Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Swampman on March 05, 2020, 08:07:00 pm
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The last two days I drove past a section of a County Road where I noticed a bunch of trees cut down. About half of the trees cut had all been reduced to chips. I am sure the highway crew will be back to finish chipping the rest but I salvaged one log yesterday and one today.
The log yesterday I figured out was black locust. It was an 80 inch log that looked straight as can be but when I split it last night it had a really bad twist. I will probably only get 2 bows out of that log so that was a little disappointing.
Today I stopped and picked up a 75 inch log that was 9 inches in diameter. I about passed out loading that log into my vehicle. It was very heavy. When I got home I split this log. I just about passed out again splitting this log. I figured out that this log was ironwood. The 4 splits on the right in the photo are the iron wood. I should be able to get at least 2 bows out of each of those splits. The 2 on the left are the black locust. All in all it was a pretty good find.
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What type of "Ironwood"?
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What type of "Ironwood"?
I guess I only know of one kind in MN which is Ostrya virginiana. It grows all over in the understory in SE MN.
I guess another name for this is hop hornbeam. My tree is book only lists it as ironwood
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Can you post a close up?
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Here are a couple of close ups.
Do you think it is something else?
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That doesn't look like HHB.
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It definitely smells like it and splits just like other known iron wood that I have cut before. It has interlocking grain and a pleasant smell. I am sure I could be wrong as there were no leaves or branches to help identify it.
What do you think it looks like Pat?
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Looks more like Elm.
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It does split like elm too but the elm I have cut before had a pretty unpleasant smell. This definitely smells like other iron wood i have cut (that I was able to positively identify with a book in hand).
Whatever it is I am pretty confident it is bow wood!
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Elm can smell awful or just like HHB.
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The elm I smelled before smelled awful. I didn't know that it could actually have a pleasant smell so that is good to know.
I am equally happy if it is elm or ironwood. A good find either way. Thanks for your input Pat.
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That's not HHB - Elm. Bob
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I agree. It’s not Hop Hornbeam. Hop has a very thin flaky bark.
Bjrogg
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Another vote for not being HHB. The bark definitely doesn't look right.
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It is not American Hornbeam for sure which is some times called Iron wood, muscle wood ,etc,etc. . The Black Locust is a good find. It can lay cut for a long time ,and still make a very good bow. I made 4 successful bows out of a road side Black Locust find that are some of my best shooters.Good for you.
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Hophornbeam bark;
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Hophornbeam bark;
Now that is a twisted tree. Be OK for a laminate bow though
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Just a stock picture I snatched off google.
I have at least one very large hophornbeam tree down in my woods, lots in the 6" range to 8" range. I have never tried it for bows because I have so much osage stockpiled.
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It's a tough life ;D ;D
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Nice haul Swampman! Sapwood looks pretty thick in that locust, that ought to mean its got some thick rings for easy chasing.
Mike
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I didn't really need that wood but I find it awfully hard to drive past logs that I know will be reduced to chips within the next week!