Osage stave with check in the end.

[ionicmuffin]

Ok, so a friend of mine is making a bow. I am guiding him though the process, I know that he wont be guaranteed a bow but it is osage and its 55". There is a check that is on the end of the stave that runs 8, maybe 10 inches into the stave, If he keeps the check in the nock then i would imagine it shouldn't be a problem. He will be using his handmade knife for almost all of the work except for some of the tillering and all the finish work. I was wondering if checks that run out the tip is of great concern, If not that would be great because this stave looks like it has promise.

[huisme]

In my experience it isn't a problem as long as it goes all the way through the knock and out the tip.  If the crack runs through the cutout of a knock it's a recipe for disaster. Binding with sinew should help things.

[Pat B]

It doesn't sound like a good stave for a first time builder. Not only the 8" check but the 55" over all length. A good starter stave should be 68" or so.

[ionicmuffin]

So maybe I should have him work on a piece of oak instead and he can take his time with the osage? working it down to one ring slowly and carefully getting profile laid out and such?