Questions on hickory-backed-osage bows

[Eric Garza]

First, my thought with respect to design is to keep it simple: 60 inches tip-to-tip, and one inch wide from mid-limb through the handle to the midpoint of the other limb, then tapering down to half inch nocks. Will this work well for a hickory-backed-osage bow, assuming I do not botch the tillering? I will probably glue in about 2 inches of reflex, with the hope of ending up with a nearly flat side-view profile once the bow is shot in.

Also, how perfect does the belly core have to be as far as straight grain and knots? I have made a couple bamboo- and hickory-backed ipe bows, and was very picky about the belly cores, at great expense. Perhaps more picky than I needed to be.

[Selfbowman]

Well I don’t think that’s a good design. Just saying. I wish you luck though. May work on a 25-30 pound draw bow.

[Pat B]

What draw length and draw weight are you shooting for, Eric?  Will this be from a board or split stave? I think it is possible for a hunting weight bow.  You can get by with some flaws in the belly but the cleaner the better.

[Eric Garza]

Sorry for that oversight Pat. I am trying for a 45-50 pound draw at 22 or 23 inches. I plan on buying an osage board for the belly core.

[Pat B]

I think it is very doable. You'll probably have a rounded belly and I think you can reach 25" to 26" draw if you want.

[Eric Garza]

Thanks Pat. Do you have any thoughts on the design? Would I be better off, for example, with a pyramid front-view profile?

[Pat B]

A pyramid style bow is a great all around design and would work fine here but your design should work fine too. The only thing I would change is go 1 1/4" to 1 3/8" at the widest but that's just me. Osage can handle 1" width just fine. If your hickory backing is 1/8" I think you could go a little thinner but not too much.

[superdav95]

Eric.  Are you looking for some quarter sawn Osage for
The belly?   Or are you gonna try some belly off cuts from staves?   I was considering this myself as I have plenty of hickory lol.  I’d be interested is this project of yours too when you start.  I think narrow design would also be a great option.  I don’t have any experience with quarter sawn Osage for belly wood to give any advise but can’t see why I would not go for it and see.  I could see the combination working well.   I may be inclined to raw hide as well though for hunting bow.  Best of luck.  Keep us posted. 

[bassman211]

I have an Osage hickory backed bow. My son bought the glue up you finish bow from Rudders I believe. The Osage when filed with a rough rasp would blow out on the edges. Never saw Osage do that. By using rough cut sand paper I managed a nice shooting 40 lb bow from it though. Their are many grades of Osage out their. Some good, and some not so good. I would rather make a bow from a good piece of white oak, or elm etc. than from a bad piece of Osage. Hope you find what you want.