California bow wood

[Accipiter]

The top tree (probably the bark, and for sure the leaves) is big-leaf maple. Not awesome bow wood from what I've heard, but it does grow nice and straight! The middle tree with the smaller, lance-shaped leaves is California bay (myrtlewood, etc). Try crushing one of the leaves and smelling, you won't mistake it again! the last tree with the peeling bark is madrone. Its a pretty cool tree, looks very tropical even though it grows well into Canada. The wood on that is very pretty, but a bit brittle from what I hear.

[Blacktail]

the tree with the red thin bark peeling off IS pacific madrone and it is VERY sensitive to checking and twisting...I am not say you cant make a bow from it BUT you should prepair your self for it..and the wood is really hard..john

[bubby]

The bottom tree is madrone also a bow wood if you can find a pc that's not twisted

[TolkienFan]

Thanks guys. Will def have to try at least some type of woodworking project out of Madrone. Too cool to not work.

How is the coastal Live oak for bows? I saw tons that looked straight enough and about the right size for a bow.

[bubby]

As long as it's not diseased or has curly grain, I've cut some of that😣oak makes good bow wood