Sinew

Who here uses it? Who here knows how to make strings out of it? I wouldlike to learn. I planned on keeping my sinew from deer. But not sure if sinew has to be one piece or can be spliced in. I have read articles on cording sinew, but not sure if thats how indians made thier bow strings. Cording made it look huge.

[Arthur P]

I haven't worked with sinew but I've been interested in doing it for quite awhile. Probably everyone has one of those things you want to do, intend to do but never get around to actually doing.

Jim Hamm has what reads to be pretty simple instructions on making sinew strings and sinew backed bows in his book Bows and arrows of the Native Americans.

[trouthunter]

From what I remember reading on the topic, the indians usually used buffallo sinew for strings just because of it's length (didn't need to be braided together) over shorter length deer sinew.I'm sure in a pinch, or if buffallo wasn't available, they'd useany sinew they could get. Europeans probably used sinew from livestock on thier bows.

You may want to try artificial sinew from a leather works store for your first go at making a string. It will give you a good feel for making the string and be time and cost saving.

[Wingbone]

I have used it for sewing and made cordage out of it. I used sinew from deer. Thats the silver stuff you fillet off the back straps. I haven't made a bowstring, but it wouldn't be a feat to do it. It would lend itself very well to making a flemish twist string. You indeed would be splicing it. The downside is that it is sensitive to moisture andI think it would be difficult to maintain a constant brace height.

[Arthur P]

I just remembered another excellent book with instructions on making bows and bowstrings with sinew. The Bowyer's Craft by Jay Massey.

Thanks Arthur, I will look into it. Another one of those, things I wouldn't mind knowing before I die type of things.

[WolfWithBow]

I sometimes use IV to make bowstring. If it is thin IVI get about 2 or 3 of them and twist them around and it becomes very hard and will not break. you have to use the right IV for the string or it will break. I have only done this once and it worked for me. the string lasted about 2 months and i have never made anymore. I do make my own homemade arrows which are easy to make. i just find the straightest green willow wood available, i find them in the underbrush. they are usually only 29 inches long, than i skin the bark until only fresh wood shows and then i let it dry for about 4 days, than i make notched in the arrows with a mini multi tool saw, than i file it down to widen it. also i make a few type of bows- for me, a quick bowfishing bow is when you get small growing thin tree that is fresh and or willow trees about 60 inches tall, than i just string them up, its kinda simple but it works. than i make dry wooden bow like everyone else. im not bragging its just how i do it.

[LBR]

Unless the string is for a really short bow, most likely you are going to have to splice it (unless you find some giraffe sinew!). I've read about it, but haven't tried it. From what I can tell, a spliced string is going to be time consuming to make, hard to make look right, it's going to be "fat", won't be durable, and won't perform as well as even dacron.

I've made quite a few strings from artificial sinew, and it looks cool for a bow to hang on the wall, but it makes a pretty lousy string--constantly stretching and not too durable.

I reckon if I got to a point where I couldn't find anything better to make a string from, I'd just hunt with a spear or atlatl. I would like to make one, just to say I'd done it, but don't care to use it.

As far as the Indians go, I reckon their strings varied as much as their bows. I can't remember which tribe it was, but at least one used squirrell hide for a string. I want to say Cherokee, but don't hold me to it.

Chad

Chad