fish skin for backing???

[ozy clint]

anyone ever used a fish skin instead of snake skin?

[Outwest]

Hey Ozy.

I have seen a couple of bows backed with sturgeon skin. Looked pretty dood.

John

[trapperDave]

I seen John Scifres grass carp backed osage bow today,,,sweeeeeeeeeeeet!  

[ozy clint]

trapper- got pics?

i'm thinking barramundi skin. looks good as leather

[trapperDave]

nope, didnt think to take a pic.

[Pat B]

Clint, This is a bow a friend gave me. It is reported to be a Jay Massey bow. Sinew backed osage with halibut skin covering.



 I have seen bows with carp skins, sturgeon skins and halibut skins.
Some fish skins are thick and tough and will protect like rawhide and others are thin and are only decorative.
Do a search for fish skin backings. Seems like Timo or Mickey did a build along.

[broketooth]

wow mr pat that looks really cool. i like the shape of the tips too

[pronghorn23]

Primitive Archer had an article maybe last year or so about gar skin for backing. Looked pretty good.

[John Scifres]

http://residents.bowhunting.net/sticknstring/mj04cb.html

[josef2424]

Wow. That carp skin is beautiful!

[Roy Steele]

I've did carp skins twice both times they came out ok.

[boznarras]

The cold storage and canneries here in Alaska have cooperated with some local businesses to let them try their hand with fish leather. In Juneau you can buy handicrafts like wallets and belts made from salmon skin. If you contacted the chamber of commerce in Juneau,or the state of Alaska (not sure what department), they might direct you to a source for skins, both raw and tanned.

[boznarras]

And it occurs to me that having a fish skin on your bow might be real effective on a bear hunt!  :eek:

[jrchambers]

ive often thought about lingcod, they have about one of the best hides for wallets and actualy have a neat patern with some mild orange rings.

[Leo L.]

I found this just last night...

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=12215.0

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=12105.0

[john fletch]

Fish and snake skins can add a lot of color and beauty, but for the most part do not add to sthe cast of the bow.  In fact they can deaden it.  True fibers like sinew will greatly add to the cast, but often is not attractive like skin.  I have seen some bows done with an underlay of sinew that was carefully pressed on flat and then had the overlay of skin.  Those bows had great cast and beauty.  A whole lot of work went into them and the cost was quite high.  I would think that would not be the 'starter project' one would want but may be a talent to shoot for.

[Aeronut]

I've seen some of Timo's fish skin bows and they are gorgeous.

Dennis