Beautiful stuff especially as it ages...

QuoteOriginally posted by Frenchymanny:
Buffalo bow 'Manny special':
Osage coco

 

 

In a year from now, she will be dead gorgeous IN MY EYES            

F-Manny

I have to say that bow right there is the one that turned the cornier for me on osage.  That combo is great.  And the back veneers really pull the whole thing off for me.  I want to see a pic of that bow in another year or two.  I could see me with a coco and osage riser on a bow.

Zbearclaw, this is just my take on it, and since you asked I'll try to give it a shot. Ice cream stores have many flavors, to each his own. As for bow wood, I'll have the one that starts out shining like a new gold coin, then over time turns coffee color. Here are a few random reasons, in addition to those beautiful bow pictures, why osage grows on me. Dentures from osage allowed General Washington to chew his food, which gave him energy to lead the army that beat a World power. Families by the thousands were once raised in East Texas houses built on solid osage foundations. Rings of chartreuse softballs under hedge trees to me are as much a part of Fall as geese flying south. Picking up this arrowhead size block of osage I keep on my computer takes me right back to the time I sawed it off the end of a stave that deserved better than my bow making skills. Only my last reason is about a bent stick, but I second all the positive comments about osage as bow wood. Besides making great bows, there is just something about osage that speaks to me like no other wood. Not everyone will or needs to understand this. Guess it just comes down to that "Ginger" or "Mary Ann" debate from my generation (yes boys and girls, there once was a TV tale about castaways on an island before "Lost" came along!).  John

"almost non-wood"

LOL! be careful where yer standin' when you say that!

Osage is the most naturally durable wood in the US, and is the most durable for making self bows. That's beautiful!

Osage fence posts in tests have outlasted the best chemically preserved wood of other species. 60 years and counting.

Anyone who says osage is a "plain" wood has never seen a nice piece of osage finished nicely.  It looks like you can see inside the wood, and the glow of the grain changes as you move the wood.  And then there is the Mojo factor!

Osage and copperheads....goes together like cookies and milk.

I love Osage.  I have an Ed Scott Owl Bow that is Osage and sinew and is not only pretty but a great performing bow.  I made myself a self bow with Osage and I couldn't ask for a better bow.  Like someone else said it is the performance of Osage that makes it special.

QuoteOriginally posted by JC:
Osage and copperheads....goes together like cookies and milk.

Or wine and summer sausage!

Beautiful bow JC!

F-Manny

Osage...Whats not to like..

I had a one piece recurve with osage riser and red elm lams. Perfect hunting bow in my opinion. Sold it because the handle did not fit me. If I ever talk myself into parting with the cash for a MOAB, it will have osage.

I've always liked the looks of osage. However, my problem is that I've got a real soft spot for yew. Seems everytime I'm going to finally order that osage bow I've repeatedly promised myself it becomes yew by the time it reaches my house.

 

Not only is it striking in a bow but it's my favorite wood to handle out a knife.  As it ages, it almost becomes transparent...tippit

 

 

 

I can not comment on osage with or under glass.  But as a selfbow wood, it is my favorite.  Good wood and not that expensive.  I'm sure I would love yew, but I won't pay for it.

The stave.  

The osage selfbow. These are various ages L to R, newest to oldest.  The oldest bow being completed back in 1998. It looked just like the far left one when I finished it.  

As far as performance, I do believe there is no better wood for a selfbow.  You can abuse it much like hickory yet it is not as moisture sensitive.

I have made osage bows with cracks running down the limb lengthwise, yet the bow shot and performed fine.  I would not do this with any other wood, even if sinewed.

But this is just my opinion.  Other woods that I enjoy working with are; hickory, lemonwood, elm, and black locust.

Osage like most woods can be plain or not, I'v seen some very nice Osage with super color and character with almost a redish hew to the grain. Osage is good bow wood pretty or not it preforms which is the main thing IMO.