Gnarly American hornbeam

[Jim Davis]

I cut a 6" hornbeam tree a year or three ago. Just got around to making a bow out of it. I had made bows of hop hornbeam, but never one from "muscle wood."

This one is 64" ntn, 2" wide at the fades, about 3/8" wide at the tips, straight taper from fades to tips. Draw weight is 42# at 28". Handle is 4" non-bending.

[Jim Davis]

Couple more

[Jim Davis]

Resending this one. Hope it's not distorted like  the first.

[Stickbow Felty]

Nice bow Jim. How easy is that wood to work

[Jim Davis]

I t seems about as hard as hickory, but I sawed it out with a band saw and did l most of the sanding on a belt sander. Hand work was mostly rasping the handle shape.

[Pat B]

Don't think I've ever seen a hornbeam bow before. I was given a stave many years ago but don't remember what happe4ned to it.
 You did a great job with this cool bow, Jim. Tiller looks perfect. 

[superdav95]

Very cool character in this bow.  It’s got some dips and hills to it for sure.  Makes for a challenging bow. Well done. 

[WhistlingBadger]

Oh, that is cool!  How does it shoot?

[bentstick54]

Great looking bow, love the gnarly back. Tiller looks great.

[Jim Davis]

Oh, that is cool!  How does it shoot?

Bow has medium speed as near as I can tell, smooth draw, no remarkable hand shock. I'd hunt with it. It's big appeal, I guess, is the look of the back. Makes it seem surprising that it shoots like any other self bow. I'm happy with the outcome.

Thanks to all for looking and commenting.

Biggest thing I notice in the pictures is that over the years I have developed a very hunched over stance. 8-(

[bjrogg]

Certainly a lot of character on that back Jim.

Nice job coaxing that bend out of it.

Bjrogg

[Wallski]

JD, that’s an outstanding bow and everything about it, I would have passed that stave up, I need to stop and take a second look next time, my hats off to you!

[Hamish]

Wow! Amazing bow.

I can see why it's called muscle wood, it looks like flayed anatomical muscle.

[Pappy]

Nice job Jim, love them character bow and did that one justice. Maybe see it live at the Classic.
 Pappy

[Robert Pougnier]

That's a fantastic bow! I've been wanting to cut a couple staves while I'm down south and this just tipped the scales.