St Louis]

All the Buckthorn I have cut, all were live trees, developed that discoloration on the back even with the bark partially removed.

I haven't shot a bow in several months Eddie