Author Topic: Blackberry natural shafts?  (Read 2733 times)

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Offline eastcreekarchery

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Blackberry natural shafts?
« on: October 19, 2020, 09:51:30 am »
Anyone have experience with em?

Offline Pat B

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Re: Blackberry natural shafts?
« Reply #1 on: October 19, 2020, 11:00:32 am »
Blackberry canes might make an arrow but I think you would have a better option. Where do you live?
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline eastcreekarchery

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Re: Blackberry natural shafts?
« Reply #2 on: October 19, 2020, 11:24:46 am »
im in NY. Was asking because we have some monstrous blackberry bushes that need pruning.

Offline Hawkdancer

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Re: Blackberry natural shafts?
« Reply #3 on: October 19, 2020, 12:34:06 pm »
Wear very heavy gloves! >:D. Regardless!  If I remember correctly, blackberry is very pithy.
Hawkdancer
Life is far too serious to be taken that way!
Jerry

Offline Pat B

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Re: Blackberry natural shafts?
« Reply #4 on: October 19, 2020, 02:22:58 pm »
You could cut them, scrape the thorns off, split into narrow strips, soak in water and weave them into a quiver.
 If you don't already know blackberries are biennial, meaning they grow vegetatively the first year and flower and fruit the second so if you cut them all down you won't have blackberries next year. Only cut the canes that fruited this year.
 I'd bet you could find red osier dogwood somewhere near you and it makes great arrow shafting. Maybe one of the viburnums too.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline TimBo

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Re: Blackberry natural shafts?
« Reply #5 on: October 19, 2020, 02:25:11 pm »
Blackberry is going to be too light and pithy.  I cut some once thinking it was wild rose, and was very disappointed!

Offline Yooper Bowyer

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Re: Blackberry natural shafts?
« Reply #6 on: October 19, 2020, 06:54:16 pm »
The one upside is that the shafts have preinstalled points >:D.  Their bad enough when harvesting the fruit; I don't relish harvesting them for the sticks.

Offline Hawkdancer

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Re: Blackberry natural shafts?
« Reply #7 on: October 20, 2020, 01:31:44 am »
Not only too pithy, the darned seeds stick in my teeth!  But they do make good pie - the berries, that is, especially with heated with ice cream on top!  However, I prefer blueberries for pie and red osier for shafts! >:D
Hawkdancer
Life is far too serious to be taken that way!
Jerry

Offline GlisGlis

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Re: Blackberry natural shafts?
« Reply #8 on: October 20, 2020, 03:27:46 am »
they make good hand friction fire spindles (take off thorns first  (lol) )