Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: Matt A on February 09, 2012, 11:49:42 pm
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i've found this one plant we know here in northern MN as leatherbush.
anyone have any experience with it? you can grab a branch and pull down and it strips ALL the park off of the entire plant all the way to the roots, then your left wrestling it to break the bark off at that.
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Sounds like Dirca palustris(leatherwood). My book doesn't say anything about arrows but it says the bark was used by NA for bow strings, fishing line and for making baskets. If it has appropriate shoots for arrows give it a try.
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it's very short with lots of branches where i find it,might rule out arrows. I had heard the bow string theory before, I dried and tried stripping it to small strands. but i have 0 knowledge on making primitive bowstrings. But holy cow! I could not believe how strong this stuff is! think you could use it for hafting on arrows as well?
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Maybe strip off a piece 1/4" wide and twist it for a string.
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alright ;) one problem... i've never made a bowstring hahaha! but I know a man not far from me that's willing to teach me.
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Go tap his brain!
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Got any pictures of the plant, and the stripped bark?
Does it grow anywhere else?
Wayne
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no all I can say is that it's inside is bleach white almost, you can strip it down into fine strips and trying to break it is like dealing with titanium wire.
the bark is dark brown in color.