Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => HowTo's and Build-a-longs => Topic started by: JackCrafty on January 31, 2009, 09:36:14 pm
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Knapping is still driving me crazy, so I'm back to bone. This time I made a deer bone arrowhead.....using only stone tools. I took over 100 pictures but I'm not going to post all of them here (see link at the end). Anyway, I wanted to put to rest some questions I had lingering in my head:
Are there major differences in bone types as far as workability?
What is the best stone to use?
Can a bone arrowhead be made in the same amount of time as a stone arrowhead?
It turns out that deer bone is VERY hard and brittle, but responds extremely well to sanding (or shaping with sandstone).
I dried 5 deer bones in the sun, smashed them to the point where the marrow could be easily removed, and washed the fat off with water the best I could.
I wiped the pieces off with a rag.
(Don't worry Ridgerunner, these are not the ones you sent me) ;)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/096.jpg)
I separated the bone pieces into three parts. Good pieces in the upper left corner, semi-good pieces on the upper right, and ugly pieces.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/079.jpg)
Here is most of my collection of sandstone "tools". ;D
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/093.jpg)
I chose a long, good piece. The length makes it easier to apply pressure when abrading the bone.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/101.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/102.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/103.jpg)
Here you can see some marrow and porous bone.
I removed this first, using side-to-side and circular motions.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/104.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/105.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/106.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/114.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/116.jpg)
There was some membrane on the other side.
I scraped that off.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/100.jpg)
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More abrading and the arrowhead is beginning to take shape.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/113.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/115.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/117.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/119.jpg)
The bone was starting to cut my hand so I wrapped it with buckskin and continued shaping.
I switched from one stone to another as needed (and as I got tired).
I'm about 15 minutes into it at this point.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/120.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/121.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/122.jpg)
I noticed it's good to keep a layer of dust on the stone.
It seems to help the abrading process.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/108.jpg)
I probably shouldn't have done this at this point, but I scored the bone and snapped off the arrowhead.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/124.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/126.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/127.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/128.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/129.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/130.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/131.jpg)
I flattened the base and continued to reduce the thickness.
I used side-to-side motions while holding the arrowhead and also tried abrading with a smaller piece of stone.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/132.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/133.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/134.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/138.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/141.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/142.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/143.jpg)
The thickness looks pretty good now.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/144.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/145.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/146.jpg)
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If you're wondering how I get pieces of stone with flat edges, I just peck off the high spots with a very hard stone, then rub two pieces of sandstone together to shape them.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/157.jpg)
OK, now I begin to taper the edges.
I'm about 30 minutes into it.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/152.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/153.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/155.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/159.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/160.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/161.jpg)
I moved into the sunlight for a minute....I hope you can see the facets of the arrowhead.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/162.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/163.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/164.jpg)
Now I flute the arrowhead and make the base concave.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/165.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/166.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/167.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/169.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/170.jpg)
The arrowhead can be used at this stage, but I'm going to add a few refinements. (45 minutes has passed).
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Wow! Beautiful point! that looks deadly :)
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very nice, I love to find bone artifacts. We find them made out of cannon leg bones and socketed antler tips. I have 2 different "wet" sites that produce these bone pins and antler handles. Love the work your doing.I tried that once and then I stained them in tea to put a patina on them.
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g228/jcinpc/DSC02187.jpg)
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g228/jcinpc/DSC02189.jpg)
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g228/jcinpc/DSC02192.jpg)
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g228/jcinpc/DSC02193.jpg)
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g228/jcinpc/DSC02195.jpg)
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g228/jcinpc/DSC02196.jpg)
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g228/jcinpc/DSC02197.jpg)
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g228/jcinpc/DSC02198.jpg)
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g228/jcinpc/DSC02201.jpg)
(http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g228/jcinpc/DSC05257.jpg)
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Thanks David ;D
So, not satisfied with the arrowhead yet, I continue by adding notches and some serrations.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/171.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/177.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/182.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/184.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/186.jpg)
So, I ended up with a Caracara point. ;D
A little long, but I think bone points were generally longer anyway.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/187.jpg)
I used a piece of chert to deepen the notches and serrations before hafting.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/188.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/189.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/190.jpg)
Well, the battery died and I've got to recharge. I'll post pics of the hafted point tomorrow.
This took me about an hour....much less time than it took me to make one of these with cow bone (3 hrs.....a couple years back). Deer leg bone is actually a pleasure to work with, and my stones are none the worse for wear. If I wasn't distracted by the need to take pictures, I think I could have whipped this point in under 40 minutes.
Me happy ;D
Link to my album---http://s246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/01-31-2009/?start=all
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Thanks jcinpc, and thanks for posting those bone artifacts! :)
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jack thank you for those pics. That takes some work and it really makes me appreciate more what I do find.You do some fine quality work
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Very interesting thread. Don't forget those hafted point photos. I can hardly wait.Ronnie
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Thanks for sharing. It seems that the bone point would be very capable of taking a deer. What's your take on this and are there any minimums like poundage , and under 20 yrds? Thanks again Jack Crafty.
Tracy
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Pictures of the hafted point.
I used a privet shaft and split, cut, and sanded the notch with the chert flake seen earlier.
