Rescued some osage today

[scrub-buster]

While looking for sheds a few days ago, I found an osage tree that my brother-in-law had cut maybe 4 or 5 years ago.  I checked the stump and it looked like it had decent growth rings.  There were couple of staight sections that had potential.  I hated to think of all of that good bow wood rotting away, so I borrowed a quad and went after them today.  They were in a creek bed at the bottom of a steep hill.  I cut and seeled them and pulled them one at a time up the hill and to the house.  As a bonus, I found 2 sheds while driving down the hill to get them.  

The bark was loose and most of it was gone by the time I got them to the house.  The logs have a lot of small holes all over them, but as I was splitting them, I didn't see any that went more than 2 or 3 rings deep.  

 

The big one is 82" long and 10" wide.

 

The smaller one is 75" long and 7" wide.

 

Here are the sheds.

 

I split the big one and it is really wet for the first foot.  Will this be a problem, or is it OK.

 

This is what I got from 1/2 of the big log.  One is a belly split.  I was pooped out after getting to this point.  Tomorrow I will try to get the rest split.

 

[PEARL DRUMS]

Thats stuff is gold colored for dang good reason! Nice splits. Trade ya some genuine processed Indiana sinew?

[DEATHMASTER]

Looks like some nice stright sticks.
As long as the bugs did not go to deep you should be fine.
Wish I had Osage here. Would love to try a bow from some.
Nice save you have.

[scrub-buster]

Originally posted by PEARL DRUMS:
Thats stuff is gold colored for dang good reason! Nice splits. Trade ya some genuine processed Indiana sinew?

These won't need any sinew backing.  Is that a bottomless bag of sinew or what?

[Javi]

Nice save.. good luck with it..

[beetlebailey1977]

Those staves look good to me.

[DVSHUNTER]

water won't be an issue if they are sealed. Nice staves with great rings. What better than a bow and antler tips.

[CaptainJ]

Nice catch there!

CJ

[hardwaymike]

Awesome save scrub-buster! The tip overlays and knife handles are just a bonus,lol.

[Roy from Pa]

Scrub, them staves hain't no good. I'll just drive out there and pick them up so ya don't go wasting your time on them:)

[Lee Slikkers]

Sounds like a kind thing to do Roy, I'll meet ya there...

 

[Roy from Pa]

Ok Lee, there are 6 so you take your pick of one, then I'll pick, then you pick, then I'll pick, then you pick and I'll take whats left:)

I don't wanna see Scrub using bad wood:)

[Lee Slikkers]

Mighty kind of you to let me have first pick Roy...I won't forget the gesture, LOL.

[KellyG]

man those are straight. Nice save goes to show you never know what you are going to find.

[scrub-buster]

If you guys drive here from where you live, I'll give you each a stave.

I finished splitting all of it.  Here's what I ended up with.

 

I sprayed some bug killer on them last night.  When I checked them today, there were all of these little beetles dead all around them.

 

When I removed a little wood, this is what I found.

 

And this is what it looks like 3 or 4 rings down.

 

I worked all day splitting and drawknifing.  I think tomorrow, I will try to use my bandsaw to remove the damaged wood on the rest of them.  Anyway it turns out, it was well worth the effort to rescue these staves.

[Lee Slikkers]

Well, if gas prices weren't through the roof I'd consider the 6 hour drive and take you up on your offer, grin.

If all those staves clean up as well as the one pictured it looks like you make a great haul.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Well Scrub, I can tell from the pics that it's still a bit stringy when you split it up, so that's a good sign! It means that it's not pithy in side, which isn't any good.

So just based on the pics, I'd say you found a diamond in a goat's arse. Good score!

Only way to find out for %100 sure is to get crackin' on a new bow.  

[red hill]

Good one, Scrub!
Looks like yeller shavin's in your future.
Stan

[Roy from Pa]

Nice Scrub, wish you the best with it.

[Pat B]

Nice looking osage. That color is promising and the rings look good. I see bows in there for sure.