Plum warbow 150# 32” (self nocked)

[druid]

One more of my plum experiments. Plum stave that was given to me by my brother Pathfinder. Stave had just enough space to make 72” warbow. Had some knots, dips and holes but he did good. 6-7 growth rings in this bow, it was fast growing tree. 1.006 grams of physical weight, had 1” of deflex and got 1 1/4 set.  I was curious how it will handle higher draw weights, Tim Baker long time ago was talking about plum’s wood great abilities. Hard to dry, hard to work but it is eyepleasant. 😌 Maybe I will retiller it and heat treat it, tiller should be better but this was my first higher draw weight project. 
Video of measuring weight: https://youtu.be/z0cVgkKXC4c
Video of tiller: https://youtu.be/fshriy_5-m8

[druid]

More pics:

[simk]

sick stick, more of a ballista 😀 💪💪💪 man, I'd have to stack 3 or 4 bows of mine to challenge that 🤔 looking forward for your next projects.

[Hamish]

I'm really liking these plum sticks. Do you have someone that is strong enough to shoot these bows?

[medicinewheel]

Super cool!

[Badger]

 I have always felt that plum might be the best wood for an English Longbow. Really curious as to what this bow can do.

[ssrhythm]

That is insane...and beautiful.  What type of plum tree and what region of the world are they coming from.  I grew up in the SE.  I remember seeing one plum tree that had tasty plums on it in Mississippi as a tot, and I’ve seen the plum trees that we used to plant for quail cover...no way the latter could be used for a bow.  Anyhoo...awesome!

[ssrhythm]

Oooh.  That is the scale I’m looking for.  What kind and where did you get that scale?!  Thanks, E

[bownarra]

That is quite a bow Druid....
Do you mean the weak right outer limb? Bit stiff inner right?

[druid]

Thank you guys. 😌 I am glad you like it.
Bownarra, yes, right limb will be reworked, seems tiller change after too much final sanding.
Ssrhytm, scale is available everywhere on internet.
Hamish, I can pull up to 120-130 but this is too much for me. But we will find someone able. 😌
Badger, after testing some second and third class plum staves (this one is second class, not premium wood) I agree with you that it can stand side by side or probably and better than that with any other premium bow wood for english warbows. Easily plum can achieve 200#, probably and much more, in MR dimensions, with low set and good mass. This was domestic plum, from some plantage, because that it is massive  and with wide growth rings. Wild ones, prunus cerasifera, is much stronger than this. If my retillering went succesfull- I could donate  this (or any other plum bow or warbow of mine) for testing.

[Del the cat]

Great work as usual. I'll watch the vids later with a cup of tea
Del

[Flyonline]

Very nice! Getting some of that wild plum suddenly got pushed up the list 

eyepleasant

- that's going in the vocabulary now, so descriptive!

[MM2]

It's a superb bow! Congratulation!

But... 150 pounds? Are you an acrobat, a strongman, too? 

[bambule]

Great bow!!!
I never had the chance to build a bow out of wild plum even I had some staves in the past.
But they crack so badly and twist till drying that the wood ended in the firepit.
I know that there are methods to keep them away from cracking and twisting and if I will have the chance to get another stave I will try it out again.

Greets
Cord