Wood ID For Bow

[Phillip King]

Got another Challenge. I was given these 4" Branches Of what I was told was Walnut  But Im Not Positive, Ive never seen Walnut with a yellow stain under the Bark.
I would Like to make some sinew Backed Bows with this wood, It is pretty Dence and Have long fibers. The Longest Staves are at least 50 Inches long but will have a crown. Up Date- It is white walnut

[Pat B]

That might be white walnut(butternut) but it isn't black walnut because it doesn't have the dark heartwood. As far as bow wood, I don't know. Give it a try and report back.

[Phillip King]

 Will do 

[Phillip King]

THANKS Pat, I remember your wisdom from the early 2000s

[TimBo]

Pat's wisdom should be even better by now!  With such an unknown wood though, I personally would not go to all of the trouble of sinewing it without trying a non-backed bow first to get an idea of its qualities.

[Pat B]

I'd suggest an overbuilt selfbow first to see how the wood performs.

[Aaron1726]

TBB also suggests making a small scale bow first.  Something you can make quickly and easily to see how the wood bends.  If you have several pieces, could try it on a smaller one.

[superdav95]

The bark sorta looks like elm.  If it split’s terribly then it might be elm.  Elm has interwoven grain with each layer of growth.  Is the bark softer to the touch and easy to break off some of its sections? 

[bassman211]

Walnut . Make it wider, and longer.

[Phillip King]

I will try a self Bow With Rawhide, Thank yous

[JW_Halverson]

The bark sorta looks like elm.  If it split’s terribly then it might be elm.  Elm has interwoven grain with each layer of growth.  Is the bark softer to the touch and easy to break off some of its sections?

I agree, that's a pretty "elmy" looking bark. Some elms make great bows!

If you can find a couple twigs showing leaf scars or buds, try running that past your local county extension agent. And if you can find some leaves from the tree, take those along.

[Pat B]

Like Dave said, if it's hard to split it's elm. If it splits easy I still think Butternut.