I tapered the shaft and shaped the tip with my belt sander, but it can easily be done by abrading on sandstone (it just takes longer).
The tip is glued with fish glue and wrapped with deer leg sinew.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/002.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/004.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/005.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/006.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/008.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/009.jpg)
After looking at it for a while, I decide to make the transition smoother by sanding down the sides of the tip of the shaft.
I don't know how much this helps the arrow's penetration ability, but I think it looks better.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/022.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/025.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/026.jpg)
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I took some pictures to compare this arrowhead with arrowheads different types and materials.
First, a comparison of materials.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/010.jpg)
Even with different types, the thickness at the end is very similar.
A thickness of 1/8" is possible even with the deer bone.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/019.jpg)
Comparison of arrowhead preforms:
They have all been trimmed with my band saw.
The deer preform is taken from the widest shard of deer bone (from the smashed bones above).
The elk and cow can easily handle the legal width of 7/8", but not the deer bone...unless I use the largest mule deer bones and cut them on my band saw.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/014.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/015.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/020.jpg)
OK, now compared to two other points that have seen heavy use and penetrate very well.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/033.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/035.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/042.jpg)
As far as I know (from Laubin) the wooden arrowhead was in common use among the Comanche for hunting.
The problem I encounter, though, is split tips when the arrow hits a hard object.
I imagine if the arrow hits a rib, it will not penetrate far....but I dunno.
The splintered end may still puncture lungs and other organs.
As far as my bone point, I doubt that it will be able to penetrate if it hits a rib.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/034.jpg)
Here is a deer antler compared to the other points.
It's about the right size for an arrowhead.
My next project is to make a deer antler arrowhead with only stone tools. ;D
I imagine it would take 30-45 minutes to make an antler arrowhead.
The hardest part would be to cut through the antler to release the shaped arrrowhead.
The hole could be made with a stone drill easily, I would think?
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/036.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/02-01-2009/037.jpg)
In conclusion, I think my bone arrowhead might be a little too long and thin (and therefore too weak) for effective penetration of a deer's rib cage...but I could be wrong. The tip of the point would most likely break off, leaving a jagged edge...and that edge would be very sharp.
Here are some pics of actual NA bone arrowheads. I think the longest ones are 1-1/2".
It seems to me that these were hafted using lots of glue and very little sinew wrapping.
I've seen archaeologists label the triangular points as "shark tooth effigies".
It would be interesting to know if the NA's actually copied shark's teeth or if the arrowheads were simply more effective with that shape.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/bone-point-illinois-3.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/cahokia-bone-points-1.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/cahokia-bone-points-2.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/cahokia-bone-points-3.jpg)
Personally, if I was designing a bone point to kill deer, I would want a long hafting area with a diamond-shaped side profile?
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/strongbonearrowhead.jpg)
Tracy, I think 45lb @ under 20 yards would be a good minimum for taking deer with a narrow, long, bone point. The edges of the blade are not very sharp, compared to steel or stone, so a higher bow poundage would be better in this case. Just my opinion. We can't know for sure unless we perform some tests. ;D
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heres a link to a youtube video a friend of mine put up last week. look at the pic at the 1:51 minute time. its a hillsborough point made into a sharks tooth. I haveseen one other knapped sharks tooth and it came fron Newton Ga. also there are some deer bone artifacts here, daggers and pins. this was the stone age fair 2 weekends ago in Gainesville, not a show or selling place but a Arch show with lectures and demonstrations etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex8P-5DGT9M&feature=channel_page
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Thanks jcinpc !
The views at 2:45 and after the 8:00 mark contain some awesome bone artifacts. Looks like lots of deer antler points and some actual giant shark teeth. I can't wait to try the antler arrow point now....
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we are very fortunate to find bone in such a good state of preservation here in Fl.
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Thanks for the info Jackcrafty. I'm always up for some testing, good excuse to get out and hunt ;D
Tracy
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what a great buildalong. thanks.
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WOW! thats some great stuff. id love to hunt with that.
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wasn't online much for some time, so i only now found this great build-along!
i'm impressed!!! thanks for sharing!
frank
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Thanks guys. Glad you're back, Frank. :)
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Thanks for the demonstration, i needed that :) the Primitive way ;)
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A lot of time and effort in this post. Thanks Patrick! Just knocking the dust off some oldies but goodies 8)
Tracy
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Dang Tracy! You're diggin' up some old ones! ;D ;D
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Did you ever test that point? How well does it penetrate/hold up to use?
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Yes, I tested that point on a cardboard target and it held up very well with almost no damage, except to the very tip, after 4 or 5 shots.
If glued with hide glue, the joint between shaft and arrowhead is very strong. Pitch glue is much weaker. I believe I used fish glue for this joint and it did not break or crack.
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I missed this!! Great Build-along Patrick. I particularly like the point before it is scored and broken. I may try to make a deer bone dagger using the same method. The pic w. the leather wrap looks like a dagger. Good Stuff Patrick, missed you at the Classic this year!! dp
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Thanks. Yeah, it felt strange missing the classic this year. :(
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You give it your all Patrick.
What a pleasure to view.
Zuma