Thanks everyone. My research on WBDW was he liked osage and really wanted to make an osage bow. My osage bow to him was a little funky with the interrupted rawhide backing and red color and then when it came in underweight I thought he might be totally disappointed. Hence the hickory bow--a little heavier and more traditional. I've never had a bow break and that has always haunted me a little and I've never made a bow for someone else other than two kids bows. If either one of these bows broke I would feel terrible and, a failure really, so I sent the stave knowing that's a guaranteed happy recipient.