Many thanks guys, I am very glad you like this bow.
@ Barrage: Yes, it was a long break - but 2010 was a hard year for my family and me. The move to our new home was not really voluntarily. The part of Hamburg, where we lived is an "In-Quarter" and so the landlord decided, that he can rent our flat for a lot of money more - bur not to us. And so it went to court and … well, no details, how could I say it: My relationship to lawyers got a lasting damage …
@ dragonman: It is my first bow using hornbeam, so my experience is limited. But there are some German bowyers who had build bows from european hornbeam successfully. It is very good under pressure, so it is an excellent Bellywood, but it is not very good for the back. So nearly all bows I know have backings - but the exception proves the rule. And it is very hard to find good and straight staves - I had to use slats, that I cut off billets.
