More Medieval Arrows

[GrahameA]

Morning All.

The Medieval Fayre will be on in a few more weeks so a few weeks ago I decided to make some new arrows.

3/8" shafts with two flute footings plus 6" wedge shaped fletches in a a deep reed and fully bound to the shaft. The fletches were made by cutting the required length of feather (7"). Stripping a 1/2" at end end. Sticking some masking tape on them,marking out the fletch shape and cutting them with a sharp pair of scissors.

The shafts were made seperately and are 3/8 Ramin with a Eucalypt two flute foot. Shafts are barrelled. (Making footed shafts is such fun - not.)

So a few days later and. "Hey Presto", a new set of arrows to take to the Fayre. You just need a big bow to shoot them.

Img_4354.jpg (69.13 KiB) Viewed 5674 times

They are big Fletches.

Img_4353.jpg (58.54 KiB) Viewed 5674 times

The pointy end I will have to talk to my friend Karl about some more Bodkins.

[roscoe]

Nice looking arrows there. Did they glue the feathers on then bind them or did they just bind them on in medieval times? Just wanted to know because i binded one arrow with no glue and they seemed ok. It would have been better to glue them, then bind. but i was trying to be authentic. Just wonted to know what authentic was, thanks..roscoe

[Bill]

Nice looking arrows GrahameA: you do such fine work, so what are the chances of you doing a build along showing how you build such a fine footed arrow.
Are there any special tools, everyone says its easy, but no one will step up to the plate and show how easy it is. So will you please give it a go, thanks...........Bill

[Gringa Bows]

Good job Grahame,how come no pink fletches

[GrahameA]

Hi Bill.

Nice looking arrows GrahameA: you do such fine work, so what are the chances of you doing a build along showing how you build such a fine footed arrow.
Are there any special tools, everyone says its easy, but no one will step up to the plate and show how easy it is. So will you please give it a go, thanks...........Bill

Done.
http://bacchuswood.org/A&S/Period%20Ta ... otings.pdf

Roscoe.

They often used pitch or animal glue to tack the fletch in place. he fletch wold then be bound oer the top and i some cases coat with "Verado Greco" so the bindings would not rot.

Rod.

Pink was not fashionable in "Dayes of Olde". Red is really just another shade of Pink.

[Stickbow Hunter]

A lot of time put into making those Grahame; good onya!

Jeff

[hazard]

Man those fletches are going to be indestructible. Nice work.

[Bill]

thanks GrahameA, I'm now ready to have a go...tomorrow..........Bill

[Nephew]

Tell me folks, is it common to use footed arrows in hunting situations, or are most people too worried about losing them, as I would be? I reckon the F.O.C. effect of the heavier, harder wood would make for good penetration.

[roscoe]

Thanks Graham, Thats interesting to know, i will use glue next time. I will have to get my self some correct thread to bind with. I am going down to the Steve Stratton warbow weekend down in sunny Melbourne so i will have a chance to ask all of those questions then i suppose.....Roscoe

[terryzac]

nice job there grahame. when is abbey on this year

terry

[GrahameA]

Morning All.

nice job there grahame. when is abbey on this year

terry

9/10 July http://abbeytournament.com/

p.s. Hmmmm.... I knew there was a reason I owned a "Big Bow". I also knew there was a reason I say to myself after every Abbey event, "Practice with the Big Bow".

[terryzac]

do you still have that big thing that i pulled back last year at abbey. i think it was 120#, felt like it

terry

[GrahameA]

do you still have that big thing that i pulled back last year at abbey. i think it was 120#, felt like it

terry

Tony certainly has - no way I intend to try it. It is closer 150. The sort of Bow Craig would choose.

[terryzac]

know what you mean. i got it back to my chin once and that was it

terry

[rodlonq]

Beautiful looking arrows Grahame!

Do you put some sort of reinforcing behind the self nock or is that the job of the binding? Also have you put a bit of helical on them or is that just something I am seeing from the camera angle? Nice jo Grahame.

Cheers....... Rod

[GrahameA]

Hi Rod

Do you put some sort of reinforcing behind the self nock or is that the job of the binding? Also have you put a bit of helical on them or is that just something I am seeing from the camera angle?

