Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: WhistlingBadger on January 02, 2026, 01:11:16 am

Title: Birch bark over sinew?
Post by: WhistlingBadger on January 02, 2026, 01:11:16 am

Hey, boys (or girls, if you happen to be one).  I am about to put a snakeskin on this wonky juniper/sinew bow.  I don't think the skin I have is big enough to cover the whole bow; I'm going to have a few inches on each limb tip of bare sinew.  I want some kind of covering on it, both for water resistance and for looks.

I have some nice pieces of river birch bark, a nice dark red-brown, that might do the job.  Anybody ever tried covering sinew with birch bark?  Anything I need to know?

Thomas

Title: Re: Birch bark over sinew?
Post by: Chumash on January 02, 2026, 06:22:23 am

For moisture protection wrap a thin layer of birch bark around the limbs. Glue it with hide glue.
Thin means: as a sheet of paper.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,73437.0.html

And I think willie has posted something about a birchbark wrapped twowoodbow from Russia http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,68162.0.html