In this HuntPrimitive How to Ryan teaches you how to make a 3 ply rawhide bow string. He used this bow and bow string in the video linked below! • Bushcraft Bow Build an...
You can make the process easier by using dye on two of the strands. Then you will have three colors that make it easier to keep track of which one is the middle strand. You can stay primitive by using natural dye such as berry juice or coffee or tea. It also makes the string better looking and can have a camouflage effect.
I believe that the way you make the string by twisting it is the same way my grandpa and dad made rope. That was a long time ago and I was very young but watching this reminded me of that event. Thanks for bringing that memory back.
Stronger & also more round. When I twist up flemish dacron string for my bows I often will use at least three and sometimes as many as 5 or 6 bundles. I will also mix colors as it helps keep track of which bundle I am working with & it is pretty...black, brown & white for camo...red white & blue for patriotism. Great vids👍🏻👍🏻
I've heard people say that twisting isn't necessary, however it was the way I was taught as well and my strings also outlast others strings ,and when theirs fail I just shrug my shoulders and continue on
Thank you for a great video. I haven't made strings from rawhide before, and look forward to trying other alternatives to natural and synthetic fiber. I have 2 things for consideration: - instead of ending the bitter end with a half hitch, why not do an end splice? It's much more work, but will make the end stronger, prevent it from unraveling, make it more aesthetic & useful for putting in your bowyer's knot. - you actually used a bowline knot, (sorry; I'm a retired Navy sailor...) which makes a usable loop for the lower end. For an actual bowyer's knot, start with loop, just as you had done. Pass the bitter end through the loop and turn it back on itself. Wrap it around the loop 2 - 3 times. This loop will cinch down, anchoring to the lower bow knock, so that you won't have to worry about that end when stringing the bow, or losing the string when the bow is unstrung. It's all personal preference, I guess.
old video, hope you see question.... what do you think about making the rawhide bowstring, putting it on a recurve bow at VERY light tension, and securing it. letting the bow be the resistance. do you think the shrink would be enough for proper tension, or would you need to apply wet with a medium tension and let that dry?
I don't have a traditional or primitive bow yet, but I want to make one soon and I thought a four strand braid would work well, as it is used extensively for rawhide horse tack and lariats,(lasso) have you tried a four strand braid with rawhide or sinew?
Hey Ryan, thanks for the video! I'm in the process of making rawhide for a bowstring, but wanna ask, Should I leave the grain on, when removing the hair or remove the grain as well? I'm in Southern Africa, Botswana and found what's left of an Impala caught by a Leopard. The leopard left behind a good usable piece of skin. The next step would be to find a good usable wood, to make a bow.
Being in a more urban area of northeast florida I do not have access to much decent rawhide(people just pause and look at me weird when I ask them for anything off an animal but meat) but we have yucca for days here, how has your experience been with yucca cord bowstrings? Mostly for lighter bows under 40 pounds.
no dont use those they cant fail and hurt you badly , its different than an old violin string made from gut , when they break no one gets hurt ,,, but a ow string can cause serious harm ,,, , i do know that sinew,,, but if you can get sinew that is the very best better than rawhide , ,, and will not break , it is stronger that any raw hide , i think most folks make a mistake thinking sinew is raw hide ,, totaly different materials , and trust me in this , if sinew can hold the force of a large creature like a bull ,, or elk , running it can take a bowstring force no problem ,,, have a good day buddy peace and be safe
@@huntprimitive9918 do u think a 50 inch self bow with a 15 inch draw at 50lbs is enough draw to take a white tail deer or should i i try to get more draw length from it what would u recommend .I shoot 24 ich arrows from it . The arrow fly fast and true. Its not backed with rawhide or sinew
That’s a bowline knot, classic sailing knot, and VERY strong! A bowyers knot is another name for the timber hitch. Sorry to be pedantic. Lol. Excellent video. I have a groundhog hide I am going to try. Just one hide, so I will see how many or how long of a strip it can yield. Any info or input you have regarding groundhog?
I need that shirt I'm the only person I personally know that even knows wat an atlatl is lol I haven't thrown mine in a while but that changes tomorrow lol
Still liked the video but dude show me how to process the raw hide mine came from a dog bone I don't need to know how to flemish twist I need the info on what comes first
hey there at first my feelings were hurt by your comments cause of the beauty and proudness of my bow. so I kinda avoided the channel but it is best especially in knapping. It scares me usually when people say they make the sharpest best points, but i believe you are the best at what you do. did you cut hide dry n soak afterwards cause it looks like more than 1/16 or 1/8. kinda looks like those sizes are cut dry n soaked later. i need to know before o cut up my strips. hee hee
i think i would have to color the third cord so i could keep track of whats going where , a simple magic marker would do nicely ,,, and i have to ask , im thinking it would be better if the cord was a little damp , because im sure when it dried out it would make it tighter and the cord would sit better together as it dried ,and as it aged might be better acting together ,,, think about it give it a try ,,, i do know that sinue is the very best if you can get it , it does not stretch at all ,,,, if any one knows how to messge this fellow please tell him us or try sinue , as well if you build bows ,,, i do ,,, we use sinue on the bow its works just like snake skin , or any of the other material we use to make a bow stronger , and increase the draw weight , ,,, im sure if you look it up even here on youtube you willsee bow makers using sinue on their bows , ,, very effective and natural ,, have a good day and peace
Elk isn't something I have direct access to and I typically like to use things more obtainable in my own area. I also went to a 3 ply because the 2 ply consistently snapped after a short amount of use, so I bumped it up to 3 thinner strands rather than 2 thicker. Same mass, just different strength qualities in the number of strands.
@@huntprimitive9918 ic. I use a single strand elk back raw hide for my bow string. On a 60 pound 47 " plains indian choke cherry bow. Draws to 28" packes a punch too havent had any issues yet with the elk back raw hide i made my string out of the strip above the elks back .
@@thatsmallrockshop Hi Chris. Any chance you can upload a video of your bow & string? I'm dabbling in rawhide strings at the moment, with plans to try some 'roo rawhide in the coming weeks. I'd love to see how your elk string is tied/twisted etc. Thanks, Steve.
Cool video Ryan. I haven’t made a rawhide string in a while. Do you sell the rawhide strands? I’m looking for some rawhide to make a string for my 72” long sudbury longbow. Thanks.
HuntPrimitive Ok. What about your spoon trade points? I saw on your website they run about 20$ for six. Is that correct? I’m looking for points I can legally hunt with here in Texas. I think 7/8 of an inch in width is required. When I get paid i’ll put an order in. Do they come relatively sharp or do I need to touch them up with a file? Thanks
they are admittedly overprices as I do not want to do them. I encourage ppl to make their own.. but they are time consuming, hand made. they are $20 a piece. No way I'd touch a half dozen for $20..lol
Do you think if I bought some rawhide dog treats and cut them into thin long strips would this method work?? Totally new to primitive archery and I have limited access to resources. Btw your channel amazing man keep at it
I have found that at least in my area, Rawhide from dog treats is treated with bleach and other things which decreases the strength quite heavily. But it may be different where you live so give it a try :)
@HuntPrimitive "And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him-a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12 I've heard of using fox squirrel hide (or substitute groundhog) as a bow string by cutting a circular strip from the entire hide, wetting it and twisting the strip, hair on, then stretched and dried. That's merely fodder for thought. The method in the video is superior to the squirrel hide method.
