Will either one of these trees make a good self bow?

[Horn Chaser]

I have been wanting a self bow and was wondering if either tree would be good for making a selfbow? I have never made one but thought about seeing if a local bowyer would make me a selfbow in exchange for the wood here. Thanks for your thoughts and ideas.

 

 

[okie64]

Yeah theres quite a few bows waiting to be unleashed in those trees. I wouldnt mind working out some kinda trade with you but do you not have any interest in building it yourself?

[Pat B]

Both of those trees will make selfbows but without knowing what they are I can't say how good of a selfbow they will make. Showing the bark is only one method of identifying a tree and not a very good one. Branch lips with the buds, the leaves and the overall shape of the tree will help with the ID.

[Hoot-n-Shoot]

Hey you got some nice lookin trees there.  The single trunked tree is going to be your best bet.  The twin tower has been competing for light with each other all their lives so the growth rings are going to be on the tight side. I'd love to help ya out but I'm in frozen Wisconsin.  Cut it down and take it to O-jam March 22nd.  I'll be there and would help you. Good luck.

What is that purple/pink flowering thing in your pics?  All we have up north is ice and snow.

Hoot

[Pat B]

Hoot, I think the purple berries are Indiancurrent Coral Berry(Symphoricarpos)

[Eric Krewson]

Osage trees, way to many imbedded limbs and knots, I would keep looking for better wood.

[okie64]

Some people like clean ,straight lines on their bows and some like em full of character wiggles and knots, just a matter of preference. You could try to find some cleaner osage trees but you might be looking for awhile.

[John Scifres]

I would have to agree with Eric on those.  There's bow wood there but you will work for it.  If it's all you got, then go for it.

[Horn Chaser]

They are both Osage trees. They were some of the straighter ones on our place that didn't look to have twisted bark pattern. I was curious if they had any potential but now I know these don't.
 I think Pat B is correct on the name of the bushes. My buddies around here call them American Beauty Bush and swear that deer love them. We have them all up and down our creek bottom and I have never seen a deer even think about touching them.
I would like to learn how to make a self bow but I don't know of anyone close to me that makes them. If I can I will go up to o-jam and watch and learn. Thanks for the information everyone.

[Pat B]

If the berries are American Beauty Berries their botabical name is Callicarpa americana and not Symphoricarpos

[okie64]

Those trees have plenty of potential but theyre not going to make a glass bow replica in terms of looks. I dont know exactly where colbert is but Im pretty sure k-hat lives right across the red river from ya, you might try shooting him a pm.

[wapiti1997]

I think that (pink berries) coralberry or buckbrush as some call it. Symphicorpus orbiculatus ( likely spelled incorrectly)not a preferred wildlife food, but will get eaten in late winter.

I think the osage will make bows, but by someone more exprerienced than me..  

[Horn Chaser]

Originally posted by okie64:
Those trees have plenty of potential but theyre not going to make a glass bow replica in terms of looks. I dont know exactly where colbert is but Im pretty sure k-hat lives right across the red river from ya, you might try shooting him a pm.

Okie64 I live south of Durant next to the red river. If you don't know Durant I live east of Lake Texoma about 10 miles or so. I wasn't expecting a glass bow look from any selfbow especially if I made it lol. I have seen alot of selfbows on here and love all of them from the smooth perfect one to the ones that have tons of character. I do enjoy everything I have learned about these trees from everyone so far.

[Osagetree]

I see bows in either tree. Might be some waste but, I wouldn't hesitate on either of one of those tree's. In my neck of the woods those are prime specimens!

[Tommy Leach]

Cut them and bring them to OJAM. I'll help you split them out. There may be some character in these but they will make bows.
Tommy