Sinew or Bamboo backed for a short (52" ntn) osage brush bow?

[sureshot]

Currently I'm building a dandy little Osage bow for skulking around the thickets.

I started with a Osage slat, added a handle that I'll make semi-bending. I know this needs backing but I'm not sure if bamboo will take the strain or if I need to stick with sinew for bow this length?

I just finished a longer snakey Osage bow that got the sinew two step and I did gain 2- 3" of reflex which was nice benefit.

You're thoughts?

[Flinttim]

Sinew would be your best bet. If you were a bit longer bamboo would be fine. Problem is , bamboo can let go at a node. Sinew won't. I made a 52" osage/sinew bow some years back. 55# at 27".

[the Ferret]

  Hey Steve

    Hey Tim  (btw people are still talking about turkey nads at Mojam)    

I vote for sinew as well.

[John Scifres]

Me three.

[wingnut]

Well that makes a quarum.  For a bow that length, sinew is the ticket.  You might think about the glued on handle if your bending it through.  It will want to pop off.

MIke

[Pat B]

Build up a shoe leather handle riser that will bend with the bow.   Pat

[sureshot]

Glad Mickey did a show and tell on processing sinew. I'll gets to pounding now.

Thank for the advise.

PS Mike, I did thin the glue on handle of the osage slat we talk about, we'll see how that worked out tomorrow.