Black Locust

[Wulomac]

Is black locust a good wood for making bows?  I have access to some and didn't know if it should go into bows or the fireplace.  Thanks in advance.
Wells

[twotimer]

imho,it's one of the better woods for bow lams,and selfbows.it has the best bendability of any wood in the us,is very strong,extremly hard on tools.some people say its to heavy for bow limbs,'BUT'.two of the 'TOP' name bow makers use it in about 50 percent of their bows and in the lone wolf banshee recurve its the only core john maus will use.go figure.hope this helps.      

[ishiwannabe]

From what I read, it should be fine for both. Look up a post by Horatio1226, he posted the bow wood list.

[Orion]

Makes a good self bow.  Never tried it in laminated bows.

[Osagetree]

Tends to get compression fractures on heavy selfbows. Just what I experienced with the few I have made. I have a 45 pounder that has held up well for five years and here is a pic of one I gave to a friends son. It was a snakey black locust with blacksnake skin on it.
   

[Tilbilly]

Just picked one up(black locust selfbow) from Ontario bowyer Mike Proctor. 50#@28", my draw,
and shockingly only 59 1/2" NTN. It's about 1 3/4" at the fades. Really moves an arrow and mighty purdy. Can't figger why he named it "Ugly Locust"? So I guess it makes a good bow.

If I remember right, Mike's personal bow for 3D is a black locust selfbow that's 57#@26" and only 58" long. Whooda thunkit?

[Wulomac]

Thanks for the feedback!  I'll get to securing a piece or two!  Wells

[Ric Anderson]

It's an excellent wood.  I've made alot of bow with black locust cores and really like the way it shoots.  It seems a little shocky if used exclusively in a longbow but when coupled with other limbwoods, it isn't a problems.