What is sinew?

Question

When making a composite bow (archery) what is the Sinew. And where can I get it or some?

Answer 1

In the traditional Indian ways they got it from tendons in deer along the length of their back and from the tendons in their back legs

Answer 2

Real sinew is pretty cheap and can be found from a number of suppliers on the Internet. If you know hunters that butcher their own deer, you can have a ready supply. Sinew is actually muscle casing. It will have a silvery/white look. The easiest place to see this is on the back strap of the deer after it has been skinned and the tallow pulled away from the backbone.

Most people that butcher will remove the sinew in a process similar to filleting a fish. When the sinew is dried, it can be split and separated into very tiny strands for sewing or larger for hafting arrows and knife blades. The other main location for sinew is on the hind quarters of the deer from the knee joint upward on the hid quarter.

You wold usually pick or peel out the amount of sinew need, re-wet the sinew, rolling it between you hands and wrapping tying, etc. When it is dry it will be very sturdy.

Answer 3

True sinew is dried hide, ligaments or tendons as I remember. Can't remember what artificial stuff is made from. Check where you bought your bow.

Answer 4

Tandy Leather/TheLeather FActory sells artificial sinew. I don't know if it would suit your purpose, but it works well for sewing buckskinner items.

Doc

Answer 5

the stuff that attaches muscles to bones. tendons.

when it's worked into cording, it's called sinew.

I don't know of any sources for the real stuff right off the top of my head and artificial won't work for laminating.

You *can*, make a cordage-backed bow if you're looking at "primitive" and don't have your heart set on a laminated one.

Answer 6

Try going to [e-mail] is also three rivers archery supply.