Lets see pics of osage

[flyflinger]

I am in the process of deciding what laminations to get on a new bow. I really like osage but am concerned about it standing out while hunting. I would appreciate pics of your osage backed bows, especially older bows that have aged some.
I have also considered backing the bow with snake skins to aid in concealment in the field.
I appreciate any feedback!

[Gdpolk]

Copperheads over osage can make one of the prettiest limbs combos availible.  If your worried about the brightness of it there are processes that can be used to speed up the darkening of osage.  In all honesty though, my limbs are bamboo backed which are actually brighter than osage and I've not had problems getting within range of and drawing the bow on deer, pigs, squirrels, rabbits, dove, crow, or a few pest animals over the years.

If you want something a little darker that works well with osage, pick any of the reddish woods and you could do an osage riser with accent stripe or flair and limbs to match the accent.  Cocobolo, ebony, ironwood, bubinga, cedar, tulipwood, etc all look really nice with osage and could darken the limbs a touch if that is a concern for you.  You could even do the accent wood on the back of the bow facing the animals while leaving osage on the belly for you to see so you could have a darker bow to blend in while still being able to see your choice wood.

I have some really old osage that has darkened so much that it looks like dark black walnut where it was exposed to light/air in my knife shop.  When you cut it though the inside is bright yellow.  You may could just have the bowyer darken it before putting on the finish as well.

[Bob B.]

flyflinger

I will try to post pics of my bow this evening - at work now.  I have a string follow ASL longbow from Chuck Jones.  It is called the Osage Royale.  It is the quietest bow I own, and might be the fastest as well.  It is all Osage.  It is a nice dark honey color now - and will darken more over time.  The bow is in the 5 to 7 year old range.  It was yellow when I received it new.

I love Osage - to me it is tougher than woodpecker lips, has some mass, but is quick.  My string follow has a lot of set, but still is a very fast bow with great cast.  57 pounds at 29 inches of draw. Osage is great stuff.

Bob.

[Jim Picarelli]

L-R...Hill Crocodile, two Hill Owl's, and an Osage Royale.
 

[BAK]

Are you talking about a self or wood laminate bow, or a glass bow with osage limbs?

It's just that it makes a very heavy laminate for a glass bow.  Nice riser material though.

[Gordon Jabben]

Here is a picture of a glass bow which is all osage.  It is about four months old in this picture and I cut the shelf in farther about two months before the picture was taken and it shows how quickly osage darkens.
 

[nineworlds9]

Here's my new 2pc Big Jim Buffalo. Osage over bamboo.  Leadwood riser.  Shoots like a dream.

   
   
   
   

[Eric Krewson]

Here is picture of osage but not the kind you wanted, this one is at least 5' in diameter.

 

[lablover]

Man Eric that's a lot of bows. A lot of work to get them bows split out also.

[Bob B.]

Here are two pics of my Osage Royale longbow from Chuck Jones.  

 

 

Bob.

[Jim Picarelli]

Looking forward to my Osage Royale to mellow like yours, Bob. Mine's still pretty bright

[flyflinger]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Those certainly are some good looking bows ( and wanna be bows Eric LOL).
Its very interesting how osage goes through so many degrees of color change over time. I had read that many times before but had clearly forgotten that piece of info. The darker hues that occur as the wood ages doesn't stand out as dramatically as the newly cut wood.
GDPolk- thanks for the ideas on contrasting woods and skins. I am leaning towards copperhead skins on the back of the bow while leaving the belly clean so the wood can be seen. Also looking at darker contrasting woods for the riser.
Thanks again everybody! If folks have more pics keep em coming!

[Gdpolk]

Originally posted by flyflinger:

GDPolk- thanks for the ideas on contrasting woods and skins. I am leaning towards copperhead skins on the back of the bow while leaving the belly clean so the wood can be seen. Also looking at darker contrasting woods for the riser.
Thanks again everybody! If folks have more pics keep em coming!

For that I'd stick to the more reddish hues for the riser wood and maybe use an osage strip or flare to accent the limbs.  Something like macassar ebony, ironwood, cocobolo, bubinga, or maybe even snakewood.  I could see a bow built with a snakewood riser, flared osage accent, copperhead over osage backs of limbs, osage over bellies of limbs, and tips built up with osage, snakewood, and either a horn or micarta on top coming out looking really, really fantastic.  Also, having the more plain grain on the limbs would really make the riser stand out with a higher figured wood.  I'll try to grab some pictures of my osage riser later today, but it's not really dark yet.

[tippit]

It comes in small packages too...tippit

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[Mud_Slide_Slim]

Tippit,
That is a beauty of a knife!

Bill-

[flyflinger]

Nice knife! And a lot of contrast in the wood.
I am getting really excited about having a osage bow. I love the history behind the wood. With the other bows I have, i have chosen the woods to aid in their concealment. The bright color of Bois D'Arc is what has kept me from ever selecting this wood. As i have thought on it, it occurred to me that the native americans, who prized this wood for bows, apparently didn't have any issues with game seeing their bows. Otherwise they would have starved to death!
Any way, thanks again for all the feed back and pics. I can always count on this group of folks!

[ron w]

I just love that yellow wood.........  

[Looper]

   

[Shadowhnter]

Osage dont stay yellow! Less then a year old, was bright yellow.

   

[ron w]

Yea, the bright yellow is gone but that honey color is just as nice........