A question about carving bone tools.

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

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Mar 19, 2007
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I am wondering about the lateral and horizontal strength of bone and what way it should be cut when making tools - in particular fish hooks.

I am making small gouges and fish hooks out of beef bone (as that is what I have access to) and I find that I can cut the thicker part of the bone one of three ways:

I can cut the bone Vertically (Top down - or bottom up).

I can cut the bone Horizontally (Left to right or right to left)

Or - in the thicker portions of the bone -

I can cut a cross section of the bone and get small gouges made (this is the least wasteful way as I can cut to my desired thickness and do very little sanding to make what I want).

What I don't know is weather bone is stronger vertically (weight going from animal to ground), Horizontally (weight hitting the animal from the side in a breaking motion) or weather a cross section would provide the most strength for my tools.


Does anyone have any input on this? I know the natives tend to make their hooks vertically as seen below - but I am not sure if this is the strongest method.


699885d1352894075-beads-fish-hooks-img_1689.jpg


TF
 
True - however - with all of the snapped bone hooks found - it makes me wonder if that is totally true.

The hemp twine I use - for instance - has a breaking point of about 80 pounds.

Just wondering if direction matters. I am not sure that it does given the honeycomb like nature of bone.

TF
 
Good question..Never really tried to make anything out of bone..but from the times I have dealt with it, seems easier to cut in a vertical direction now that you mention it, and would be easier to hold without modern tools at least to get started. Does bone have to be really dried out well before you start working on it? Wood, likes to split a little over time if not seasoned well before cutting too deeply on it, especially the smaller pieces. Good luck.
 
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I'm guessing on this but it might be related to the density. I'd think the density would be highest would be where the bone has the greatest stress. The outside instead of the inside (marrow) part and between the joints where the greatest flex occurs. Also, maybe where the ligaments attach.
 
Barrabas,

A great way to get started is to stop at pet smart and buy a cleaned cow's leg bone.

Bo - Agreed - the inner layers is very honey combed and has to be cleaned up - the thicker layers are near the joints.... which doesn't answer the question... ;)


I was just wondering if there had been tests on this. I might need to talk to a forensic anthropologist or something of the like. Does anyone have 'Bones' number?

TF
 
There is a natural hook formed in the skull of animals that typically is broken out and sanded with a rock, rather than using leg bones.
 
Here is an example.

[video=youtube;uEUbtrDnc98]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEUbtrDnc98&list=UUPeDLJeMBu2iERl-4btV6Eg&index=13[/video]
 
I am aware of nasal bones used as hooks - but - what tends to be found in the archeology are ones made from other bones - like was shown above.

TF
 
Here is the bone gouge I just finished as a necklace.

BoneGougeNecklace1_zps97a247dd.jpg


BoneGougeNecklace2_zps1fed6c34.jpg


This is 48 pound hemp cordage - reverse wrapped. It would make the cordage itself about 96 pounds. Three coconut beads, one bone bead (with dye) and 10 pounds cordage used to whip. I used beeswax to smooth out the reverse wrap.

I am sure this could be employed as a trot line if needed.


This is an accurate reproduction of a Mississippian Indian Artifact found in 1883 in Tennessee:

fishhooks2gourgessm.jpg


TF
 
TF, good looking necklace! If you want a good place to source different types of bone you can use, there is a place in Jersey Village that has good raw bone, intended for pet consumption. If you need the info, shoot me a PM. This is where all of my dogs raw bones and 'stuff' are sourced. I know they have beef, lamb and emu. How much do wanna play with? lol

DD
 
I like the necklace. How sharp does the gorge have to be to catch fish? Sharp enough to cause any discomfort when wearing it as a necklace?
 
Cougar, many of the gouges I have seen are actually just toggles - pretty dull - but I wanted to reproduce an archeological find.

Same with this bone hook I finished tonight. I did a lot of research to figure out how the Native American's would have lashed (snelled) this hook. I think I have something decently authentic with some changes made to make a necklace. It likely would have been snelled into a single line - but I think this is a decent compromise.

The hook is authentic to one found on a burial site in North America (actual size). The whipping is sinew, the cordage is hemp, the bead is wood.

64757_10200662862996252_334447476_n_zpsfb6bde4d.jpg


602226_10200662863796272_1595705464_n_zpscdf9afc8.jpg


535611_10200662865276309_2085363745_n_zps891c6c7f.jpg


600043_10200662864316285_2069609149_n_zps56653abd.jpg


I am enjoying this - and will likely try my hand at a different type of lashing that is consistent with another type of hook found in North America. I will also try my hand a Maori design or two.

TF
 
Nice work.:thumbup: I've caught fish with a gorge and Dogbane line-13 feet of it, works great. Never have tried the style you've made. Love to hear your results.
 
I had better luck catching fish with a gorge than with the barbless primitive hook. I never succeded using a thorn as a gorge though. And I cheated and used artificial sinew as cordage.
 
Do you have pictures of a gorge rigged up and ready to fish. I understand how they work, I just don't believe I've ever seen one put to use. Cool stuff.

I'm going to try the bone and yucca cordage as soon as it warms up. I've never tried to use any of them that I've made.
 
This is the rig I made up. Don't mean to hijack.:o
settotryfishing.jpg

Baited up.
baitedup.jpg


13' of Dogbane, reverse twist.
endofthenite.jpg


Not caught on the same day,but Bluegill landed.
Picture12.jpg
 
I just ran across this recent find of a fishook. It is mammoth ivory, found in Germany and supposedly dated to 19,000 years old. I am guessing that can only be carbon dating of the tusk, not actually when it was made. As an example, I am having a custom knife made with a handle of mammoth ivory dated to be 10,000 years old. Still, it is an excellent find of an archaic fishook.
x3ybsm.jpg
 
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