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Gambel Oak (aka scrub oak) staves

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Little John:
I have often wondered about this as a bow wood as it would be about the only choice for the Anasazi people here in the southwest, but have never seen any that was long enough or straight enough. Last fall I was scouting down the Dolores river for a late season elk hunt and run across several straight oaks about 8 inches without branches. I have been wanting to go get one but the river has been huge all spring, went to check Sunday and found these candidates with out having to crossing the river. I thought oak was a white wood but these have about 5/8 inches of sapwood and then heartwood. I think I will split and then peel the bark on at least one of them and see where it wants to go from there. I have only seen a couple of post of bows from this wood and they were from small diameter trees and of indian design. I hope to get a full size hunting weight bow. Looks like the working limbs will be mostly sap wood, hope this works, if not might have to chase a ring down to heart wood. Any way I will have enough wood to experiment. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Little John:
Oh I forgot to mention that the larger one is about 6 1/2 inches by 65 inches and the smaller ones are about 3 1/2 inches by 6 feet.

Marin:
Do you have a copy of “Encyclopedia of North American bows and arrows” from Alley/Hamm? There’s two Anasazi bows in it which are made of scrub oak/gamble oak. I don’t think they were backed however. I have a copy myself if you would like me to send you scans of those pages.

Little John:
That would. Be nice Marin, if not too much trouble. Maybe I would like to make an Anasazi replica.

Pat B:
Kenneth, like many oak staves I think the the sapwood under the bark is what you want for the back of a bow. Treat it like any whitewood as far as a bow is concerned. When you peel the bark be sure to seal the back and ends.
 We've had lots of rain here so I haven't been able to get you another hickory but it shouldn't be long now.  :OK

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