The sinew cord
A traditional bowstring, made from dried sinew (deer, cattle, horse, ostrich), pounded and then split into fibers. About 30 g of fiber is needed for a 170 cm, 4 mm cord.
Making a two-strand cord
Work starts from a bundle of about ten sinew fibers, which are twisted, gradually adding new fibers to build up the desired length. The fibers are soaked in diluted animal glue, and the cord then dries under tension. The two strands are finally joined with a splice.
The steps in pictures
