Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: rps3 on March 04, 2013, 08:49:23 pm
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I cut this last summer out of my son's new house. I think it is yew, what do you say? Just quickly roughed out a bow from a lousy piece to see what it would do. 50", 40# at 25" Shoots an arrow good enough for me.(http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q556/longbow60/yew/dscn0396_zpsf7cb958b.jpg)
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(http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q556/longbow60/yew/dscn0394_zps22957060.jpg)
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(http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q556/longbow60/yew/dscn0393_zps44d8f0d8.jpg)
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(http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q556/longbow60/yew/dscn0388_zps8371c6df.jpg)
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(http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q556/longbow60/yew/dscn0387_zps3702077b.jpg)
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(http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q556/longbow60/yew/dscn0381_zpsd263bb87.jpg)
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(http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q556/longbow60/yew/dscn0395_zpsf67ec04c.jpg)
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Nope
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That's short and sweet Bryce. I should have taken a pic of the needles, or leaves, or whatever they are called so it could be identified. Some type of ornamental tree. I think it is worth another bow at least to see what happens.
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Nope
+1
that bark doesn't look like yew.
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Nice little bow from it though.
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Hey you pacific guys...the yew ornamentals have a different bark and lighter faster growing heartwood....it looks like a type of yew ornamental hybrid to me..although its hard to tell and see by your pics bob....there's several different yew hybrid ornamentals ....its obvious its a conifer and there isn't too many other conifers that make bows...especislly ones that are short snd pulling half of there length unbacked.....and the only other conifers here in pa is ERC..and that ain't ERC....the other is yew ornamentals n sometimes a rare English yew
Looks like a sweet lil bending shooter to me
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Was it a single main trunked tree, or several main branches coming from one base? I really am on the fence with this one. Kinda reminds me of what I call yard juniper.
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Hey you pacific guys...the yew ornamentals have a different bark and lighter faster growing heartwood....it looks like a type of yew ornamental hybrid to me..although its hard to tell and see by your pics bob....there's several different yew hybrid ornamentals ....its obvious its a conifer and there isn't too many other conifers that make bows...especislly ones that are short snd pulling half of there length unbacked.....and the only other conifers here in pa is ERC..and that ain't ERC....the other is yew ornamentals n sometimes a rare English yew
Looks like a sweet lil bending shooter to me
Weeeeellll eeexcuuuuuuse me! Mr. Know it all :laugh: >:D
Edit: that doesn't look like any yew that I have ever seen personally with my own two eye balls. :P
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By the pics its really tough to say what it is or isn't without a doubt...if its a yard juniper it sure is pulling hard and far for a short unbacked juniper ...which makes me rule that out more than a yew ornamental...but there always is that rare anomaly....wish you had some pics of the tree when you cut it...at least it being a conifer really narrows things down...not too much good bending pine out there..lol
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He's got us on a string holding out on the "true" ID, lets see some pics of needles or whatever is grow on this tree! :D
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Looks like fast-growing ornamental yew to me, I've got a few pieces for carving, and they all have bark like that, big rings, and light heartwood.
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One way to tell if it is Juniper or Yew would be by the smell. Any juniper is hard to miss by the smell. Yew doesn't smell real fragrant - just kind of a sweet woody smell.
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Thanks for the responses. I feel like an idiot for not saving the needles or taking pics when cut, but it doesnt have any odor. It was several main branches from one base, and there are some staves with much tighter growth rings, but smaller diameter.
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Looks like the ornamental yew bush/shrub that grows all around my sisters house. If you let them grow they will get "bow" sized if your lucky.
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very bendy, very cool,
chuck
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Yes/maybe
Del
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(just for the record, yew is not a conifer- it has "berries", not cones)
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*pushes glasses up on nose* well, actually... The seed cones are highly modified, each cone containing a single seed 4–7 mm long partly surrounded by a modified scale which develops into a soft, bright red berry-like structure called an aril, 8–15 mm long and wide and open at the end.
Ok, I copied that off of Wikipedia. ::) But they are a conifer. They just look like berries. :)
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*pushes glasses up on nose* well, actually... The seed cones are highly modified, each cone containing a single seed 4–7 mm long partly surrounded by a modified scale which develops into a soft, bright red berry-like structure called an aril, 8–15 mm long and wide and open at the end.
Ok, I copied that off of Wikipedia. ::) But they are a conifer. They just look like berries. :)
Thanks professor ;) :laugh:
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(stands corrected.)
sorry for the hijack.
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No, I don't look like a bow. I have arms,legs and a face and such :P ;D
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I think it could be an ornamental yew. I have cut some where the bark looks like that, but the heartwood was almost bright red/pink. What does the end of that log cut look like?
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As you describe it Carson, more reddish pink on the ends when just cut. Do you think I can expect some good bows from this wood.? I have quite a bit big enough for full size bows.
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Apart from the very low ring count.....yew
Come on guys what the debate for! Obvious ain't it? ;)
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rps3 it looks to me like you already proved you can get a bow from it. Nice bend on a short piece, regardless of what it is. Good job. Danny
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I found some huge ornamental yews recently. Does ornamental yew make a decent bow? If so I am in good shape.
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I found some huge ornamental yews recently. Does ornamental yew make a decent bow? If so I am in good shape.
If you can find a bit without too many knots it may be ok.
You might find it's a bit rubber compared with the best stuff, but if it is then try heat tempering the belly.
Even poor Yew is still a pretty good bow wood.
Del
(Other opinions may vary... terms and condition apply... bowyers must be 8 years or over)
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Does ornamental yew make a decent bow? If so I am in good shape.
Do you think the tree knows it is supposed to be just ornamental? It is still yew, regardless of its purpose. Any yew will make a nice bow, but typical ornamental trees are fast grown with thick rings. This type of wood is not nearly as good as fine ringed 'wild' yew. Although I'm always on the look out for wild yew, I certainly wouldn't put down a yew log simply because it's from an ornamental tree!