well, I took my big knife out to a friend's house and chopped down a small tree, sapling really. The bark was 1/4" thick!
![Shocked :o](http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/Smileys/default/shocked.gif)
So my stave ended up no bigger than my thumb in most places. I used the knife to do the work on it using it to chop, thin and scrape. There are quite a few knots on the edges of the bow but I did what I could do to minimize the ones I couldn't place off the bow all together. It is 60" ntn, 1" wide at handle and 5/8" at nocks. I don't know what the poundage is because it isn't dried yet.. close but not quite.
![](http://www.geocities.com/sp06di/austinnewbowbraced.jpg)
![](http://www.geocities.com/sp06di/austinnewbow1.jpg)
![](http://www.geocities.com/sp06di/austinnewbow2.jpg)
![](http://www.geocities.com/sp06di/austinnewbowwidth.jpg)
![](http://www.geocities.com/sp06di/pithycenter.jpg)
it even has a pithy center.
I'm thinking it's elm but I'm not real good at tree ID.
![Roll Eyes ::)](http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/Smileys/default/rolleyes.gif)
Back to the drier so I can finish her.
possum