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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: centaur on February 03, 2011, 05:45:00 PM

Title: desert ironwood bow pics?
Post by: centaur on February 03, 2011, 05:45:00 PM

Big Jim and I are conspiring, and I'm thinking of the possibility of desert ironwood for a bow material. I did a search but only saw the Black Widow versions of ironwood, which I don't believe is the desert version. Anybody have pictures or opinions on desert ironwood as a wood for a short longbow like Big Jim's Thunderchild?

Title: Re: desert ironwood bow pics?
Post by: KEG on February 03, 2011, 07:04:00 PM

I looked into using desert ironwood for a longbow's riser a couple of years ago. I contacted a lot of wood vendors I found on the internet but could not find a source that had a piece big enough. I'm not sure but I believe they said that in the U.S the desert ironwood tree is protected and only down wood can be picked up and this can be done only by native Americans. I did find an importer that said there was a small possibility he could import a piece large enough from Mexico and it would cost $400.00 or more.  for a risor

Title: Re: desert ironwood bow pics?
Post by: Friend on February 03, 2011, 08:30:00 PM

Desert Ironwood is the 2nd heaviest wood in North America behind Snakewood which surprisingly can be found in Florida.

Title: Re: desert ironwood bow pics?
Post by: The Whittler on February 03, 2011, 09:17:00 PM

Anyone have a pic of the wood or does it look like the BW iron wood.

Title: Re: desert ironwood bow pics?
Post by: Bodork on February 03, 2011, 09:38:00 PM

This knife handle is desert ironwood.
   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/mikebaker/DSCF1195.jpg)

Title: Re: desert ironwood bow pics?
Post by: David Spear on February 03, 2011, 09:43:00 PM

Mike, you make some nice knifes.

Title: Re: desert ironwood bow pics?
Post by: SpankyNeal on February 03, 2011, 09:46:00 PM

Now that's a gorgeous knife!

Title: Re: desert ironwood bow pics?
Post by: The Whittler on February 03, 2011, 10:05:00 PM

Great knife. I would love to have a riser made out of that wood, it's gorgeous.

Title: Re: desert ironwood bow pics?
Post by: Tom Phillips on February 04, 2011, 12:10:00 AM

I am working on a some Desert Ironwood enough for Bow riser.Cool stuff !!!!!

Title: Re: desert ironwood bow pics?
Post by: BigJim on February 04, 2011, 07:12:00 AM

I have just purchased the mother of all pieces. I have a lot of attractive woods and I can't say that it is above everything. Afterall, there are different tastes. This ranks up there with the beauty of snakewood and maybe more rare. For those that like a really dense riser, this would fit the bill. Only found in the Sonoran desert, it can be a challenge finding a piece bigger than  a knife scale. "So hard, it has been used for bearings. When properly dried, it is extremely stable and not subject to shrinking and warpage."
I would post pics if I could, but then I would have to buy even more  :)
BigJim

Title: Re: desert ironwood bow pics?
Post by: Steve G on February 04, 2011, 07:47:00 AM

Someone will get a special bow from Jim,

Title: Re: desert ironwood bow pics?
Post by: centaur on February 04, 2011, 07:51:00 AM

" I have just purchased the mother of all pieces". In deference to Big Jim, I won't post pictures that he sent me of this gorgeous slab of wood, but will wait until it is converted into my Thunderchild. I hope to get it while I'm still snowbirding, so that I can take pictures of the bow leaning up against a desert ironwood tree. Every bow that the big guy makes causes me to drool, but this one will really be exceptional and unique. I can't wait!

Title: Re: desert ironwood bow pics?
Post by: cacciatore on February 04, 2011, 07:52:00 AM

Jim,you don't only make some great bows,you have an innate taste for choosing gorgeous woods,congrats.