My latest thinking is to go with a red oak board for my first effort--if, for no other reason than the fact that I will cut my first oak staves this summer.
Comstock, in "The Bent Stick" and in TBB Volume 1, praises this design highly--while warning there are easier first designs to execute.
But the dimensions he mentions are: Length=66"; Width: 2" from near the handle to slightly past mid-limb, tapering to 1/2 " at the nocks; Thickness everywhere but the handle is under the 3/4" thickness of the board.
So am I far off in thinking I could build this bow fr a six foot board?
Thanks,
Russ