Small Crack, Big Problem?

[BeauxGeaver]

Hey everyone!
This is my first post on here, but not my first time in archery. My dad was a regular on here back in 2007 but he fell out of the hobby soon after. I devided to get back in the hobby since I was a small boy then.

In 2007 my dad did a bow trade and he got a osage orange bamboo backed R/D bow. A few months later we noticed a crack in the limb. Flashforward 13 years later, i want to use that bow and remembered the crack. Now i want to make sure the bow won't break on me. I was thinking I could use strong fishing wire wrap with an epoxy just as insurance but i wanted to open it up to you guys.

What do you guys think?
Thanks,
--Beaux

P.S. Let me know if you need more pictures. The crack is in pic #3

[Pat B]

I'm not sure I can see the crack very well.

[monterey]

Hard to see.  Is it that little thing across the limb?  Almost looks like a tool mark. 

[BeauxGeaver]

Yeah i will post a couple more pics

[arachnid]

looks like the belly has developed a compresssion fracture.
Is there a hinge in that spot?

[Pat B]

That's what I was thinking, Dor. Also looks like it lifted a grain flame on the belly leading to the fret on the side of the limb into the belly. If it is in fact a fret I'd say the bow is now a wall hanger.

[Eric Krewson]

Several of my bows have developed that type of crack after many years of use and an estimated over 250K shots through them. I tried to wrap the cracks and save the bows for the owners, it was all in vain, the bows failed

[BeauxGeaver]

Thanks for all your replies,

I tried stringing it up with a string an inch longer than it normally would use and i also tested it with just the stringer. Heard no cracking and saw no additional movement. I even shot it to see if there was any strange sounds and there was nothing. Going to keep it strung up for a bit and see if there is any difference. I'll also see if i can find a shorter string that will fit that bow. One thing that i noticed is that it is at the exact spot as one of the thicker areas of the bamboo backing (see picture for example). Not sure if that changes anything.

[Eric Krewson]

The nodes can over power the belly depending on the wood type.