Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: richpierce on March 23, 2008, 12:32:15 pm

Title: question on fox squirrel skin bowstring
Post by: richpierce on March 23, 2008, 12:32:15 pm

I found a road killed fox squirrel and skinned it- removed the fur by ripping it off.  Cut away the belly skin  which seemed weaker and it was a lactating female so had mammary tissue on it anyway.  Now I guess as best as possible I cut the skin spiral style to get anough length for a bowstring, then twist is and hang a weight from it.  Is that right?  How wide should I make the spiral strips?  1/4"?  3/8"?  Other instructions?

Title: Re: question on fox squirrel skin bowstring
Post by: Justin Snyder on March 23, 2008, 02:43:05 pm

Rich, Bob made one on his traditional Seminole bow thread.
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,5699.30.html
Justin

Title: Re: question on fox squirrel skin bowstring
Post by: Trapper on March 23, 2008, 08:47:42 pm

Rich you can almost count on it shrinking almost half.My deer rawhide, strings are cut at 1/2in. wide and it looks like a rope when Im done, but when it dries its about right.  Trapper

Title: Re: question on fox squirrel skin bowstring
Post by: Hillbilly on March 23, 2008, 10:01:00 pm

Joe, is that for a single-strand rawhide string?

Title: Re: question on fox squirrel skin bowstring
Post by: Trapper on March 25, 2008, 03:02:31 am

No its a two ply string , but I make them out of green hide , not dried and rehydrated. and stretch the snot out of it.    Trap