Apple Wood for Bow Making

The most common wood for crafting archery bows comes from the yew tree, but other woods can also make sturdy and beautiful bows. While it is less common than yew and some other popular trees, wood from the apple tree can be used to make a bow.

  1. About Apple Wood

    • Wood from an apple tree, whether it is a crab apple or traditional apple, can be use to make a bow whose wood has a unique coloring. This wood is called either apple wood or applewood.

    Historical Use

    • Historically, in bows crafted by the indigenous population of Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada, the crab apple was second only to the yew as a bow-making wood. The wood from the hedge apple or osage orange tree is also highly valued for making bows.

    Obtaining Apple Wood

    • To obtain the wood to craft your bow, you can purchase a 5-foot dowel at your local lumber store or home center, or you can take the wood from an apple tree sapling on your property.