Strings using the 'Tundj'

I found that if you use Dacron, either the loops or the eyes of the main skein need to be served to increase the friction between the loops and the the main part of the string. Ones I made that way lasted for years. When I tried waxed Dacron on waxed Dacron it was unstable. The other thing I did was bind the loose ends of the loops to the main part of the string.

The original Turkish string I own has loops that appear to be impregnated with glue. They look like they are made from very fine sinew threads, but it might be unspun silk. I have not examined it with magnification.

Mongolians use eighter rope for the loop or else rawhide which is cut narrow but very thick. Sometimes thin rawhide is folded over to make a thick piece. I have one in which the knot is assembled through the eyelets of a modern-type served string. Much effort is made to have the knot rest on a pad. -j-

Hi Hardman,I had the very same problem with dacron:it's very slippery.Natural fibers have more grip,though I also secure each end of the loop that come out from the knot with another knot.Using dacron I make one piece flemish strings.
Bye

Francesco

Jack, what is eighter rope?
I had not considered using rawhide strips, I assume you twist the strips together to make a cord?
Klopsteg did say that the knots were soaked in hide glue, I did not think it was appropriate for modern materials however.
On the topic of natural fibres, are we talking vegetable or animal? Camelhide isn't easy to come across, although if it is the best I'm sure I could find some.

Mike

Mike; Mongolians use rope for the loops or they use rawhide for the loops. The loops are tied with your special knot to the string. The string is made up like a modern string with served eyelets in the ends. If you do not have camel try bull rawhide. It only takes a small scrap. Or use some thinner rawhide folded over. -j-

Hello,
Pictures and explanations of original composite bows strings are scarce.
If any of you had or could make pictures of original or reconstructed string this would be very helpful for anyone interested in the matter.

I need to make a string for a 49" Turkish bow.
Alessi, what the string length should be ?
My bow design looks like much yours.

Thanks

I have this picture from Topkapi i don't remember where from ?

My string is very similar to the one in J?r?me's picture. As soon as I can recharge the batteries for my camera, I will photograph the knots.

This is a picture of the tunc of an old Turkish string. You can see that there is some serving around the loose ends of the knot and that is tied down to the main skein.

The are discoloration marks on the loop showing where the leather, glued-on protector of the nock on the bow bled dye into it. A few loose fibres may be visible too.

Hello Redbow,for a 7" brace I use a 110cm long string(my bow is 124cm ntn).
Bye

Francesco

Thank you Bede and Alessi !
What is the loop (tunc ?) and serving of the turkish string loops usuallly made of ?
loop : sinew string, twisted rawhide ?
serving : silk, linen, hemp..?

What kind of knot is used and holds best ?
Does it still need to be adjustable once at the right length ?

The loops I have examined including my own appear to be either sinew or silk set in glue. However, there is a Turkish string in the Karlsruhe collection which is made of ramie and served in the Chinese fashion where most of the string and the loops are wrapped in thread.

Perhaps some of our Turkish members who have examined strings in Turkish collections can tell us whether strings from tirkesh bows are fully served.

I have seen a bow in a Russian collection that looked like it had rawhide loops. However, the arrows with it were fakes and maybe the arrows and string were made for a nineteenth century costume party. The bow looked Crimean Tatar or Bashkir.

The loop is the standard one illustrated in all the books. Arab Archery and Saracen Archery both have good drawings and pictures. It rarely has to be adjusted after the first few shots.