Sapling size

EastTexasRedneck · December 08, 2011, 10:02:00 PM

There are a lot of holly and hickory saplings on my place. Could a bow be made from a 3 to 3-1/2" or smaller sapling? Please forgive my ignorance, I am trying to learn.

Pat B · December 09, 2011, 12:39:00 AM

Probably 2" and up for the hickory. I've never made a bow with holly.

John Scifres · December 09, 2011, 09:15:00 AM

You could probably split a 3-1/2" tree and make 2 bows. Under that and you probably only have one. I agree with Pat's 2" minimum especially if you haven't made a few bows. I've done several in the 2" range. A few out of hickory and they turned out well. Good luck.

EastTexasRedneck · December 09, 2011, 09:42:00 AM

Thanks guys.I haven't made a bow yet but I want to try. Reading all the stories on here is inspiring. I still have a lot of reading to do, have ordered some books on bow building to study before I try. The reason I asked about the size is I saw a thread on here about a holly bow from a sapling and there are tons of holly around here.

Pat B · December 09, 2011, 05:35:00 PM

If Texas holly is like NC holly there are way too many branches for my likeing.

PEARL DRUMS · December 09, 2011, 07:22:00 PM

The backs will be quite rounded and that is actually a good thing for your hickory saplings. Hickory likes to bend much more than compress. The round back will equal the load out some. It should make a very fine bow.......if you do! Good luck on your build. Hickory is thee perfect first timer wood.

PEARL DRUMS · December 09, 2011, 07:27:00 PM

One more long winded story about hickory. If you have ever read Paul Comstocks pamphlet on bow building you would have seen his hand drawn sketch of a whip tillered bow. Its horribly whip tillerd and flat at the fades ugly-nasty! I was at a shoot this last summer and watched a guy shoot a hickory bow that looked just like it, no crap!! That thing was scarey, scarey bad! He claims it was his first and only and he has shot it many, many times! I couldnt say much, so I said "cool" and walked away. Moral of the story: Hickory doesnt break easy. Excellent choice for a first.

George Tsoukalas · December 09, 2011, 08:50:00 PM

2-2.5 in should be fine. Leave it a few inches longer to counteract the crown. Jawge

EastTexasRedneck · December 10, 2011, 02:07:00 PM

Thanks, every bit of info is helpful