Mulberry bow blank from hedge hunter

[Selfbowman]

I was gifted this bow blank and I want to do it justice. It’s a 1-1/2 wide at fades . I will go parallel for 9” then 1-1/4 at 18” from fades the 3/8 at tips. The bowyers bible says 1-5/8 at fades. This is an exceptional growth ring ratio. It has reflex through out the bows length. With a bit of flipped tips. Getting it good and straight now.

[Selfbowman]

More straighten.

[Pat B]

Mulberry is an excellent bow wood. It lends itself well to heat treating. The rule of thumb I always hears is to make a bow 10% bigger (width and length)than osage.

[Selfbowman]

Pat that makes sense. The density is about ten percent less. Well I want to make this bow about 38@29” . Being lighter than fifty it might be just right.  The bow will be 66” ntn.

[Selfbowman]

Floor tillered. To lazy to make another caul so I’ll just improvise.

[Selfbowman]

Tip overlays on . Osage to match the Osage handle add on.

[Pappy]

Looking good Arvin, they make a snappy little bow, That was a fine piece, seen it in person and should make a fine bow, as Pat said a little wider and will wind up a little thicker for the same weight as Osage but will be much lighter in the hand. Looking forward to seeing it finished. Now that I am back from CO. I still plan on making a flight arrows from your design and try out the one I showed you when you was visiting. 
 Pappy

[Selfbowman]

Tip overlays finished and all straight. Now make a string and brace for final tiller.

[JW_Halverson]

I had a couple mulberry staves from a tree cut in the very southeast corner of SD. Though riddled with pin knot clusters, I never had one fail. One was made into an English-ish longbow and all the pin knots were in pairs....they looked like little boobies. That was over 14 years ago and it is still shooting, according to the kid I gave it to.

[Selfbowman]

Cool no pin knots in this one.

[Selfbowman]

After floor tiller and long string pulled to brace bend.

[superdav95]

Good stuff Arvin.  Can’t wait to see this finished up!

[Will B]

Nice bow Arvin. Thanks for walking us through your build.

[Selfbowman]

I got it tillered to 40@28. Shoots great but took1-1/2 inch set throughout both limbs. Wished the blank would have been 2” wide at fades.

[Selfbowman]

Anybody fire hardened mulberry?