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Dogwood for warbow shafts

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markinengland:
I just cut some dowood for arrows. I cut some thinking it may make good war arrows.
Has anyone tried it? Does anyone know if having been used in medieval times or even if it is native to the UK?
Mark in England

SimonUK:
I know nothing about it.... but Wikipedia does. Apparently it is a strong wood and common dogwood is native to England.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogwood

Pat B:
Marc, I asked the same question a while back but about shoots in general for war arrows. I have some sourwood and other hardwood shoots that I collected for war arrows but never got around to making any.    Pat

Hartung:
Mark, on page 7 of this pdf file (http://users.skynet.be/fa057790/Zug.pdf) you’ll find a list of different bow woods (Tableau 2 : Bois de flèches préhistoriques) used in ancient times.

Dogwood (Cornouiller) is named three times:

-   Bregentwedt (D) ca. 4500 - 3500 AC
-   Hauslabjoch (I) ±3200 AC
-   Hochdorf (D) 550 - 500 AC

Dogwood has been around continental Europe for many thousand years. That’s why I think it could just as well be native to the UK. But have no documents about this.

These dogwood target arrows are heat straightened, hand planed to 5/16”, yew knock, gray goose feathers, glue, sinew, colza oil, 26”, 480 grains including 100grain point, spined 35# for a 55# self bow. It is quite common to find dogwood shoots spined well over 80# and sometimes up to well over 90#. Pretty much enough for a warbow arrow.

markinengland:
Hartung,
That article looks interesting. is there any way to get a translation into English?
Mark

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