In his book "Bows and Arrows" James Duff speaks of the Belgian stringmakers and waxes lyrical about the quality of strings which he suggest no-one else can match He confuses the reader a little, sometimes, as to whether he is referring to Hemp or flax

He mentions "wonderfully long-fibred Flemish flax" but then speaks of the Belgian bowstring being made from "one solid mass of hemp". He suggests that an amateur trying to make a bowstring might obtain Italian hemp already twisted into a string as making a better string that anythng the amateur could make, but he also suggests that a spool of Irish flax (linen I suppose) is the best for amateur use.

All this is a little confusing. I wonder if anyone can shed some light ? I am given to understand that the female Hemp grows taller and therefore provides longer fibres and that in the past it was preferred to Flax which always had shorter fibres I have been told that the Belgian makers got their Hemp from Italy. I have even been given the name of at least one family of stringmakers = Gyselinck. Unfortunately I have not been able to source anything definitive which would confirm or deny these stories, and hope that one of our members can do so.

Administrator

Have you by any chance consulted Robert P. Elmer's chapter on Bowstrings found on pp. 323 through 351 of "Target Archery", Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1946? He researched the matter quite thoroughly and quotes many of the leading archery books/authors on the subject and may well have the answer you seek. He distinquishs between flax and hemp and also notes the use of silk. He also mentions Duff although tangently on pages 328 and 329. Hope this might be of help!

Thanks Dave, I have yet to get out the Elmer, although I intend to - things have been a bit hectic here as we finalise the proofing of Hugh's latest manuscript. Tomorrow were are setting up a stall as part of a local event on archeology, so there is a lot to do finding all the relevant bits and pieces and the signage etc. If I knew how to post an image on here I could show you what we did last year. I will try and see what happens. If it does work I apologise for the fact that they are out of focus !

I have been lucky enough to be able to arrange for a copy of Randall Holme's "Armory" through the library interloans system - a huge tome, with some very interesting stuff on arrowmakers (but nothing on stringmakers !!!) Strangely, he tacks on the work of a bowyer and the bowyer's tools to the bottom of the entry on fletchers.

Administrator

I know you folks have a lot going on -- I don't know how you get done all that you do.

By the way, great job with the pictures -- thanks for sharing. That is a super exhibit!

Good luck with your exhibit tomorrow! If I come across anything else on bowstrings that I think might be of interest to you, I will post it.