50" stave, what are my options?

[Tradslinger]

I have a couple of 50" Osage staves, I wonder what my options for bows. That seems too short for a tixed handle bow ( draw length of 26" and 40#). but I am ignorant of a bendy handle bow. obviously the bendy handle has to be thinner in thickness in order to bend but how much? should it be like a flat bow in limb design? thanks

[RyanY]

Depends on width also. If you make a more complex design like a reflex/deflex or recurve you could squeeze out a few more inches of draw without stacking. Just need that width to make the draw weight with thinner limbs.

[sleek]

How wide are they?

[Tradslinger]

I should be able to get 2" for width, maybe a little bit more.

[sleek]

Then you can go 26.

[Allyn T]

Splice em into a 90 inch bow

[dylanholderman]

bendy handle bows are typically very simple stick bows, widest at the handle tapering towards the tips.
you could also splice stiff tips into the ends for more length.

[RyanY]

bendy handle bows are typically very simple stick bows, widest at the handle tapering towards the tips.
you could also splice stiff tips into the ends for more length.

Many bendy handle bows have waisted handles with wide limbs. West coast tribes in the US made bows like this.

[bradsmith2010]

just draw the bow 25 inches,, if you think you cant, then make it heavier, so 25 is all you can pull,, it will shoot fine,, the heavier weight will compress your arm a bit, and you will be ok with one inch shorter,, no problem,, if you think you cant ,, practice for a week and you will see you can shoot 25 inches no problem,,sinew back and recurve the tips a bit and it will draw longer,, you have lots of options,, as suggested above,,

[sleek]

Splice em into a 90 inch bow

This is a better idea

[Dances with squirrels]

Yep, that's what I do. Splice them into something I'll actually use. The cutoffs can be used for all sorts of other things.

[Mo_coon-catcher]

Make it wide and flip the tips a little and you’ll be surprised how far you can pull it. Think of the paddle bow. 1 3/8” dide handle that just flexes, 2” wide limbs. The limbs will get very thin and be difficult to tiller. Finger pinch becomes the major issue going short. Or flip tips and sinew back and you can go with a narrower designs. Without the waisted handle. Like 1 1/4 - 1 3/8” wide. 

Kyle

[Pat B]

I've made a couple of 47" to 50" sinew backed osage bows with reflexed tips that bent to the bulbous handle that I pulled to 26" or maybe a little more. I could feel the handle give just barely as I hit full draw that's why I said bent to the handle and not through the handle. They pulled 56#@26".

[bradsmith2010]

thanks Pat for posting that,, I think not too many make the short bows, so not as much info about them,,they are under rated,,
they shoot great and hard,, oh yes accuracy,, I will agree it takes a bit more skill and practice to master, but sometimes I think if I had started as a young person shooting them, that might not be the case,,make what you like,, but a bow that will draw 25 or 26  inches is very nice to shoot,, even through the chrono,,,they will surprise you,,

[bjrogg]

It certainly is long enough for a bend through handle bow. And sinew backed is a good fit. Or glue them together and make one longer one.

Decisions decisions

Bjrogg