Osage rawhide backed shortbow question

[BrokenArrow]

I have a 52 inch recurved tips backed osage bow with a thick rawhide backing.
If this breaks is it possible the backing would tear and the bow explode?

[PatM]

The backing is supposed to protect the bow so generally the backing would have to tear first although slivers can break under a backing.

[bradsmith2010]

yes that is possible

[Pat B]

I had a rawhide backed osage blow after 1000 shots; I slightly over drew it...and it blew into a bunch of pieces, rawhide and all.
 Rawhide will help hold a bow together but if a bow is gonna blow a rawhide backing won't necessarily stop it from blowing.

[PatM]

Rawhide is also one of those materials that is going to generally have pretty poor quality control. If you buy it you have no idea how much it was allowed to decay  in order to get the hair to slip.
That can greatly alter the tensile strength.

[bradsmith2010]

if you can get it with the hair on,, maybe more stable if you take it off yourself