Osage oranges are amazing trees

[Amber Jones]

The fruit is hight in pectin but Watch out for thorns on the branches. the wood has a beautiful burnt orange color and strong too, one bow made from this wood was worth a horse and a blanket. http://www.eattheweeds.com/maclura-pomifera-the-edible-inedible-2/

 

[rope-a-dope]

Yes, they are cool trees, but God help you if you have to climb one.
Welcome to the buzz!

 

[Amber Jones]

Haha right bucket work is nice for this one thank you

 

[JD3000]

Like cutting rock too.

 

[SomethingWitty]

We had the second largest in the state right next to our comp this weekend. It was a magnificent tree.
They are some of my favorites once they get some size.

 

[Amber Jones]

Like cutting rock too.

Nice I was reading that some of the old ox yokes where made of this wood bright orange and harder like locust great stuff

 

[Amber Jones]

Nice I was reading that some of the old ox yokes where made of this wood bright orange and harder like locust great stuff

Oops I really need to proff read haha

 

[Birdyman88]

We were riding back roads in college and saw some fruits laying on the gravel road. I stopped, grabbed my knife and cut one open. The sap got everywhere and it was some seriously sticky stuff. I eventually had to use either paint thinner or acetone to get everything clean. It always fascinated me.

 

[Brocky]

One winter day I came across a squirrel that had eaten some of the fermented fruit and was sprawled on his back on a fallen branch. It made unsuccessful attempts to climb the fallen branch and finally gave up.

 

[Woodwork]

Even a blind squirrel eventually cops a buzz!

 

[treebing]

I heard an interesting theory that the Osage orange evolved along with the giant sloth which ate and dispersed the seeds. The wood became the best bow wood because it evolved to accommodate the giant sloth which would grab branches and bend them down to grab the fruit. The branch would bend without breaking and spring back up. Sounds plausible. Its a neat tree.

 

[treebing]

The Trees That Miss The Mammoths - American Forests

Trees that once depended on animals like the wooly mammoth for survival have managed to adapt and survive in the modern world.

www.americanforests.org

Not the article about bow wood, but interesting as well

 

[Brocky]

My Grandfather made my brothers and me each a bow, mine and my next older brother got round ones, and the older two got flat ones. I was three or four and vaguely remember him making them at our house.

 

[SomethingWitty]

That is pretty special.

I have a few pieces that are waiting for me to attempt it, but I've got a few years before I have to have a nice one ready. My kid just turned six.