violating a back

[PatM]

Those weren't sinew backed. They were balleen-cable braced. Huge difference. Sinew backing is a full  covering that is alleged to keep splinters from lifting. All a cable (sinew or otherwise) does is relieve tension on the bow's back. And realistically that's going to be necessary for some shoddy driftwood.

Alleged?  A baleen cable, eh?

Yes. Can you imagine how much sinew would be required to make a cable this long? Only a whale's baleen was sufficient.


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QlTAdivgTKY/Sqo8nYLtM9I/AAAAAAAAAtU/fqV7mopu8BY/s1600-h/CMC+bows03.jpg

 So that's  baleen? How did they process and braid it?

[Jack Napier]

Those weren't sinew backed. They were balleen-cable braced. Huge difference. Sinew backing is a full  covering that is alleged to keep splinters from lifting. All a cable (sinew or otherwise) does is relieve tension on the bow's back. And realistically that's going to be necessary for some shoddy driftwood.

Alleged?  A baleen cable, eh?

Yes. Can you imagine how much sinew would be required to make a cable this long? Only a whale's baleen was sufficient.


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QlTAdivgTKY/Sqo8nYLtM9I/AAAAAAAAAtU/fqV7mopu8BY/s1600-h/CMC+bows03.jpg

 So that's  baleen? How did they process and braid it?

I'm unsure how they did that but they also made nets with baleen, some 70 feet long for trapping birds...

[PatM]

So the thought that Eskimos used sinew cable backs is erroneous?

[bubby]

Those weren't sinew backed. They were balleen-cable braced. Huge difference. Sinew backing is a full  covering that is alleged to keep splinters from lifting. All a cable (sinew or otherwise) does is relieve tension on the bow's back. And realistically that's going to be necessary for some shoddy driftwood.

Alleged?  A baleen cable, eh?

He must not realize that baleen is plates made from the same thing horn is, you would have to saw it in some small strips to make a cable from it

[Jack Napier]

He must not realize that baleen is plates made from the same thing horn is, you would have to saw it in some small strips to make a cable from it

Well, looks like we got another ill-informed assumption from a balding middle aged non-Eskimo male. The eskimo made braided nets and knots from baleen cordage to make cables for bows and nets for animal trapping and they had no long saws.

Nets may also have been used for winter sealing as indicated by balleen cordage and knots found on Qeqertasussuk

https://books.google.com/books?id=0K3Np5MHPtcC&pg=PA118

It was commonly used to crease paper; its flexibility kept it from damaging the paper. It was also occasionally used in cable-backed bows.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baleen

[Stick Bender]

Hey Jack how many Beers 🍻 tonight Bud ?

[Jack Napier]

So the thought that Eskimos used sinew cable backs is erroneous?

Well, some bows undoubtedly used sinew and were much smaller without the massive cable. They are also likely to have been made of antler. Only baleen could ever provide that massive cable.

[PatM]

So the thought that Eskimos used sinew cable backs is erroneous?

Well, some bows undoubtedly used sinew and were much smaller without the massive cable. They are also likely to have been made of antler. Only baleen could ever provide that massive cable.

 Why is that?  Aren't ropes just made by adding more of the same?

[Jack Napier]

So the thought that Eskimos used sinew cable backs is erroneous?

Well, some bows undoubtedly used sinew and were much smaller without the massive cable. They are also likely to have been made of antler. Only baleen could ever provide that massive cable.

 Why is that?  Aren't ropes just made by adding more of the same?

Yes but you can only get so much sinew from a caribou. Think about how little sinew you get from four leg tendons and a backstrap, and compare that to what you get from baleen. Now consider that sinew had to be used for other, more pertinent tasks like sewing clothing and kayaks. There simply was not enough of this precious material to go around, particlarly among those further inshore.

[bubby]

So the thought that Eskimos used sinew cable backs is erroneous?

Well, some bows undoubtedly used sinew and were much smaller without the massive cable. They are also likely to have been made of antler. Only baleen could ever provide that massive cable.

 Why is that?  Aren't ropes just made by adding more of the same?

Pat that's because this guy doesn't have a clue what he's talking about, i guess those sinew bow strings are only 8" long lol. When you have to resort to name calling and Wikipedia for a response it's not worth my time, how about you?

[PatM]

So the thought that Eskimos used sinew cable backs is erroneous?

Well, some bows undoubtedly used sinew and were much smaller without the massive cable. They are also likely to have been made of antler. Only baleen could ever provide that massive cable.

 Why is that?  Aren't ropes just made by adding more of the same?

Yes but you can only get so much sinew from a caribou. Think about how little sinew you get from four leg tendons and a backstrap, and compare that to what you get from baleen. Now consider that sinew had to be used for other, more pertinent tasks like sewing clothing and kayaks. There simply was not enough of this precious material to go around, particlarly among those further inshore.

  An animal has tendons in the front of the legs too.

 However I think sinew is a bit more readily stockpiled than hunting or finding whales for baleen. Speaking of precious material...

 Maybe you should consider that the main part of the bow would be baleen?
 

[Jack Napier]

So the thought that Eskimos used sinew cable backs is erroneous?

Well, some bows undoubtedly used sinew and were much smaller without the massive cable. They are also likely to have been made of antler. Only baleen could ever provide that massive cable.

 Why is that?  Aren't ropes just made by adding more of the same?

Pat that's because this guy doesn't have a clue what he's talking about, i guess those sinew bow strings are only 8" long lol. When you have to resort to name calling and Wikipedia for a response it's not worth my time, how about you?

Making sinew bow strings isn't that big of a problem although many groups preferred to make them from babiche. A bow string is maybe 40" long but those cables on the big bows are over 100 feet long.

[Mo_coon-catcher]

I'm curious how much ainew they got from whales and seals. I would assume they would have quite a bit of back strap sinew.

Kyle

[Jack Napier]

So the thought that Eskimos used sinew cable backs is erroneous?

Well, some bows undoubtedly used sinew and were much smaller without the massive cable. They are also likely to have been made of antler. Only baleen could ever provide that massive cable.

 Why is that?  Aren't ropes just made by adding more of the same?

Yes but you can only get so much sinew from a caribou. Think about how little sinew you get from four leg tendons and a backstrap, and compare that to what you get from baleen. Now consider that sinew had to be used for other, more pertinent tasks like sewing clothing and kayaks. There simply was not enough of this precious material to go around, particlarly among those further inshore.

  An animal has tendons in the front of the legs too.

 However I think sinew is a bit more readily stockpiled than hunting or finding whales for baleen. Speaking of precious material...

 Maybe you should consider that the main part of the bow would be baleen?
 

Doesn't matter, those tendons are short and contribute nothing. A backstrap offers one light backing of sinew for a bow, now tell me how many caribou backstraps do you think you would need to produce +100 feet of cordage? Keep in mind these people were strapped for sinew with all that multilayered clothing they wore and all that kayak jointing.

[bubby]

This is hilarious!!!