Sinue/rawhyde wrap. Whadda ya use???

happycat

happycat

Joined
Jun 21, 1999
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I'm doing a custom piece with an antler handle and the guy wants the last inch or so before the gaurd wrapped with "rawhyde". He wasn't very specific but wants it to be rustic and primative. Never done this kind of thing before. Any suggestions? The only thing I have on hand is the waxed fake sinue I use for my sheaths. What do you guys use for this sort of thing?
Ed
 
I used natural raw hide strips(unbleached) not that boot lace stuff, I had about 20 feet of it. I bought a few years ago, just cant remember where I got it, either tandy leather or dixon's muzzle loading. Here's a pic of how I used it.
 
 
A quick and dirty source for rawhide is the pet isle of the local store. The rawhide chew toys can be soaked in water and they'll become soft. Get the translucient tan kind, not the cloudy white.
 
Here's a couple of wrapped examples for your edification:
This one is wrapped with both rawhide and sinew at the "bolster" - it was sealed with spar varnish
bearjaw-2.jpg

bearjaw-2-3.jpg


This one is sinew wrapped and then sealed with pine pitch:
pt-001.jpg


To do the wrap - thoroughly wet the rawhide and then let it sit wrapped in a towel for about 5-10 minutes to absorb all excess water. Tuck one end underneath and do your wrap. With a fid (like an awl only dull tipped) push a lot underneath the las two wraps and pull you free end through - trim the extra off and when the whole thing dries the free end will be locked into place. Dry in a warm, dry spot - DO NOT heat it - there is no need to and it may cause it to over shrink.
NOTE: Rawhide must be sealed with waterproof finish.
 
I'd like to re emphasize what Chuck said:
Rawhide must be sealed with waterproof finish

Don't use anything with non volatile oil. I made some of the nicest rubber rawhide you ever saw once! :o
 
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