Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => HowTo's and Build-a-longs => Topic started by: bushman on October 29, 2009, 02:01:12 am

Title: Gut Bow String?
Post by: bushman on October 29, 2009, 02:01:12 am

How do you dry the intestines to make gut bow strings? Do you cut them open so they are like a sheet then hang them up with a weight on one end to dry? Or do you leave them intact as you would for sausage casing and then hang them up with a weight on one end to dry? Thanks
Bushman

Title: Re: Gut Bow String?
Post by: zeNBowyer on October 29, 2009, 03:46:07 am

Great  topic  Bushman, I'm  also  wondering  what animals  are  best  used  for gut string/hafting

Title: Re: Gut Bow String?
Post by: JackCrafty on December 30, 2009, 05:09:47 pm

Bear gut (for bowstrings) was reportedly used by some Native Americans in the Eastern US.  Not sure what tribe(s).

Title: Re: Gut Bow String?
Post by: El Destructo on December 30, 2009, 05:34:50 pm

I have used Gut Hafting I bought from Nativeway.com with Good Results before...just Soak the dried Gut in warm water until it is rehydrated....use three to four peices of it ...and twist it like a Flemish String....worked great for me

Title: Re: Gut Bow String?
Post by: Swamp Bow on January 03, 2010, 08:12:11 am

Here kitty kitty kitty!  >:D JK  Seriously, has any one tried using cat gut designed for a tennis racket?  I don't know how stretchy the stuff is.

Swamp

Title: Re: Gut Bow String?
Post by: woodstick on January 03, 2010, 11:50:28 pm

thats cool you gona go that primitive, i like b50 myself, good luck with it. i wouls like to see a pic of one i never seen a gut string.

Title: Re: Gut Bow String?
Post by: bushman on January 12, 2010, 03:06:22 am

El Destructo, What was that gut hafting like that you bought? Was it gut cut into strips? Or was it the whole tube of a gut all dried and shriveled up?
Bushman

Quote from: El Destructo on December 30, 2009, 05:34:50 pm

I have used Gut Hafting I bought from Nativeway.com with Good Results before...just Soak the dried Gut in warm water until it is rehydrated....use three to four peices of it ...and twist it like a Flemish String....worked great for me

Title: Re: Gut Bow String?
Post by: El Destructo on January 12, 2010, 03:08:30 am

all Dried and Shrivelled Up!!

Title: Re: Gut Bow String?
Post by: bushman on January 12, 2010, 03:35:50 am

woodstick El Destructo, thanks, now I need to go get me some gut. Well have to wait till fall time when I get me deer. When I get it all dried up and made into a bowstring I will be sure to post pictures of it Woodstick.

Title: Re: Gut Bow String?
Post by: bushman on January 12, 2010, 03:38:48 am

What happened to that post? Ment to say:
El Destructo, thanks, now I need to go get me some gut. Well have to wait till fall time when I get me deer. When I get it all dried up and made into a bowstring I will be sure to post pictures of it Woodstick.

Title: Re: Gut Bow String?
Post by: wolfsire on January 12, 2010, 06:19:54 pm

I've kept this link on guts.  You might find it useful.

http://www.daniellarson.com/article.htm

Title: Re: Gut Bow String?
Post by: davey on May 17, 2016, 08:17:51 pm

just stretching sausage skins now... I hear cat gut was a red herring in the violin making buisiness.. it was just sheep.. killing cats often believed to be bad luck, which is what they wanted for the competition.

Title: Re: Gut Bow String?
Post by: DC on May 18, 2016, 11:33:10 am

Maybe of interest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1aYaHEl9Rg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRQq_0VM110