I understand totally that this can be a loaded question because there are so many variables involved with any selfbow. Some never stand a chance to even be shot and many do but for a limited time. But some manage to last quite a long time. Me, I have not been shooting them long enough to claim anything except for just under 5 years for a handful.

I believe that I read on this site last year of a man that was retiring his old selfbow after 20 plus years after finding a raised sliver. I do believe that when properly taken care of, one can get several very good years use out of one. With my making them myself, I have more now than I will ever shoot hard. Plus even now, I have one in the works. But a solid ten to 15 years good use sounds pretty good for a simple wood bow.

I know that a few years ago, a wooden ship was found and contents recovered that contain old English longbows that were said to be boxed and still in decent shape. Who knows.

I've been making them since '98. I have one in particular that I've used a LOT more than any other. Strung for long periods on countless hunts and used in all weather. No idea how many thousands of shots from it. I'm trying to wear it out, but wondering now if it won't outlive me.

It's still my 'regular'. I made it in '04. Osage selfbow, 66" ntn, 60# @ 28"(it has actually gained 3 lbs, 63# last I checked), 1 1/4" wide, fully radiused belly, thick rings, very thin early wood.

I just measured the string follow... 1/2" in the top limb, and 1" in the bottom limb, which is mostly because there is a natural deflexed hump area about 10" below the handle. It's certainly not overbuilt, but it's a good length for my draw and dynamically balanced relative to my holds. That's the most used selfbow I own and it's held up very well. I have no doubt it will make it to it's 20th birthday next year, and many more, and I have complete trust in this bow.

I still have her sister stave that I'm keeping in case she dies, and it's even nicer.

I have many 20-30 year old bows going strong. They last a long time when taken care of.

Bows well over 100 years old have been strung and given new life.

Jeff, by "fully radiused belly" Does that mean you rounded it cutting through all the growth rings? That makes no difference on the belly then? Or Is that just the curvature of the log? The back is following a single growth ring right? No backings?

Does gaining 3 pounds mean the wood has dried more? Would that mean possibly more brittle? Have you considered shaving it down a little or is it better left alone? Its longevity obviously means it was perfectly made. Sorry, inquiring minds are just full of questions. Thanks, >>>----> Ken

I finished my 60” 63# Hickory self bow in 2012. Not that old, but it’s still shooting with almost zero set.

How long is a rope?

I have a 15 year old 45lb. sinew backed Osage bow that I put through the paces over the years. It took very little set, and still shoots fine. I have dozens in reserve if I need them. I mostly make low poundage longer target bows now.

From end to end.

Ken, I'm happy to answer any questions as best I can. No backing and yes the back follows one growth ring, important where tension forces are high. Since it follows one growth ring, it is very slightly curved as are the growth rings in the tree.

It's fine for the growth rings on the belly/compression side to be worked through, and happens as a matter of course while shaping and tapering the thickness of the limbs. Unless the growth rings are very, very thick, it's possible, even probable to see a few growth rings worked through on the belly side regardless of whether the limb cross section is radiused or perfectly flat. Careful use of tools and sanding help ensure they're feathered out smoothly. I guess the reason I mentioned the limb shape is because some folks think a 'flatbow' must be flat as a board to aid longevity and thwart set.

I try to be careful about moisture content while making them, but it's possible it dried or 'seasoned' a bit more over the years. I've heard from a few other selfbowyers of this happening on rare occasion. Maybe something in a particular piece of wood? Not sure. Reducing the weight could be done, but 63 lbs is fine with me so I didn't plan to.

I believe the organic compounds in Osage heartwood polymerize over time which would explain the fairly often quoted jump in weight in Osage bows over time.

Think of them like a very slow curing epoxy.

I just think that it is very cool that a simple bow can be made from a tree and that it can be an awesome weapon for so many years if taken care of decently. I guess it becomes a "I made it myself and I hunt with it too" thing that really strikes home with me. Cost of the bow? so far just the time and the initial costs of whatever tools I use. In some cases, I have more money tied up in my arrows. I just wish that I had known all of this and done it 50 years ago. If my bow does break, I can make another one, it is that simple. But, I really don't need a reason to make another one, I just love making them.

I made bows for several very serious tournament shooters who shot their bows almost daily, usually a hundred arrows or more per session. A rough estimate of how many arrows were put through these bows before they cracked would be 150,000 to 250,000 over 10+ years.

I found that all osage bows will get a crack in them over time if you put enough arrows through them. Most of the time a wrap over the cracked area will keep the bow shooting but it is going to fail completely somewhere down the road. I tell my shooters "when you hear that "tink" stop shooting and give me a call"

I shoot much less and have osage bows 20+ years old that will outlast me, they have had 10s of thousands of arrows put through them but nothing like the number the tournament shooters put through theirs.

Wow Eric, that is saying a lot!

I'm amazed.

Eric, thanks for the detail.

I've only made 2 . My 2006 hickory , still shoots great . Last year Reduced to 55lb from original 63 # . Has the same string follow it had after shooting it in 2006 .it's 17 yrs old this year. I hunt with so many different bows that it gets shot about 2 or 3 days a season , but it sure hasn't lost anything that I can tell . Probably my favorite hunt ever was with it. Pretty sure it was 2008 . I call it " Robert " named after my Dad who introduced me to hunting . I want to take one more deer with it before I'm in the happy hunting ground ..

I have made a couple of laminated bows. I have been gathering the knowledge & am ready to try a self bow. Just need to acquire a suitable stave. >>>----> Ken

When you make a good shooting bow, finally one that you are really proud of and one that you know can bring home the bacon, it is an awesome feeling. I am hopefully making that bow now. I have a few under my belt and have learned quite a bit. But when I make it, it will be the one that I put snake skins on.

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