Author Topic: Foreshaft and arrows (Read 5560 times)

Wolfmanjack · « **on:** August 14, 2019, 08:35:53 pm »

Still perfecting the skill of arrow making. This has been my favorite part of the primitive journey thus far. I have the hunting bow finished. Now I am putting the knapped heads on the shafts. Crafting the arrows has given me a much greater sense of accomplishment. I wonder if there were guys in a village whose sole job was to make arrows or was the common man doing everything from bow making, flint knapping and putting the arrows together. These three foreshafts mate very nicely with the three shafts here. They fly nice and straight and hit hard. The pink one lost an ear. It still flys well and I think worthy of a hunting arrow. One of the gray ones lost the tip and will be repaired before the season starts. I started the wrappings with sinew. It just doesn’t hold up well. They were requiring constant maintenance from target shooting. I have become fond of the thread soaked in super glue. Very durable stuff. Just wanted to share these with the tribe. This board doesn’t get a lot of traffic. I really enjoy seeing everyone’s arrows.

Lefty38-55 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 15, 2019, 09:00:36 am »

Looks great! As to ‘how made’, I’m sure that ‘even way back then’ they had to both recognize as well as take advantage of people who specialized in a craft or trade. For a tribe or clan that could be efficiency, although I’m sure there had to be both cross-training or apprenticeships if you will. Plus those (hunters?) who wanted to know all aspects so as to be self-sufficient?

Pat B · « **Reply #2 on:** August 15, 2019, 10:55:49 am »

Like Lefty said I imagine everyone back then could do it all but there were probably specialist that made bows or made arrows or knapped or made baskets or tanned hides.
Nice fore shafted arrows. Can we see a pic of a complete arrow?

Trapper Rob · « **Reply #3 on:** August 15, 2019, 01:45:19 pm »

Those look good

Wolfmanjack · « **Reply #4 on:** August 15, 2019, 06:30:19 pm »

This is the number one. 556 grains, river cane shaft with privet foreshaft. The rock was given to me in trade by Sasquatch. I assume it’s texas chert of some sort. It flys straight with no wobble and buries deep in my broad head target. I have no doubts it will do the job on a whitetail as long as I do my part.

Wolfmanjack · « **Reply #5 on:** August 15, 2019, 06:34:01 pm »

These are the two backups as of now. I have been working on my knapping skills since the spring and have a pile of points to mount to arrows.

Pat B · « **Reply #6 on:** August 15, 2019, 09:31:10 pm »

Nice. They ought to do the job.

Trapper Rob · « **Reply #7 on:** August 16, 2019, 08:25:49 pm »

Only problem with them is that there's no blood on them.
Very nice arrows I like the bow also

Hawkdancer · « **Reply #8 on:** August 17, 2019, 12:47:38 am »

Nice! We are stuck with steel (pun intended, accidentally) I asked this in the arrow trade thread, but what is a practical length for footers, or does it really matter? And what is a good splicing method with shots? Thanks, don't want to hijack this thread, but it is on topic! No little arrow emoji, so we get the devil

Hawkdancer

Woodely · « **Reply #9 on:** August 17, 2019, 09:46:22 pm »

"This board doesn’t get a lot of traffic" if a lot of guys are like me I dont particularly like making arrows. I have made maybe 90 arrows in the last 10 years. My time is better spent building bows and experimenting on new methods, techniques and ideas.
Would not those fore shafts make the arrow tip heavy..?

PEARL DRUMS · « **Reply #10 on:** August 19, 2019, 06:13:12 am »

"Would not those fore shafts make the arrow tip heavy..?"

Try weighing 6" of cane and then weigh 6" of privet. You will probably find the difference negligible. The cane might even weigh more. When I shot cane arrows more often I left them as-is. The only time I footed them was to add length after a break or something like that.

Danzn Bar · « **Reply #11 on:** August 19, 2019, 08:43:21 am »

I've made a few arrows in the past, from wood to cane and still dont understand the reason or practicality of foreshafts.
DBar

Wolfmanjack · « **Reply #12 on:** August 19, 2019, 10:21:04 am »

I was just experimenting with the foreshafts. They seem to fly better than some of my cane arrows without a foreshaft. Im new to this so I’m sure that I am doing something wrong.

Hawkdancer · « **Reply #13 on:** August 19, 2019, 11:38:48 am »

D-Bar,
Probably no advantage in target arrows, except maybe being able to get short shafts sections to length, or just to have cool looking arrows! For hunting arrows, maybe repair a broken shaft, or added weight foc. I got a bunch of short shoots that I want to try to splice for target arrows. I'm also still learning this arrow makng business, too! Your arrows are works of the master!
Hawkdancer

Wolfmanjack · « **Reply #14 on:** August 19, 2019, 08:23:55 pm »

This rock wanted to take on an archaic appearance so I obliged its wishes. Measures just a hair shy of 3/4”. Maybe a little small for whitetail? Rabbit could be on the menu however?

Primitive Archer