Had a huge cherry tree fall about a month ago and kept a 6 ft log.  Was wondering if cherry made a good bow or not.

If you collected the wood before fungi got in it cherry will make a pretty good bow. If fresh, I would just remove the bark and use the sapwood. Cherry heartwood is fairly strong in compression and will make a good bow if backed with hickory, elm or maple. I wouldn't try it with boo but others have successfully.    Pat

I cut two large, straight grained cherry trees down in my yard a couple of years ago.  I considered briefly splitting some of it up into bow staves.  But upon recalling its poor tension and moderate compressive strength, along with many reports of failures, I decided it would make better firewood.  Time is too precious to waste on inferior wood, IMO.

I had a cherry-hickory longbow that Jim Taylor made for me (took about 10 min).  It did what I wanted, let me practice with a bow with a slightly lower pull for two years and only cost $25.
Bob

Bill Price ....
Used to make a pyramid self bow out of Cherry....

One of my favorite longbows is my Green Mt. Classic longbow with all black cherry limbs.Haven't tried a selbow made ot of cherry,but I love it in a laminated longbow.