I have a couple fairly short bendy bows that are character bows. For me, I can't tell much difference if any between them and my straighter bows.

I have a stave that should make a 62" bow that is very much a character bow. I have tried both steam and dry heat in making it "straighter" but so far it is somewhat straighter than it was. It had a bad dog leg on the last foot or so and still has a kick to one side.

I personally like a good character bow and have hunted with one last year. I think that they make some very cool looking bows. To me, the only draw back is trying to back some with snakeskin. At least with the smaller skins, one of those python skins might work LOL. It amazes me to see the differences in character bows but that is the nature of many woods I guess. At least in Osage, it seems to happen a lot.

I gave my oldest grandson his choice of a couple of selfbows that I had made and he picked a 45# character Bendy bow.

I was sure hoping to get to see a character bow. Is the bow stave you are currently working osage? All of the Bo'dark around here is very snakey in growth

-Bones

Yep, it happens with osage a lot, thankfully. I prefer osage selfbows with lots of character. The more, the better, as long as they're balanced in the important ways and shoot as they should. Critters don't care how crooked the bows are that send arrows straight through their vitals.

If I can’t get the limbs to line up I have had good luck steaming just the handle section to bring it in line.

Looking forward to seeing pictures Jerry. I have hunted with my snaky bow, but prefer hunting with "normal" selfbows myself. I think it's because they have less wood in the limbs. They all have some "character" though.

Bob, that bow is nearly straight now, lol. I try to make them straighter than they were and do sometimes but mostly end up letting the wood have its way to some degree. A wavy is like a woman's mild curly hair. When I first married my wife, she would spend hours trying to straighten her hair. I finally asked her why she did it and she said to make it look better for me. I laughed and told her that I happen to like curly hair and she was relieved that she didn't have to do it any more. A snaky selfbow is just a cool looking bow and still very much a hunting weapon.

Wavy hair is nice...and a "whoop-tee-do" back is pretty cool on an osage bow. This bow is actually very straight after some heat. :) Looking forward to seeing your character bows...

I like a little character to. Here’s the one I’m hunting with this fall. I took a lot of twists and turns out of it, but had some curves that where to tight to straighten out. Shoots as good as any bow I’ve got.

Better picture of the top limb.

Very nice bows, guys. I think I've worked one straight stave so far out of 10.

This one has some funky stuff going on but turned out to be a great shooter.

Love those character bows. One of these days i will make me one.

snaky bows deserve snake skins for sure...

very nice Bob

Love them Bob.

Very cool!

Kinda snakey sister splits for the grandboys.

KO one down one to go. Second one just needs tillered and finish work.

KO? lol not sure how I typed that one

nice kids bow...I just figured that you had "KO'd" the first of the two... :)

and what a bow to get, they should be very proud to get them.

Bob is the one on the right the one I sent you. I know you put snake skins on the bow. The hat one has a shelf that’s why I ask?

Pic without skins.

Those snakey bows are very cool! Amazing looking bows. A lot of talent on here.

yes sir it is..."skunk killer". I also put a deer in the freezer with it.

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