Main Discussion Area > English Warbow
Medieval Fletching
bow-toxo:
There is enough evidence about the string construction that the only open question is the composition of the "water-glewe" mentooned by Smythe, who was a great booster of archery in the reign of Elizabeth I. My guess is simply hoof glue, which has actually been used. Other possibilities are suggested by Kani, a Saracen writer who gave the recipe that Moslems were using on their silk bowstrings. It was 5 parts beeswax,10 parts resin and 20 parts fish glue which was applied to the main part of the string, not the separate loops. Crossbow strings were treated with cordwainers coode, which, although I think we don't have the exact recipe, would probably have included pine pitch, resin, oil or beeswax
Rod:
It's a long way from being a "war" bow but I have an Aldred with the original string which has become rather dry having once been left for a long time in a hot dry location and the string coating has become somewhat fragmented.
It seems to me that this type of coating does better in a slightly damp climate than in one that is too dry.
Rod.
Oggie:
My first proper post and its a question on Medieval Fletching.
Just over a year ago I was given some superb tips by a very knowledgeable chap who may well be on this forum.He showed me the benefit of deepening the nock so that a leather strip could be inserted and secured by glue and binding onto the shaft.This acts as a cushion against the string and is in addition to horn reinforcement.
I have never seen the MR or Westminster arrows up close and wonder out of interest, if this technique is in evidence on these arrows?
Best wishes,
Mark.
kerbinator:
--- Quote from: alanesq on July 07, 2009, 03:14:27 am ---
There is no reason to helically fletch them - the arrow will spin because of the natural shape of the feathers
I know this to be true from my high speed filming - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/alan.blackham/ewbs/hscam/shooting/shot1.avi
--- End quote ---
So you mean I don't have to go through all that trouble of putting a helical on my Fetches and get more range.
Davepim:
--- Quote from: kerbinator on September 22, 2009, 12:11:19 am ---
--- Quote from: alanesq on July 07, 2009, 03:14:27 am ---
There is no reason to helically fletch them - the arrow will spin because of the natural shape of the feathers
I know this to be true from my high speed filming - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/alan.blackham/ewbs/hscam/shooting/shot1.avi
--- End quote ---
So you mean I don't have to go through all that trouble of putting a helical on my Fetches and get more range.
--- End quote ---
Helical fletching works well for short feathers, but for long ones of the English Warbow arrow type, you don't need them for the reason stated above. The ONLY advantage of the long feathers on these military arrows was rapid stabilisation of the arrows which were of a standard length and spine (well, more or less) whereas the bows were not, so arrow spines were not typically matched to the bow.
Cheers, Dave
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