What sort of wood do makes a bow?

Answer 1

The unbacked self-bow used by the Native Americans for hunting was composed of almost every type of wood known, softwood and hardwood. Self-bows are bows made from one single piece of wood, so it's not the type of wood that is too critical but how many knots and how tight the growth rings are, the grain straight, ect.. The best two woods utilized for making primitive wooden bows are Yew and Osage Orange. Yew is a very soft wood, but the fibers are highly elastic and can resist tension, which is the force acting on the back of the bow. Osage Orange is really hard, tough wood and makes a really good bow. But other woods can be used- Black and White Birch, Ash, Hickory, Hazel, Spruce, Mulberry, Oak, Walnut, and almost every species of hardwood. Softer woods like Willow, Poplar, and most Conifers are brittle and weak woods, but you can still make a good bow from them if you make the limbs very wide and the bow thin.