Apple Flatbow 54# @ 27"

[Robert Pougnier]

Thanks Hamish!
I think it would have taken a narrower design but I intentionally overbuilt it since it was my first experience with it.
The handle is just 4 inches long and the fades are two inches each. I put the arrow shelf just 3/4 of an inch above the bow center so the handle wrap is halfway down the lower limb fades. I have been rounding the fades quite a bit too. I don't often build shelves but am trying to become a more consistent shooter.

[medicinewheel]

Very nice!
Did you induce some reflex before starting?

[Robert Pougnier]

Thanks MW! I did not. The only thing I knew about apple before starting was it's estimated SG along with reports that it was good in compression and prone to dramatic tension failures. So I did not want to make the back do any extra work and added the rawhide for an extra margin.

If I had a few more staves I would try again with narrower limbs, maybe 1 5/8" and a slight heat treat into 1" of reflex.

[bjrogg]

A nice apple bow Robert. It immediately brought back memories of Simson’s bows.

I have a wild apple tree I have been looking at for a while now. I’m going to need a little help trimming it but I can definitely see a couple good staves in there.

Bjrogg

[medicinewheel]

I actually see a large apple branch with a natural and quite even reflex right here in front of my livingroom window... 

[Robert Pougnier]

Maybe those are some good candidates?
I definitely think it's worth setting any likely staves or billets aside and making some bows from them. There are so many apple and crabapple hybrids there's got to be a good range of density and design possibilities! The wood was really fine grained and pleasant to work. And well, its' apple and I love apples!

[bjrogg]

Apple a day

   Keeps the doctor away

[Selfbowman]

I may have some apple staves coming my way. Is Apple just not good in tension? If so would bamboo on the back be to much tension?  Maybe gemsbok horn on the back? What is the density on Apple wood?

[WhistlingBadger]

That's a great looking bow.  I have always wanted to try crab apple wood--we have a lot of it around here.  I wonder how it would be sinew backed.