Here is a bow that I recently made out of Pacific Cascara wood. It is also commonly known as Buckthorn. This stave was harvested in a favorite hunting area in the Northern Oregon coastal mountains.  This is my first experience with cascara and I must say I am impressed with the wood. It is not very dense, somewhat like juniper, but it seems quite elastic and strong in compression. The bow did not take any set despite the fact that I made the limbs rather narrow and trapped the belly somewhat. I've overlooked this wood often in my search for vine maple, but no more. I expect I will make many more bows out of cascara in the future.

Here are the specs: 50# @ 28", 64" ntn, 1.5" width limbs tapering to ½" tips, diamond back snakeskin over silk backing (I'm not sure how strong cascara is in tension so I backed it), belly heat treated once after floor tillering, purple heart overlays, and elk-hide handle, Tru-Oil finish. The stave had some pretty good whoop-de-do's that made tillering a little interesting, but I think it came out alright.

The quiver was made by Ron York.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very Nice.  

Once again your work never ceases to amaze me! Great looking bow.  

Beautiful bow!

Nice that's a beautiful bow.Never made a selfbow but like to try.

Terry

Gordon,

Very nice!!  I've got a couple of cascara staves out here that may need to be bows soon.

Mike

Now that's a fine looking bow right there Gordon! Thanks for sharing.    

Cascara is also called "chittum", people used to peel the bark off it and sell it. It was used as an ingredient in laxatives I think. Supposedly indians would chew the bark to keep them regular???

I have several Cascara trees on my place. They produce a fruit that attracts Bandtail pigeons, Evening Grosbeaks, and Cedar Waxwings.

Gordon,

Great "exploration" with a new wood, and nice craftmanship.  Congats on a very nice looking bow!

Daryl

Another beauty, Gordon! John Strunk was known to use Cascara also.

Pleasing to my eye, brought a smile to my face!

KUDOS!

Thank you so much for all the compliments. It's nice to be around folks that appreciate this kind of work.

Absolutley BEAUTIFUL!

Very nice bow!!!!!

NICE!

Is this what the tree looks like Gordon? Roaming in the coast range looking for elk I have seen trees that look similar to this. Never thought it would make bow wood!

David, that looks close. Here is a link to some pictures. The thing to remember is that the viens are very prominant.

http://oregonstate.edu/trees/broadleaf_genera/species/cascara_buckthorn.htm

Yes

Cascara is nice.  As it ages it will take on a nice dark yellow patina.  

I've got a John Strunk Spirit (fiberglass Bow) made with cascara.  Years ago when I spoke to john he said that cascara had similar characteristics as yew.

Mike

That is a beautiful bow!

i like it

Beautiful bow!!!