I have been doing my research on building a Molly.  Alot of great information here, although i have a question, most of the bows i have seen are not osage.  Am i thinking this too hard? Can you do a Molly out of osage?  If so, do you use the same general specs to layout the bow.  Would love to see a few pics of what some of you have done.  The goal is to get the staves i need at OJAM this year and get started.  I have to finish up the two i am working on now.  Thanks for any input you might have.

Treavor

Never heard of a molly bow, what is it?

I've never seen one done in osage either, was kinda thinking the same thing.  I've seen them made from hickory, elm, and hackberry, but never osage.  I believe the design is better suited to a lighter, less dense wood.  Just a guess though.

There have been a whole bunch of them made, look over on primitive archer.

I will check out pa. What is the best wood for a bow like this?

I have made one out of hickory, and one hickory backed eastern red cedar. Both good shooters. Best wood, I have no idea  

There's an osage Molly buildalong on PA somewhere, I think it's backed with hickory.

I think the origional Mollegabets were made out of Elm if that's any help.

My buddy just did an osage molly.  It turned out great.  It shoots fast and smooth and it was only his second bow.  I'm thinking I'm going to have to try one next.  I'd recommend it.

I second what canopyboy said. I witnessed and shot that particular bow and it is fast smooth and quiet even at only 58" long.

Misslemaster won "Bow of the Year" on PA with an osage Molly last year. Cody built a very striking bow...heck all of Cody's bows are striking.

Heres a few of mine

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=38078.0

 http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=32585.0  

 http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=32712.0  

 https://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,30598.0.html  

 http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,28407.0.html  

I'm sure there's more...and I've made lever bows from osage,locust,hackberry,oaks,dogwood,hhb,rhododendron,elms,etc..and the list goes on.....Osage is my favorite overall all around for lever bows...its strong in compression to take the added stress,it can be a shorter narrower limbed bow easier for hunting, and can take the abuse of being overdrawn or slightly under designed where as all the other woods can fret or break on you if under designed or overdrawn.

Incredible is all i can say.  I have to give it a try.  Great input,  thank you everyone. Now to find the right stave.

Black Mockingbird

Really enjoyed looking at those great bows of yours....thanks for sharing!


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glenn

Oh yeah, I forgot about Chris'(Blackhawk) Mollies.

absolutely beautiful bows.  Im sold on my next project!