Those shaft have no reinforcing strips in them and the reinforcing is carried out by the binding. If I was keen I would insert a sliver of Horn or Hardwood at 90deg to the nock. Not that hard to do but fussy and you do not appear to need it when using hardwood shafts.

Yes, there is some helical on the fletches, makes it easier to affix the quills to he shaft as they have a natural curl to them.

[Nephew]

Tell me folks, is it common to use footed arrows in hunting situations, or are most people too worried about losing them, as I would be? I reckon the F.O.C. effect of the heavier, harder wood would make for good penetration.

Ahem! Oops, excuse me, just clearing my throat.

[Stickbow Hunter]

Craig,

If I had made footed arras for hunting I would use them for hunting mate. I have often put a lot of time into making my hunting arras but I don't hesitate to use them for what they were made for.

Jeff

[Guy Layton]

Jeff,

I am the same as you.... I would much rather loose or break my best arrows on game any day of the week...! I think it is a great way to do them justice...!

Cheers Guy

[Stickbow Hunter]

I would much rather loose or break my best arrows on game any day of the week...! I think it is a great way to do them justice...!

Absolutely mate!!!

Jeff

[Nephew]

Thank you, gentlemen. Of course if one makes them to hunt with they will use them, what I meant was DO people make them to hunt with, or are they considered target arrows by most? Anyway, you have satisfied my curiosity as to whether some people do make them for hunting ( apparently so), and that's the answer I was hoping for. Can you guess what my next project will be?

BTW, exceptional work, Grahame. I like them, a lot!

[GrahameA]

Hi Craig.

Tell me folks, is it common to use footed arrows in hunting situations, or are most people too worried about losing them, as I would be? I reckon the F.O.C. effect of the heavier, harder wood would make for good penetration.

Ahem! Oops, excuse me, just clearing my throat.

Hmm..... You can break them on targets pretty well.

The better you make arrows, the better they group, the greater the chance of hitting and breaking them.

They solution to not breaking your own arows by hitting them is to make unmatched arrows.

[Nephew]

Hi Craig.

Tell me folks, is it common to use footed arrows in hunting situations, or are most people too worried about losing them, as I would be? I reckon the F.O.C. effect of the heavier, harder wood would make for good penetration.

Ahem! Oops, excuse me, just clearing my throat.

Hmm..... You can break them on targets pretty well.

The better you make arrows, the better they group, the greater the chance of hitting and breaking them.

They solution to not breaking your own arows by hitting them is to make unmatched arrows.

Now, that's thinking outside the square!

[GrahameA]

Hi Craig.

Now, that's thinking outside the square!

Think of it in these terms.

One day you decide to go to Vegas and shoot the Indoor. Before you head off you wander along and do a bit of training at "Grahame's School of Hitting Things" plus buy a fair few of "Grahame's Super Matched Arrows" since you been breaking the odd few during training. Eventually you arrive in Vegas and elect to shoot on a single target face. You line up and shoot your first arrow - in the centre, You shoot the second which smashes into the first destroying the arrow but ending up in the Centre. Third arrow same story. So after the first frame you have shot the maximum score but destroyed three arrows. This continues right through the tournament you consistently hold form and the arrows consistently go into the centre - with shards of timber going everywhere. The end result is you Win the tournament with a perfect score and smash a few dozen arrows along the way. The question is, "Was the $50,000 First Prize worth the cost of the arrows"? p.s. You wake up from the dream just as they hand the Cheque over.

If you want to shoot good scores matched arrows are a big help and if you shoot on a single face you will break arrows. Now do you want hear about my Friday and how to convert 20 arrows into a neat dozen!

[dmm]

If you want to shoot good scores matched arrows are a big help and if you shoot on a single face you will break arrows. Now do you want about my Friday and how to convert 20 arrows into a neat dozen!

I used to think that about the target archers I used to shoot with, drilling these ~$40 ACE pencil thin arrows into the same space, then trying their hardest to thread a second up the end of the first!

No prize money there, so in effect, you win & you lose.