Thanks everyone. Happy holidays.
Don! This bow is the result of my OS frustration. I picked up a hollow limb OS longbow that I had been working back in March. All that was left was to heat the 1" wide handle and align the limbs slightly. I hung at least 100# midway up one limb and had the handle ready to spontaneously combust but it would not move!
I moved on to the oak but then I thought later about thinning the handle more and going for it again.
I will. I'm working on a serviceberry bow right now.
Wizardgoat. Do it. Of the wood available to me I think I like oak the best, in terms of workability, looks, unbreakability, temperability, etc. I think it has real potential but you have to keep it dry like hickory.