bamboo backed osage bow?

[tex-archer]

I have seen some pictures of these bows and I think they look awesome. I would like some feedback on them though. Are they more fragile than a fiberglass longbow? How do they shoot? Can you get one at 62"? If I bought an unfinished one, how hard would it be to put some reflex in it?

[Stiks-n-Strings]

If you looking to build one you need to post this in the bowyers bench.

If you buy one already glued up (a blank) it's only gonna have the amount of reflex that was glued into it and you will lose some of that during tillering and shoot in.

You might check out Dean Torges's DVD building the bamboo backed osage.

Stiks

[Rick_H]

Dryad sells both blanks and finished bows like this.

[John Scifres]

I have made a few of these.  Overall, they perform as well as the glass longbows I have shot and they feel lighter in the hand and seem quieter.  

They are not fragile in the least.  I have one that is 10 years old and been shots thousands of times.  Any well designed and well-built BBO should do the same.  

I second the Torges' video recommendation if you are building from scratch.

[Tom Leemans]

BTW they shoot great. At least as great as the archer pulling the string anyway.

[JEJ]

David, Mike at Dryad has both blanks and finished bows, and he is an expert on your question. Plus he is about 30 minutes from you over in Weatherford. Just don't keep him tied up too long, as he has promised us a story about his recent Alaska moose hunt!    

[wv lungbuster]

Primal Need Archery has some high reflex/deflex design blanks.

[Bjorn]

The Dryad blank and video is a must especially as an early stage project. It has the highest chance of success out of the box, and you can email or call Mike if you have a question.

[JustinNC]

yeah, check out David Knight at Primal Needs Archery or James Parker Huntworthy Productions

[Davt]

Think of it this way, all these materials have a certain amount of durability, compression and extention strength. Fiberglass is about the strongest in compression, extention and duribilty from abuse. That way it can be made into more radical forms that retain energy. (Horn being one exception). Bamboo back and osage belly provides an excellent combination of woods and proper orientation to maximized each woods/grass attributes the best. With proper building, a bamboo backed osage bow will shoot wonderful and for years.