Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Titan_Bow on October 16, 2007, 06:37:16 pm

Title: Russian Olive
Post by: Titan_Bow on October 16, 2007, 06:37:16 pm: I am fairly new to Colorado, and I notice there is a lot of Russian Olive growing here. My neighbor is a woodworker by trade, and uses it alot in turnings and such, it is really pretty wood. I was wondering if it was possible to make a bow from it? Does anyone know anything about the properties of this wood?

Thanks,
Titan_Bow
Title: Re: Russian Olive
Post by: mullet on October 16, 2007, 07:07:10 pm: I remember seeing it in an old back issue of PA.There was a list of trees and their properties.I think Tim Baker mentioned it in one of the Bowyers Bibles.
Title: Re: Russian Olive
Post by: Justin Snyder on October 16, 2007, 07:10:01 pm: I haven't tried it yet because I heard it was really brittle. Justin
Title: Re: Russian Olive
Post by: Titan_Bow on October 16, 2007, 07:44:25 pm: Ah Yes, I remember that issue, Mullet. I'll have to see if I can dig it up :)
Title: Re: Russian Olive
Post by: Auggie on October 16, 2007, 10:59:37 pm: Lots of R-olive around here,would they make arrows? Maybe similar to willow shoots?
Title: Re: Russian Olive
Post by: Stickhead on October 17, 2007, 10:16:04 am: Is that the same thing as Autumn Olive -- a bushy tree with delicious red berries?
Title: Re: Russian Olive
Post by: Hillbilly on October 17, 2007, 01:14:56 pm: Quote
Is that the same thing as Autumn Olive -- a bushy tree with delicious red berries?

They are closely related, but different species. Russian olive is Elaeagnus angustifolia, and autumn olive is E. umbellata. Russian olive tends to grow bigger, sometimes tree form, while autumn olive is more of a big shrub. Both are extremely invasive exotics, so kill them all and use them for something. :) I've never tried it as bow wood, but I've made arrows and atlatl darts from autumn olive, works pretty well and unfortunately, there's a never-ending supply.
Title: Re: Russian Olive
Post by: Stickhead on October 17, 2007, 04:45:36 pm: Wow. Mighty ejucated for a hillbilly.

I'll been meaning to try Autumn Olive out as bow wood. It grows like crazy around here.
Title: Re: Russian Olive
Post by: Justin Snyder on October 17, 2007, 07:35:05 pm: Quote from: Hillbilly on October 17, 2007, 01:14:56 pm
Quote
Is that the same thing as Autumn Olive -- a bushy tree with delicious red berries?

They are closely related, but different species. Russian olive is Elaeagnus angustifolia, and autumn olive is E. umbellata. Russian olive tends to grow bigger, sometimes tree form, while autumn olive is more of a big shrub. Both are extremely invasive exotics, so kill them all and use them for something. :) I've never tried it as bow wood, but I've made arrows and atlatl darts from autumn olive, works pretty well and unfortunately, there's a never-ending supply.
Around here a lot of the Russian olive are shrub like. The olives are always green or yellow here, they never do get the red tint that is possible. Justin
Title: Re: Russian Olive
Post by: D. Tiller on October 17, 2007, 08:31:25 pm: Hey if its week in tension why not back it with hickory or something else. Cheap supply of bow wood may be right in your back yard!