Black Lightning - Osage Bow

[SDBurntStick]

I finally had the opportunity a few months ago to cut some osage.  One tree that I cut was standing dead and seemed dry enough to work so I went ahead and made a bow from it.  The sapwood was tough to get off and as hard as the heartwood but surprisingly the wood was in decent shape.  I figured I would name it black lightning due to the crack in the handle area.  It's 65" ntn, 51lbs at 27".  Deer antler tip overlays with a leather handle.  The upper limb hooks a little to the left and the bottom to the right and the string favors the left.  Shoots really smooth and probably the quietest bow I've made.  Thanks for looking. 

[SDBurntStick]

I see that one of my pictures is a little distorted.  I'll try to get some better ones on here.

[bjrogg]

Nicely done. Good deal having Osage you can cut. That will be handy
Bjrogg

[Kidder]

Nice job - I like the unique features of this bow.

[BowEd]

Dead standing hedge has a great reputation for making a fine bow.Nice work on this one.

[M2A]

Good looking bow! Nice character.
Mike

[SDBurntStick]

Thanks everyone.  I still need to work on getting my pictures to come out a little clearer on here.  The pictures don't do it justice.  Really happy with this one.  It has only made me more impatient in wanting the rest of the osage I have to dry a little quicker lol.  That's ok.  This one will keep me busy a while and probably end up being my hunting bow this fall.

[superdav95]

Nice side profile and good lookin tiller.  The tips are stiff or did you induce a flip into them.  Looks good either way.  Well done. 

[Stixnstones]

Very cool, love some dead stanfing osage

[WhistlingBadger]

So, the inner limbs look really stiff to me; it looks like most of your bend is in the midlimb.  Could you tell me about that?  I'm not critiquing, just learning to tiller and trying to understand what I'm seeing here.

[SDBurntStick]

I flipped the tips just a bit superdave.  Hopefully this side profile picture shows up ok. 

WhislingBadger, I am still learning at this as well.  I like a longer fade so maybe that makes it look stiffer that it is.  The inners do move and seems if they move too much I end up with set.  I was pretty happy with the way the bottom limb was bending but a few knots in the upper limbs makes it look stiff on the outer third to me.  I'm open to any opinions and critique. 

[WhistlingBadger]

Thanks for the explanation.  Most of my bows so far have bent too much out of the fades, so it's something I'm trying to figure out.

[Selfbowman]

Just a tiller opinion. Looks like the top limb needs more off mid limb to tips. Might be an optical thing. But yes lols great.