Main Discussion Area > Arrows
Mock Orange arrowshafts
Dirkthearcher:
The issue with bamboo, as Pat said, is that it is extremely invasive. Another issue is the fact that you have to sort through a lot of bamboo shafts in order to get a matching set, while you can remove wood with shoots in order to reach the correct spine. The garden centers close to me don't have dogwood or the right viburnum species, but one of them sells privet. Would this be a better choice than mock orange?
Pat B:
Privet can be invasive too. The birds love the seeds and here in the SE U.S it has taken over. I wouldn't plant it either. There is plenty growing in the wild. Privet makes good arrows. Where do you live? Find out what the local Native culture used.
There are a few viburnum species that work for shafting. I've used Blackhaw Vib. that grows wild here. Of course arrow wood Vib., maple leaf Vib. and other natives varieties work well. Many of the larger Vib cultivar in the nursery industry have shoots that will work.
Dirkthearcher:
I probably should have mentioned earlier that I am in South Africa. The natives here used miniature bows and arrows, the arrows were made from a perennial grass which wouldn't be sufficient for a full length arrow. Most of the indigenous trees are gnarly and unsuitable for arrow shafts. I live right in the middle of the suburbs so that's why I thought it would be a good idea to grow arrow shafts.
loon:
The Miwok had great sinew backed short static reflex recurves of incense cedar. I think the high branches of incense cedar? I'm pretty sure they used short draws and had somewhat wide-ish handles so the weak spine was an advantage. They may still be durable arrows, I dunno. Maybe that shaft just happened to be low spine. I'd be very interested to know if anyone here has made arrows of mock orange.
Dirkthearcher:
I read a lot of conflicting information about mock orange. Some say it is strong and stiff, others say it is weak and pithy. Maybe the people that say it is weak used 1st year shoots instead of 2nd?
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