Limb Core Choice

[Lamplighter]

I am not building a bow literally, but am specifying choices to a bowyer tradesman to build me one.

Question is : limb core choice- is there an all out top choice for speed & durability ?  It will be a recurve.

Bamboo ?   Osage ?  Red Elm ?

[PEARL DRUMS]

Action boo is my vote. Light, quick and affordable. Flat sawn elm makes a sharp veneer in my eyes.

[okie64]

If its going to be a glass bow then I think its just a matter of which one you think looks the best. The glass would be doing most of the work. Bamboo over osage if its an all wood bow.

[Robertfishes]

What does the bower like? I like amberboo or edge grain red elm tapers..

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Desert Camo Action Wood under glass makes me tingle all over, then action boo cores under that should make a PDQ bow and will look sweet!
If I had a new bow being built and had my choice of woods and cores, that's what it would be.

I also like the Grey Camo Action Wood for a darker bow.

[Lamplighter]

Thanks. Bowyers seem to be very busy and around here trad. is picking up alot.

[JD 9116]

I really like action boo or natural boo if it is under colored glass. I really like the looks of bocote wood under clear glass so next one with have a thin bocote parallel over a boo core. If, all goes well?

[Javi]

I'm having a longbow built with Osage over natural boo.. I like the looks of a nice piece of Osage and the speed of the boo..

[kerryb]

do a search, Kennym did a bunch of test bows useing different core woods and posted the results.

[Goose Gossett]

This may be a question to ask... how wide do you want your bow to be?  I know bamboo backed ipe can make a thinner backed bow than say bamboo backed osage.  It may not be much difference but it is a bit.  I know that if it is a glass bow the glass does most of the work but if it is an all wood glue up you might be interested in a thinner bow than thicker.  Just .02 to think about.