Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Papa Matt on July 25, 2008, 03:42:20 pm

Title: Cottonmouth skins for bow backing?
Post by: Papa Matt on July 25, 2008, 03:42:20 pm
Anybody know if cottonmouths have good skin for bow backing? Not that I'll be heading out to the river to try to catch one, but I ask because snakeskin is often used to back a sinew backing to protect it from moisture, and perhaps since the cotton is a watersnake, it's skin might have a higher resistance to moisture? Or maybe all snakeskins make good bow backers as long as they're big enough??

Anybody ever used cottonmouth?

~~Papa Matt
Title: Re: Cottonmouth skins for bow backing?
Post by: knightd on July 25, 2008, 05:10:22 pm
I have used them to great success after drying them they are treated just like any other snake..

David
Title: Re: Cottonmouth skins for bow backing?
Post by: adb on July 25, 2008, 05:13:35 pm
Correct me if I'm wrong... but, I think any dried SS can be used as a bow backing.
Title: Re: Cottonmouth skins for bow backing?
Post by: Papa Matt on July 25, 2008, 05:17:03 pm
That's what it is beginning to look like ADB. I didn't know if any snake worked and if a water snake skin offered more protection from moisture or not.

Thanks for the comments ADB and David  :)

~~Papa Matt
Title: Re: Cottonmouth skins for bow backing?
Post by: mullet on July 25, 2008, 06:14:58 pm
  All the same to me except a python. I had to use a knife to skin one and it was almost like fleshing a deer skin. They are tough and attached to the back.
Title: Re: Cottonmouth skins for bow backing?
Post by: Pat B on July 28, 2008, 12:41:05 pm
I think that any snake skin will work for bow backing and except for adding over sinew, it is strictly decorative. Some snakes like pythons(like Eddie said) and large Eastern D-back skins are thick and IMO not appropriate for bow backing.
Title: Re: Cottonmouth skins for bow backing?
Post by: Papa Matt on July 28, 2008, 01:32:55 pm
Thank for the input everybody!

~~Matt
Title: Re: Cottonmouth skins for bow backing?
Post by: medicinewheel on July 28, 2008, 02:28:52 pm
  All the same to me except a python. I had to use a knife to skin one and it was almost like fleshing a deer skin. They are tough and attached to the back.

does that mean python is not good, or would it have the same sort of protection then deerhide??

f.