Deer sinew

[ridjrunr]

Can anyone give any tips or hints on the best places to retrieve deer sinew from? I am guessing the legs but?? if the legs, is front or rear better or does it matter?
Any advise appreciated.
ridjrunr

[prairie dog]

I get it off of the backstraps.

[ridjrunr]

so silver skin is the same as tendon?

[prairie dog]

The "silver skin" is what I use.  Never tried to use tendons.

[Riley/MN]

The "silver skin" is what I use.  Never tried to use tendons.

 

[Roaddog]

The tendons work too. ya let them dry and pound them and pull the fibers apart.

[buffcreekforge]

Back of the hind leg tendons (what on us would be the Achilles tendon) is what I primarily use.  I just pound off one end and pull the fiberous strands.  The threads are short, so I typically soak a number of sinew threads in water and then thread up 10-12 needles at a time.  I leave the sinew threads hanging in water using a pepper flake bottle full of water (put the threads through the hole in the top and fill the bottle with water).  That way, I always have freshly threaded sinew.  This is important when you are working with wet rawhide that is used as a repair or to cover the length of the shaft of a stone war club - you gotta work fast!  I use a lot of sinew, but probably have 2-300 tendons stored in quart mason jars (keeps the rodents out) - enough to last my lifetime.  Just my advice - take if for what it is!  I remain your humble servant,

Turtle Dave

[Longhunter]

You can use leg tendons or back tendons. You'll get longer strands from the back. It depends what you are going to use it for. I soak it in warm hide glue just before I apply it.

[cyotewa]

I don't use it myself but my friends that make their own bows & other stuff have me save the tendon that runs on top of the spine from head to tail. I make game & they make tools;-)