Lemon Wood..how do ya tell?

[Gottabow]

A buddy of mine got a old Longbow from an Aunt of his and we were wondering how you can tell if its made of Lemon Wood or not..Thanks.

[Charlie Lamb]

Pull it to full draw one time. Genuine old lemonwood should blow up into about a bazillion pieces.

Other than that the grain will be near impossible to find and most manufactured longbows of the 50"s were made of it.

Any indication of the maker?

[Pat B]

Can you post pics of the bow?

[Gottabow]

There is no Markings of any kind on the bow...pretty straight forward Longbow of yesteryear I guess.

[Bladepeek]

"Pull it to full draw one time. Genuine old lemonwood should blow up into about a bazillion pieces."

Yep Charlie, that's what one of mine did. Picked up a couple of lemonwood school archery bows at a yard sale. Probably had not been strung in 20 years or more. Bought a string for it, drew it one time without warming it up or anything. Instant kindling  

[Pat B]

On the old lemonwood bows you have to re-educate them to bend slowly. With patience you can make them shooters again.
I have a few but rather than shooting them I hang them up and admire them as part of archery history.
I have a lemonwood stave that I plan to back with hickory and make an American style longbow or Hill style bow this winter.

[TommyBoy]

Most of the old wood bows that are still around are lemonwood.  Like Charlie said, grain is almost impossible to determine - which is a dead giveaway.  However, unlike Charlie, I've had decent luck saving these old shooters.  Start by rubbing it down with lemon oil once a day for 3 to 5 days.  Then (like Pat said) re-educate them slowly bending just a little at a time until you can get back to full draw. Go slowly and give it as much lemon oil as you can each day.  Most were very forgiving and accurate bows.

[Gottabow]

Thanks guys..I'll pass this on.

[Doug Campbell]

This brings back some memories from the 80's...    The Lemonwood Longbow