Selfbow....Safe to String?

[sgrogg]

I have an all osage selfbow that was made 6-8 years ago.  It has been hanging on the wall for the past 5 years without having been strung.  Is it safe for me to string 'er up and shoot it?  I think it was sealed with wax when it was built.

Thanks   -Steve

[robtattoo]

I'd give the limbs a really good rub, until they're nice & warm before stringing it to a very low brace. 2" max. Then excersise the limbs 100 or so times by just drawing it to around 6" If there's no drama there, try a 6" brace & exersise gradually to 20" max. Brace at it's normal height & excersise again until you're at full draw (again, 100 pulls or so)

You'll need to re-train the wood into being a bow, not just a stick, almost like tillering. I went through all this with a 80 year old English Longbow & it shoots fine! Dread to think what'd have happenned if I'd just tried to brace & shoot it!

[sgrogg]

OK, thanks for the advice.

I got it strung.  I guess I'll leave it strung for an hour or so and then continue working it tomorrow.  Hopefully by then I will have mustered the courage to start drawing it!  I had a selfbow blow up on me once....not fun!  More to follow.

 

[robtattoo]

Cool! Just so long as you warm the limbs up before working it, it should be fine. Nice looking bow too!  :D

[1/2primitive]

The tiller looks good, I don't think you should have any problems.
    Sean

[Dave2old]

Depends on what you mean by "safe." I've had about a dozen osage bows blow up in my hands, either when stringing or shooting, and none caused any injury or pain. So in the safety realm I'd say it's safe, esp. if you have your wife do it! So far as whether or not it will destroy the bow ... what good is a bow you can't string and shoot? Live dangerous, and have some fun. dave

[sgrogg]

Strung it up and shot it today.  It's 67# @ 28" and liked a 65-70 spined arrow.  The arrow only weighs 550 grains.  Is it OK to shoot a selfbow with an arrow that's only 8g/lb?

[1/2primitive]

I know this is bringing up an old topic, but yes, it's perfectly fine to shoot those arrows. In fact, I have been told by an 'outside resorce' that he prefers to shoot 8 gr/lb. It shouldn't do the bow any harm.
    Sean