Osage question

ProArcher · July 26, 2009, 10:01:00 PM

One of the people in our archery has come across some Osage Orange a 6 1/2 foot x about 10 inch log and a 40 inch x 5 inch log. I would like to know a good offer to make on it. He wants one stave out it but sell the rest.

bigcountry · July 26, 2009, 10:22:00 PM

Looks like good stuff. You can't really tell much until you split it. I would offer up to 150 dollars. Should be able to get 5 good staves or more. Rings look good.

ProArcher · July 27, 2009, 06:17:00 AM

Thanks bigcountry

Eric Krewson · July 27, 2009, 08:52:00 AM

I wouldn't be as generous. The log is crooked, will be hard to split staves out of, has a big painted scar that might be bulldozer damage and isn't that big. $30 and the best stave to the owner would be my max for this wood.

ProArcher · July 27, 2009, 09:31:00 AM

Thanks Eric that sounds more like it.
How abuot thne shorter smaller dia. for a takedown or lams?

vanislebowyer · July 27, 2009, 10:35:00 AM

why not get him to bust it into staves himself and see what you want from what you find?

John Scifres · July 27, 2009, 11:41:00 AM

The vast majority of osage isn't bow wood. No way of telling if that is until you split and take a closer look. There may be staves opposite that painted spot which looks like it might have been pushed over. That's not good because it causes a lot of internal damage. There are probably billets in a lot of it but they are much easier to find and therefore worth less. I agree with Eric on the offer. It's worth $30 just to find out but not much more.

Dano · July 27, 2009, 12:50:00 PM

Why I wouldn't give $10 for the whole mess.

ProArcher · July 27, 2009, 02:35:00 PM

Thanks all
The reason he dose not split it he dose not have the tools and I do.
As for the painted spot that is where it was cut from the upper part of the tree. In the second picture you can see a section of the base it was cut 2 feet up from the ground (stump was over 2 feet in Dia.)And the long log with the painted spot was from "about 21 feet up the trunk" I would say that the guy that cut it did not cut a break line before he topped it and ripped the bark and a little meat from the trunk. Now I can only go by hear say as I was not there when it was cut. The guy is a friend so I hope he would not lead me astray