After breaking my crooked osage bow, I began making a takedown. Before I could finish I received a call from a man from church who wanted me to build a bow for his son-in-law out of bodark. He was very specific, not osage... bodark. Maybe he was thinking bois d'arc, but I don't think so. I got a chuckle out of that. Anyway, I was so gung ho I got to tillering too fast and hinged the upper limb, you can see it here on the right:
![](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5262/5576163750_7311a2ac40_z.jpg)
I contemplated starting over, but then remembered the sister billet I had worked to a growth ring for my crooked bow takedown. I began to think that maybe I could recover from the earlier blunder. The billet was pressed into service and Z-splices were cut in it and the original lower limb which hopefully had enough wood left for 50lbs of draw weight. The splice came out pretty well:
![](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5252/5576163824_dd2a5bfce3_z.jpg)
![](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5103/5575576619_b81c6b8309_z.jpg)
I tillered as carefully as I could, but could not get 50lbs. After cutting a couple inches off the bow it came out to 47lbs@28" and 64" long. Not sure if that tiller is good enough to take a couple more inches off the length.
![](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5308/5575576633_7842250058_z.jpg)
![](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5106/5575576651_0a132d12e9_z.jpg)
I was trying to time that last picture and get full draw, but I wasn't quick enough. I'm going to try and get him to shoot it before I do anything, he may like it that weight. I still need to clean up the handle and add some tip overlays. Thinking about mule deer antler again.
I wish it were better, but I'm glad it's a bow. I'm still wondering if it could handle being shorter to get a couple more pounds, what do you think? There is no backing on it.
Thanks,
George