Osage orange HELP

[Kimall]

Has anyone seen Osage Orange in the tree as I have found a guy who knows where to find some trees he knows as Ossie orange which has thorns and fruit does this sound like Osage.(Glenn are you there)
Cheers KIM

[Glenn]

Yes it's a thorny tree Kim, it has green fruit about the size of an orange, there is a lot of osage growing in the colder regions down south...Glenn...

[Kimall]

You beauty I have found a stand in Inverall.Also I have the number of the noxious weed bloke for Tenterfield and I think you said there should be some there also Glenn?
Cheers KIM

[Glenn]

I think it's a real pest all down that way Kim, I think I have even heard of it around Warick, would be good if you get onto a good supply of Osage. It's a legume like wattle, I think it was brought out here as a fodder tree origionally...Glenn...

[Kimall]

More research to be done there and then I will annoy you Glenn with all those bow making questions again. :D
Cheers KIM

[Glenn]

No worries anytime Kim, the hardest part is working down to one ring on the osage, but it does make a very attractive and good shooting bow. I just dug out some New England osage billets and staves I have had stored for years, thought I had better do something with it, should have a bow building weekend sometime...Glenn...

[Kimall]

Mate you tell me when and I will be there that is for sure.I REALLY want to make one from a stave instead of a floor board.I will need to sit down with you and talk about this following the ring idea.Thats new to me.
Cheers KIM

[Glenn]

I have only made two osage bows and both in the USA so it's been a while, it's a just matter of looking at the end grain and choosing which growth ring you want as the back of the bow. Some of the Aussie osage I have seen has very fine growth rings unlike osage grown in the States, the hard part is getting working down through the layers of timber and not cutting the growth ring you want for the back of the bow, once you get the hang of it it's not too hard at all, having said that though...Glenn...