What to do with this stave

[razorback]

Picked this tave up at ETAR for $10. Was told it is hickory and have no reason to believe otherwise. Was also told that it was treated well since being cut, lets hope so.

The stave is about 75" and the funky knot is at about 65". It is a shade under 4" wide in the middle and about 3" deep.

How wide does a hickory bow need to be and cun I split this down the middle and get 2 staves. Was also thinking of cutting the belly off and backing them with bamboo or another piece of hickory. Could I get 4 bows out of this stave. $2.50 a bow would be sweet.

 

 

 

What would be the best way to deal with this knot.
 

[Bowjunkie]

I would lay a bow out beside the knot. In fact, I'd lay the bow out as tight as I could to that side and see if I then had enough to get another good bow with what remained. You could make the second bow a little shorter if you didn't want to try to include that knot.

I've cut hickory trees that had a bunch of those things. I made bows with them, including them in the limbs... some where ok... and some didn't hold up.

How wide a hickory bow needs to be depends on the draw weight, bow length, etc. For a bow below 60 pounds or so, I generally make them from 1 5/8" to 1 3/4" wide at the flares tapering in a convex arc to the tips.

[George Tsoukalas]

Weight you want? Draw length? Jawge

[beetlebailey1977]

Weight and draw will affect what you do.  Also I would not split it again if you decide to try for two staves I would saw it with a band saw down the middle.  Just have to be careful not to destroy what you have.

[KellyG]

You could always ship it off to me.  

[razorback]

Now now Kelly don't get greedy    
I am planning on something in the 50-55# range drawing 29". I like Bowjunkies idea of laying out a bow as close to the edge, away from that knot, as possible. I'll see what I have left and see if I can get a second bow out of it. I suppose I'll see what I have left and see if I can cut a slat off the belly to make a backed bow. i think I ca get two bows of 1 3/4" wide bows out of this stave. I'll just make sure I get one good one.