Sapling size

[EastTexasRedneck]

There are a lot of holly and hickory saplings on my place. Could a bow be made from a 3 to 3-1/2" or smaller sapling? Please forgive my ignorance, I am trying to learn.

[Pat B]

Probably 2" and up for the hickory. I've never made a bow with holly.

[John Scifres]

You could probably split a 3-1/2" tree and make 2 bows.  Under that and you probably only have one.  I agree with Pat's 2" minimum especially if you haven't made a few bows.  I've done several in the 2" range.  A few out of hickory and they turned out well.  Good luck.

[EastTexasRedneck]

Thanks guys.I haven't made a bow yet but I want to try. Reading all the stories on here is inspiring. I still have a lot of reading to do, have ordered some books on bow building to study before I try. The reason I asked about the size is I saw a thread on here about a holly bow from a sapling  and there are tons of holly around here.

[Pat B]

If Texas holly is like NC holly there are way too many branches for my likeing.

[PEARL DRUMS]

The backs will be quite rounded and that is actually a good thing for your hickory saplings. Hickory likes to bend much more than compress. The round back will equal the load out some. It should make a very fine bow.......if you do! Good luck on your build. Hickory is thee perfect first timer wood.

[PEARL DRUMS]

One more long winded story about hickory. If you have ever read Paul Comstocks pamphlet on bow building you would have seen his hand drawn sketch of a whip tillered bow. Its horribly whip tillerd and flat at the fades ugly-nasty! I was at a shoot this last summer and watched a guy shoot a hickory bow that looked just like it, no crap!!  That thing was scarey, scarey bad! He claims it was his first and only and he has shot it many, many times! I couldnt say much, so I said "cool" and walked away. Moral of the story: Hickory doesnt break easy. Excellent choice for a first.

[George Tsoukalas]

2-2.5 in should be fine. Leave it a few inches longer to counteract the crown. Jawge

[EastTexasRedneck]

Thanks, every bit of info is helpful