Backing with Buffalo hide?

[Adirondackman]

I just finished reading the article in the June/July Primitive Archer. I would like to back the bow that I'am working on now. My question is, where can I buy Buffalo hide in the smaller sizes for backing. I have seen whole hides but the prices are crazy and I never would use it all. Thanks for any help.

[Traxx]

Adirondackman,
You would be better off useing a thinner type of rawhide anyway,like deer goat or the likes.The methods as well as the author,of that article,and articles past,has come under serious question,by others,with "REAL" experience.

[KyGal]

Backings are always a tradeoff between strength and weight. The ultimate rawhide backing would come from squirrel or groundhog - very very tough, thin, even grained hides. Rawhide is strictly a protective layer and should not be expected to change performance except maybe slightly in the negative (just my opinion). Thicker rawhide like buffalo would weigh a ton and seriously impede performance.

[NorthShoreLB]

Yeah, I was wandering about that article.

[Adirondackman]

Thanks for the input guys. I wanted to try something that I thought was a little easier to apply than sinew. I had a selfbow I made blow up on me during an Elk hunt and was looking to back my next bows until my bowyer skills improved.I was looking more for durability than performance but I don't want to impede performance either.