Making a Rawhide Bowstring

Showing my process for making a bowstring from deer rawhide, from drawing to shooting!

[@stevejenkins9984]

This is a fascinating video and well done I make bows but not strings I'm going to have to try this! I'd like to see more about food and cooking techniques

[@esben181]

the coiling of the string to make it uniform in width was incredible

[@UncleDanBand64]

Ok Talon! Love the video and you have taught me something here. I have 2 observations. #1 as for as triming this without following a line. Get a hat trimmer or vernier knife. They have an adjustable guide that allows you to set at a select distance and run the edge. I will get to #2 in a bit and as a matter of fact....I am a Texan and worked a bunch in Okie...and love Braums😀 Ok #2 all peoples at 1 point were native! Myself....I am 3/4 European Scotch/Irish....1/4 Cherokee....100% Cowboy....200% Texican😀

[@UncleDanBand64]

I would have thought that if you had a rawhide string in the rain and you had a 6.5" Brace Height......30 minutes into a downpour you would have a 5" Brace Height. That would be a great experiment I think 🤔

[@UncleDanBand64]

@@JungleBoyUKProductReview true

[@hughswanzy8871]

Cherokee Bows and Arrows book by Al Herrin has some good info on building rawhide bowstrings.

[@cherokeesfinestindian]

Awesome bow string brother. Keep up the good work. 👍👍

[@smoothrivers5553]

great video brother!

[@slingshotwarrrior8105]

Awesome job man! But I say this with all due respect! That haircut is retro, we're talking 80s style I like it.

[@talonsilverhorn8041]

Thank You! Haha and yes the hair is doing its own thing at the moment. it's a new experience for me!

[@slingshotwarrrior8105]

@@talonsilverhorn8041 Haha, welcome man!

[@OverOnTheWildSide]

Interesting info! And yes the clothing comparison video would be a good one.

[@horsesandarchery8798]

I complete in mounted archery. This year I started using Native American type bows, arrows and quivers. I would like to become as historically accurate with this equipment as possible. When I prepare for a competition I will shoot a thousand arrows or more a week, this usually will wear out a natural cordage string in a week or so. I usually switch back and forth from natural to modern string but would like to keep from doing this. My question is do you know of a natural string or serving material that was used by native Americans or any other cultures world wide that will hold up to this type of use? I’ve done some experimenting on my own but are not sure if they were ever used. Pleas take a look at the video and let me know what you think.

[@mackenziemoore6907]

You scar the hell out of me fully dressed as a native American but your awesome my brother native Americans like u say make only quality things from weapons to jewelry it's all normally perfect to the eye thank you for sharing your knowledge my friend

[@tonykaczmarek278]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing this . Do you use tallow to protect the rawhide? Reason I'm asking is that I've always used it to rub down my bows and arrow shafts. Not alot, just a little to protect from moisture. Well when I had a rawhide string on a bow I'd bump it with some of the tallow so I'd wipe it in. I noticed rawhide strings can get brittle in time and break. But the ones I rubbed tallow onto dont ever do this. Matter of fact they seem way less likely to break. So I got to thinking, first peoples lived in homes that had a fire pit. Theyd store there bows and stuff tied to the frame work. Well the fire would keep the bow dry and the smoke would settle on the surface . So I tried this, just put my bow with a rawhide string that I rubbed down with tallow inside a shelter I made . I did this about 2 years ago. That rawhide string is still great after several hundred times of shooting that bow. Where as other strings on other bows from that same piece of skin eventually got brittle and broke . I left them without doing anything to them.

[@UncleDanBand64]

Howdy brother....sorry I missed your 1k thing-u-ma-jig😀

[@thatsmallrockshop]

And this is why i try to specialize in making all these things the old way. Only stone and bone tools for me. For my personal work. I even harvest my sinew using only flint/chert flakes. I find i can harvest it faster and cleaner than with a steel blade its hard to describe untill a person tries it themselves.🙂

[@severinevans346]

I have made european style bows for a bit mostly english yew longbows. I recently started learning bow making from a Cherokee man I admit I am at a loss for it right now. The style is completely different than what I am used to and I feel a bit out of my element. I will endure though and learn to make the bow I am interested enough. Not sure if these are historically accurate mind you as I myself am not a native or historian but a bow is always fun.

[@lymanclark5537]

WEll done. I have made several rawhide bowstrings and they work great. I would love to get into a museum and examine the bows and arrows. The design, length, nocks and type of wood is so interesting. Also the method used to tie the strings on to the bow. Is there a common method or many ways. Arrows would be another great study.

[@jkre]

Is this only 1 bly string? Cus you don't show any counter twisting multible plys together, and what kind of knots do you use for loops?

[@chucklearnslithics3751]

Do you ever worry about use wear at the nock and put any kind of replaceable serving or anything like that on it?

[@blacksnapper7684]

Would a bear or wild hog work?

[@thatsmallrockshop]

A piece of sand stone is amazing for sanding down the rawhide string if necasary.

[@terryhall754]

Talon did u double up on the string? Because it seems u cut alot of rawhide.

[@tonymaurice4157]

What would I need for a 60 lb bow? 3 ply rawhide string?

[@user-wv5fg6bn6r]

i use twisted Buckskin is it accurate?

[@hughswanzy8871]

3 plies thick?

[@franciscogomez9036]

i have many bows and staves I would like give to you