Page 1 of 1

Bow string and it's Materials.

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 5:32 pm
by Shivaji.Dasgupta
To all eminent members and co enthusiasts, I am preparing a details of bow string materials available in India and worldwide.
Till now my search result is as follows..
1. Raw hide
2. Linen
3. Sinew
4. Hemp
5. Barks such as bamboo. Cane etc
6. Modern fibers such as decron or other synthetic fibers.
7. Animal intestine ( processed and cured)
Till now I am able to use 1, 2,3,5 and 7.
Any one have any idea of other materials.
My only intentions are to find out which one is more strong and sturdy as per our Indian climates.

Re: Bow string and it's Materials.

Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 8:06 pm
by russianshooter3
for indian climate better use synthetic fibers

for example about knife
My friends live in GOA and some other states - 6 mouth
he took a knife for various household tasks.Knife made in Russia with traditional material looks like leather holster, leather knife handle
and carbon damask steel blade

the knife rusted on the second day! knife leather handle broken - 7 day!

Re: Bow string and it's Materials.

Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2019 12:24 am
by Shivaji.Dasgupta
russianshooter3 wrote:
Fri Nov 15, 2019 8:06 pm
for indian climate better use synthetic fibers

for example about knife
My friends live in GOA and some other states - 6 mouth
he took a knife for various household tasks.Knife made in Russia with traditional material looks like leather holster, leather knife handle and
carbon damask steel blade

the knife rusted on the second day! knife leather handle broken - 7 day!
You may be Right on Knife but the synthetic Material has its own disadvantages though it has the advantages like available in ready to use form etc. but for Wooden and other material Bows like cane and bamboo bows are more suitable with Tree Barks and Processed Animal Guts. Till now that's what I feel .
I am trying to check the Strength of each product with Wooden and Bamboo Bows. Shortly I will Able to put some Pics on this topic.

Re: Bow string and it's Materials.

Posted: Sat Nov 16, 2019 11:25 am
by Shivaji.Dasgupta
Catgut.jpg
cord from Animal Intestine Fibre
Sinew.jpg
Sinew
Bamboo bark as Bow string.jpg
Bamboo Bark

Re: Bow string and it's Materials.

Posted: Sun May 31, 2020 8:08 pm
by yr1994
I have been using the Bearpaw 'Whisper String' for a while now on my 60lb recurve bow without any problems. I use it in combination with beaver tail silencers. Makes them really quiet.
For your reference-:
http://www.bearpaw-blog.com/bearpaw-whi ... -a-name-2/

Re: Bow string and it's Materials.

Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2020 6:48 am
by riflemarksman
Getting the materials in India is difficult ........natural materials used for bowstring, the bow and arrows requires skill to make and use them ....the range is also limited .......whereas modern string and bow materials are more user friendly.........although frankly speaking I have not used either type of bow and arrow

Re: Bow string and it's Materials.

Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 8:21 pm
by Shivaji.Dasgupta
riflemarksman wrote:
Mon Jun 01, 2020 6:48 am
Getting the materials in India is difficult ........natural materials used for bowstring, the bow and arrows requires skill to make and use them ....the range is also limited .......whereas modern string and bow materials are more user friendly.........although frankly speaking I have not used either type of bow and arrow
[/quote
Extremely sorry for delay in reply. You are right. Getting a good brand of foreign make is very difficult. I used to make my own bow and arrows. I used bamboo or cane for bow and bamboo bark and processed animal guts as bow string. One problem with raw hide or processed guts I faced is, if not used regularly then different insects starts destroying this material.
In this matter processed bamboo bark is more reliable. I am using a set of bow and arrow for last 18/19 years and some use them for generations.
For a range with an arrow is not an issue, I can shot up to 40/45 yards with my bow which is a very simple bow. A skilled tribal archer an shot more than 50 yards easily.
Arrows used for long distance shot and close hunting shots are different. Also there are arrows for fishing, snake hunting, bird hunting, and for the mid size animals like deer, porcupine fox, bear, rabbit, hogs etc.
Any thing bigger than this is preferably shot with poisoned tips. And in general different poisonous herbs and materials used to make the poison for arrows.
I saw that in parts of Nagaland, people use cane barks as strings but I don't know how to process cane bark. I will try with same process as I used to process bamboo.

Re: Bow string and it's Materials.

Posted: Mon May 10, 2021 8:25 pm
by Shivaji.Dasgupta
yr1994 wrote:
Sun May 31, 2020 8:08 pm
I have been using the Bearpaw 'Whisper String' for a while now on my 60lb recurve bow without any problems. I use it in combination with beaver tail silencers. Makes them really quiet.
For your reference-:
http://www.bearpaw-blog.com/bearpaw-whi ... -a-name-2/

Extremely sorry for the delay in reply, yes I saw it. Good reviews, I am sure the product it self will also be good. You are lucky bro. You have easy access to these products. Here availability is an issue even if one is ready to pay for it.