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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Romans3 on November 07, 2008, 05:18:00 PM

Title: where do you get your osage???
Post by: Romans3 on November 07, 2008, 05:18:00 PM

I think i've convinced myself to jump into the world of bow making. I've read some great posts and how-to's on making a first bow with osage, but where do you get it. Do you harvest it near where you live or buy staves from someone? Just learning how this all works. thanks for the help.

Title: Re: where do you get your osage???
Post by: Danny Roberts on November 07, 2008, 05:57:00 PM

None here in this part of the Bluegrass. Good luck !

Title: Re: where do you get your osage???
Post by: deadpool on November 07, 2008, 09:46:00 PM

send mike mcguire a PM..

he has awesome osage bow blanks, and staves for an awesome price!

Title: Re: where do you get your osage???
Post by: razorsharptokill on November 08, 2008, 01:13:00 AM

If you are thinking about billets I bet KennyM could help you out. I know a place here in Oklahoma that sells 36" or 72" billets too.

Title: Re: where do you get your osage???
Post by: mmgrode on November 08, 2008, 08:56:00 AM

If you are looking to learn how to build bows I would recommend begnning with something other than an osage stave.  Go to a local lumberyard and pick up a nice straight grained hickory board. Fashion a few bows from it.  This will allow you to get experience learning how to tiller and some of the nuances of bowyer work.  After you've built a dozen or so board bows and feel confident in your ability, give an osage stave a try.  I might also recommend that you get your hands on the traditional bowyer's bible series especially the 1st volume and second volume for board bows.  Great information there and they should be available from your local library, or they could order them from another library.  

A quick warning...bowbuilding is addictive!!  It's a good thing!  ;)   Happy bowbuilding!  Matt

Title: Re: where do you get your osage???
Post by: Toklat1 on November 08, 2008, 08:18:00 PM

I have 17 Bois D Arcs (Orange Osage) on my property, 2 of which I want gone badly.  If you want em, come down and take every bit of them! Bring a stump grinder too!

Title: Re: where do you get your osage???
Post by: John Scifres on November 08, 2008, 10:08:00 PM

I cut my own.  If you have it nearby and can get access, it's the funnest way to do it.  It's also a lot of work.  Get Dean Torges' book "Hunting the Osage Bow".

Title: Re: where do you get your osage???
Post by: Paul WA on November 09, 2008, 11:28:00 AM

I have a friend in Ostrander Ohio that has sent me some upon request...PR

Title: Re: where do you get your osage???
Post by: michaelschwister on November 09, 2008, 12:29:00 PM

I cut my own. I now live in VA and we have it all around here. I used to live in Fayetteville NC. and had to travel to find it. It does exist in NC, especially near the VA border. For me, finding and cutting the wood is part of the whole process

Mike