Olive wood bows what weren't

[Mesophilic]

My neighbor had a beautiful olive tree fall over this last winter.   I helped her break down what we could in to firewood over the last couple of days.  The trunk was about 18" in diameter.

The whole time I was telling myself that for the next yesr or two I'm going to regret not turning it in to staves.   Just didn't have the muscle power, man power, or appropriate tools to split this thing.

Someone please tell me it would have made horrible bows...lie to me if you must 

[DC]

It would have made horrible bows

[bjrogg]

The worst    lol
Bjrogg

[Mesophilic]

Thanks, guys, feel better now 

[dylanholderman]

Hey if she’s still got some left snag some for knife/tool handles olive wood is sold at a premium in the wood stores around me.

[Hawkdancer]

Probably wood or not!  But grab some Knife scales, hatchet handles, etc!  Sure will miss that bow build along. Olive is a fruit/nut wood! . Oh well,  I am too inexperienced to say for sure, but I'll acquiesce to BJ & DC! 
Hawkdancer

[Mesophilic]

You guys read my mind.  I sealed the ends on a couple of logs that hadn't started checking yet.  Most logs started to crack and check badly very quickly in my low humidity air.

[bjrogg]

Honestly I have know idea. Just trying to make you feel better.
Bjrogg

[PaulN/KS]

low humidity air.

Please Sir to explain, what is this "low humidity air" that you speak of..? 
 

[Marc St Louis]

You missed an opportunity

[DC]

I was reading something that said olive wasn't good for bows but that was in Europe. Did this tree have olives or is this a different kind of tree that is just called Olive locally?

[Hawkdancer]

Paul,
It is a condition that occurs far to the west of Camelot, er, Kansas!  . Technically speaking, it is the opposite of the air in Kansas, as it is lighter and less dense, so it rises above the humidity! And therefore is dryer!!  In fact, it is so dry, the jackrabbits and rattlesnakes carry canteens, and the coyotes are always trying to steal their water!  We can diss cuss this further at MoJam with appropriate beverages!
Hawkdancer

[Mesophilic]

I was reading something that said olive wasn't good for bows but that was in Europe. Did this tree have olives or is this a different kind of tree that is just called Olive locally?

The older lady who lives there called it a Spanish olive tree.  I just have to take her word for it.  Not sure if it fruited.  She has alot of trees,  most are fruit bearing.   Seems like she's knowledgeable.

ETA: the trunk of this tree looks nothing like the Spanish olive trees I googled.  Wasn't gnarled at all.  Guessing it's possible it's a different tree entirely but locally called a Spanish olive.  Locally the elms that grow all over the place are called Chinese elm, but the characteristics seem more to ressmble rock elm to me.

[Mesophilic]

low humidity air.

Please Sir to explain, what is this "low humidity air" that you speak of..? 
 

Does 90°F at 8% humidity explain it?  Elevation of 7500 feet does something to the vapor pressure as well, but that's the kind of phisics/meteorology talk that's above my pay grade.  I just know that wood and sinew dry really stinking fast and my swamp cooler works really well.