Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: swiftjustus on February 16, 2012, 05:00:58 pm

Title: iron wood for bows?
Post by: swiftjustus on February 16, 2012, 05:00:58 pm

I was wondering if iron wood makes good bow wood? I found some growing by my house and its tall and straight and about 4" in diamiter at the base. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Title: Re: iron wood for bows?
Post by: Bevan R. on February 16, 2012, 05:11:30 pm

Short answer: Yes, it should.

Long answer: There are many woods that are called 'ironwood'. But they should all be workable to some extent.

Title: Re: iron wood for bows?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on February 16, 2012, 05:15:50 pm

Smooth, muscley bark is beech, gnarly bark is hop hornbeam. Both get called ironwood up yonder. The latter is 10x better bow wood.

Title: Re: iron wood for bows?
Post by: osage outlaw on February 16, 2012, 05:39:37 pm

Can you post a picture of the bark.  HHB is good bow wood. 

Title: Re: iron wood for bows?
Post by: randman on February 16, 2012, 05:39:57 pm

Not to be confused with Ocean Spray which was called iron wood by the natives and earlier pioneers in the Pacific NW...then there's the Mexican ironwwood..........then there's............ >:D

Title: Re: iron wood for bows?
Post by: swiftjustus on February 16, 2012, 05:52:48 pm

I'm going to work on a pic of the bark for a more positive id, and if this is Iron wood then it answers some ? I had about hop hornbeam, as i was confused about wich was actual hop horn beam or blue beech. The bark is knarly like pearl said, and in my "Trees of Michigan and the upper great lakes"  book it definetly looks like iron wood (ostrya virginiana)

Title: Re: iron wood for bows?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on February 16, 2012, 07:50:33 pm

I have the same book.

Title: Re: iron wood for bows?
Post by: bowtarist on February 16, 2012, 08:12:26 pm

The muscley stuff is called ironwood, blue beech and water beech down where I live.  Usually pretty gnarly, but sometimes smoother and straight.  I made a spear out of one about 20 years ago and it was real tough.  Is this "blue beech" usable for bows?  dpgratz

Title: Re: iron wood for bows?
Post by: swiftjustus on February 16, 2012, 08:48:22 pm

Did you notice in the book, pearl, that they refer to both iron wood and blue beech as "iron wood and hornbeam" hence my confustion... :)

Title: Re: iron wood for bows?
Post by: soy on February 16, 2012, 08:58:41 pm

I hope I've been using hhb iron wood but as of late I would be able to tell pine from oak....but hhb is awsome!  Imho

Title: Re: iron wood for bows?
Post by: PeteC on February 16, 2012, 11:05:46 pm

The" muscle " wood tree is American Hornbeam,and it will make a good bow. Eastern Hophornbeam has a "flakey" bark and it is an excellent bow wood. God Bless