Rawhide Backing for Bows – Strips in Various Sizes Made from the Rawhide of Different Animals are in Stock!

Our assortment includes bow backing made from the hide of different animals in various sizes. The material for the backing is natural rawhide, which is produced in Germany by a professional, hereditary tanner. The rawhide is processed using traditional techniques, guaranteeing the material’s naturalness and safety!

Description

Length (to choose from)

• 70 cm
• 80 cm
• 100 cm

Width:

• 6 cm

If you need a strip in a different size, please contact us by email.

 

What is Bow Backing?

Backing is a layer that provides strength to the bow. It is glued onto the back of the bow (the side facing the target).

Why is It Needed?

When the bowstring is drawn, the following happens:

• The belly of the bow (the side facing the archer) compresses.
• The back of the bow (the side facing the target) stretches.

The wood from which the bow is made works well under compression but poorly under stretching. If there is even a microscopic knot, any irregularity, or simply a fiber ending on the back, the bow can crack across the grain and break when drawn.

Backing solves this problem:

1. It takes on the tensile load. Backing is always made from a material with high tensile strength (such as rawhide).
2. It protects against splinters and cracks. Even if a micro-crack appears in the wood, the backing prevents it from spreading and saves the bow from destruction.
3. It allows the use of less-than-ideal wood. With backing, you can make a good bow from wood with knots or from less expensive species.

 

Why is Rawhide a Good Choice for Backing?

Rawhide backing is one of the best solutions for a beginning bowyer. Rawhide has also been used for backing for centuries — a rawhide backing will lend authenticity and an archaic feel to your bow.

Properties of Rawhide Backing:

1. High Tensile Strength

This is the most important property. The back of the bow works under tension, and the backing material must have high strength precisely in this direction. Rawhide is a network of collagen fibers. As rawhide dries, this network of collagen fibers becomes incredibly strong in tension.
The hide acts as a reinforcing layer: while the wood “fears” tension and might crack, the hide takes on this load.

     2. It Forgives Irregularities on the Back

Finding a perfectly even bow back (without knots, grain swirls, or bumps) is very difficult, especially when working with budget-friendly wood species. Rawhide, glued on while wet, conforms to all irregularities. It fills micro-cracks and creates a single, monolithic layer that distributes the load evenly, without concentrating it on weak spots (knots). This makes it possible to use wood that would certainly break without rawhide backing.

     3. It Reduces (Dampens) Vibration

Wood and hide have different densities and acoustic properties. The rawhide backing dampens high-frequency vibrations that occur upon release. The bow shoots quieter, with less hand shock — an important factor in hunting, where the noise of the shot is a key criterion.

     4. Workability and Repairability

Rawhide does not require perfect preparation: Unlike sinew (an alternative backing material), which requires strict geometry and months of drying, rawhide can be glued onto almost any reasonably flat back. Also, rawhide allows mechanical processing: After drying, the hide can be planed, sanded, and cut using standard woodworking tools.
Repairability is also very easy: If a small section comes loose, it can be re-glued.

     5. Resistant to Impact and Scratches

Unlike bare wood, rawhide has high impact resistance. If the bow falls on a hard floor or hits a branch in the forest, the backing protects the back from gouges and dents that could become stress concentrators and lead to breakage. In other words, it acts as a natural armor against micro-damage.

     6. Natural Moisture Resistance (with Proper Treatment)

Rawhide itself is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture), but after being treated with oil or wax, it becomes a reliable barrier against humidity fluctuations. For a wooden bow, drying out or excessive moisture are the main enemies. The rawhide backing stabilizes moisture exchange, protecting the bow’s back from cracking in dry climates.

     7. Aesthetics and Tradition

For many bowyers, this is not the least important argument. Rawhide has a beautiful, noble texture. Light cowhide, dark deer hide, or textured goatskin — each variant gives the bow a unique appearance. It is a traditional material. For millennia, bows have been reinforced with hide and sinew. By using hide, you are following a technology tested for centuries.

 

Tips for Working with Rawhide Backing:

• Thoroughly wet the hide before working.
• You may receive hide treated with natural fats. If you need to work with degreased hide, simply wash it with regular dish soap.
• If the thickness of the cut piece is greater than needed, simply wet the backing and stretch it in its wet state — this will make the strip thinner and increase its length by a couple of centimeters
• To increase moisture resistance, treat the rawhide backing with oil or wax.