Bow woods from Africa

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Anybody know what good bow woods grow in Africa? My Dad is going in a few months and asked me if I wanted him to bring me back some wood to build a bow.

[Robertfishes]

bubinga, zebrawood, shedua, Limba, Etimoe, Gaboon ebony,wenge, sapele, paduak, makore...you may have to find the African names

[fujimo]

where in africa.
i am originally from S.A.
white stinkwood- good staves, guava( not indigenous)there is mango, litchi, avocado- all imported and should be good?
awesome red ivory, wild olive, tambotie- all indigenous woods- with beautiful colour and grain patterns- great for risers or lams.
all the acacias are as tough as nails- i would try acacia tortillus, or acacia karoo- acacia nialotica(sp?)
another one that should be good, and is one of my favourite african trees, because of all its uses and the historical and cultural attachments to it. the buffalo thorn-(ziziphus mucronata)
Quote"Wood from this tree is used for timber, wagon making and fence posts as it yields a yellow, fine-grained, heavy wood which contains 12.2-15.7% tanning matter (Watt & Brandwijk 1962). The elasticity of the shoots makes it suitable for bows and whip sticks. Some African tribes use the thorny branches to make kraals or hedges. This protects their livestock from lions and other predators."
he would have to cut these himself- i dought any of these are available commercially.
i will think a little more.

[wood carver 2]

Looks like you're going to need a big box Stiks!  :D  
Dave.

[strungstick]

Dimensional lumber you may not have an issue with but I bet you'll find that bringing in anything with bark on it or that is not kiln dried is more of a headache then what it is worth.  I'm not familiar with many of the import rules but I know they get pretty involved when you bring in anything plant related that can harbor bugs.  I've tinkered around with making a few briar pipes and I hear those folks on their forums talk about import issues with European Briar with bark on it.

[burnt]

Let me go kris I'll pick out a real nice stave for him.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I bet you would Brent pick a good one Brent. I'll have to check into some of the import stuff. Thanks for the info Fujimo. From the sounds of it I think I would like to get a good piece of that Buffalo Thorn.

[gringol]

I'd imagine you will have trouble with customs coming back to the states.  Especially with any African stamps on your passport.  Of course, if you've ever been a guest at one of Uncle Sam's all-inclusive resorts, you may have the experience to be able to keester a couple billets back into the country.  

[Goose Gossett]

 
 

Here's an example of a Masai tribe bow.  Got this from Tanzania. Not sure what it is made out of but they draw it 18-20" @ about 30 pounds and with around 2" brace height.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Pops is going to Zimbabwe to the southern low veld. He told me could have a stick or two shipped back with his taxidermy. We'll see if it works out.

[fujimo]

its summer there now, you could get the bark off, and seal it all up. i would certianally look at the buffalo thorn and the white stinkwood.
bring them back as billets- might make it easier- and they will find buffalo thorn in the low veldt.
my contacts are all a little further south.
i wouyld say get the bark off and get the taxidermist to fumigate it, and to supply a fumigation certificate.
i brought a bunch of different horns back with me last time for bow building projects- i got a fumigation certificate- and just brought all the horns through in my hold baggage.
keep us posted.