Old Selfbow

[b.glass]

My cousin was telling me that his grandpa had made about 19 selbows when he was a young man. He has one in his shed and it's been there for several years. He thought about getting a string for it and shooting it but I advised him not to. Too many years in a shed would not be good for a selfbow that you would want to keep, would it?

[Shaun]

If its osage it should be fine. Iowa farmers say an osage fence post will wear out two post holes.

[Osagetree]

IMHO, I would start bending slowly, sort of like when is was first tillered. Put on a long string and exersise the bow a little at a time until you to draw length.
A moistier meeter would be good,,, moister level should be around 8% for a selfbow.

[George D. Stout]

Take it into an area that has some humidity so it can drink for about a week.  Then, as Osagetree said, start bending it slowly.  It could be hickory, lemonwood, ash, yew, osage, or other type bow.  If it seems like it is still dry and has little finish, rub some oil into it.

[Dano]

In Indiana I can't imagine osage getting too dry, too wet maybe. But it won't hurt exersizing the bow slowly to help her remember she's a bow.    if my grandpa made that bow I'd be shootin it, that's what he'd want.

[Dave Bulla]

Hopefully it hasn't been leaning in a corner all this time or it won't likely be good for much of anything no matter how you treat it.  If it was stored flat on some pegs or up on some rafters, you may be in luck.

Also, since it has been in the shed for several years, and since most sheds aren't heated or cooled, it may have some cracks.  Might also have some bug/beetle damage.  He would need to check it over pretty well.

Good luck!

[b.glass]

Thanks everybody. He's suppose to bring it by for me to see.

[Jim now in Kentucky]

I found a hickory bow minus any vestige of finish in a shed where it had been in every kind of weather for probably 20 years.

It had stood on end and the lower limbe was about half flexed permanently. I steamed it and made it nearly straight, like the top limb.

First time I strung it and pulled a little, the finger glue joint at the middle came loose and the handle popped off.

I sanded the whole thing lightly and reglued the finger joint and handle, then refinished the bow.

Strung it up and pulled it a little at a time to see how it bent. Looked good and have been shooting it periodically for 5 or 6 years.

Bows are meant to be shot. If an heirloom breaks, glued it back together and THEN hang it on the wall.

jm $.02

[eidsvolling]

My dad passed on two bows for me, made back in the early '40s for him.  One was an Oregon yew; the best educated guess on the other is mulberry.  The yew did not survive being strung.  The mulberry has something over 6000 arrows across it since last August.  

"Bows are meant to be shot."

[b.glass]

"Bows are meant to be shot"
I like that philosophy.

Thanks!