Osage bow owners, I have a question for you. Does osage still darken as it ages if under clear glass? If the change does still occur is it slower under glass?

Just wondering what to expect from my Hill Crocodile.

Thanks,

I can't tell you how long it takes but I can tell you that it most definitely does or at least the three Osage Royales I have owned were different colors with the oldest being the darkest.

I have a new one that is bright yellow but I fully expect it too will change to that "golden amber" over time.

God bless,Mudd

It absolutely will darken.  My zipper is about 8 months old and it's darkened considerably.

I've had an Osage bow for 3yrs now and can tell you the area under glass seems to be taken longer. The edges darkened in the first year and have that nice honey color, the limbs have a sort of amber/brown to them but not as dark as the edges. Still all in all makes a beautiful bow.

It will darken in proportion to the amount of sunlight it gets.

Mine is a dark brown now and it was built in April of 96.

Yes, it will, dang it, and I guess I am one of the few people who like yellow osage when fresh cut.  For that reason I never get osage limbs because I don't care as much for it when it turns.

David,
One of the few, but not the only one. Although I like the golden color they change in to; I prefer the bright yellow color of fresh cut osage.

My Osage Bushbow turned a beautiful dark amber color. Looked real sharp...

I have a little Thunderstick T-mag with osage limbs made around 2003. It was "yaller" when it was made, but has darkened to a nice amber/golden tone. I much prefer the colors now, than when it was first built.

I have a sunbear with osage lams under glass.  The back of the limbs are edge grain, and the belly is face grain.  The belly side (cut with the grain) has darkened noticeably.  The back side (edge grain) has really only darkened at the rings.

I don't have a good shot of the belly of the limbs, but here is the riser in contrast with the back side:




Anyone else experienced something like this?

A

The color just keeps getting better as time goes along.

QuoteOriginally posted by kat:
David,
One of the few, but not the only one. Although I like the golden color they change in to; I prefer the bright yellow color of fresh cut osage.

Same for me...I had an osage Shrew that turned a brown color that I thought was quite boring in comparison to the fresh-cut yellow.

I love that it ages. Looks cool when cut too, i just like the whole process of it evolving into something else.

I guess a wood called vermillion stays bright yellow without fading or color change....anybody use it?

I bought a Breat Plains Longbow a few weeks back that's called there Osageion and they are incredible bows by the way.

This bow was 11 months old and was already a deep rich tan color, it was simply beautiful.

QuoteOriginally posted by YORNOC:
I love that it ages. Looks cool when cut too, i just like the whole process of it evolving into something else.

I guess a wood called vermillion stays bright yellow without fading or color change....anybody use it?

I'm thinking yellow heart does not change color...but I could be wrong.

QuoteOriginally posted by kat:
David,
One of the few, but not the only one. Although I like the golden color they change in to; I prefer the bright yellow color of fresh cut osage.

I am undecided myself. I bought the bow to see what all the osage fuss was about. In all honesty aesthetics mean less to me that how the bow shoots and I truly love how this bow shoots. Mine is still very yellow, kinda anxious to see how it ages.

I posted a picture I took while out stumpin a few weeks ago with my HH Croc named "Tick-tock".

 

I beleive canary also stays yellow, hope so on this one...

That's a beautiful bow Kenny!

Thanks Steve, been gonna start a thread on it. Its a trade bow from the bowyers bench right here on TG

Will go do it right now!