Crafting table can store bow while trying to craft dispenser.

 

While trying to find a way around the dispenser recipe refusing to select a bow from my inventory - I discovered that if I place a bow in the center slot of the crafting table, then shift click on the dispenser recipe, although nothing seems to happen, after closing the crafting UI the bow I placed is no longer in my inventory. The bow is visible upon reopening the table's UI, still in the center slot, and returns to my inventory when I close the UI, unless I again shift click on the dispenser recipe before doing so.