Binding A Medieval Arrow

[paulalford100]

Ah, the joy of making something beautiful yourself (not to mention the cost savings).

[RichardHeadLongbows]

@paulalford100 Quite right, we have a January Sale on at the moment, check it out w w w . richardheadlongbows .co . uk

[ccastellani85]

In the catalog, what is this under to purchase the binding. I have been away from archery for about 4 years, and I cannot remember the difference between the binding and bow string material. Clarification on your webpage would be most helpful! BTW, great videos! Thanks for posting!

[RichardHeadLongbows]

@ccastellani85 Hi, not entirely sure I understand your question, the linen binding thread is in the re-enactment section on our webshop, richardheadlongbows.co.uk , you can use the search bar in the webshop to find it also, the string making materila is called `dacron` / B-50, this is in the bow making section on the above mentioned webshop, i am not sure what clarification you need, feel free to give us a call, I dont check youtube comments that often, 01225 790452 9am-6pm

[jpavlvs]

What size chord is this?  It' looks like a cable on the Golden Gate Bridge!

[RichardHeadLongbows]

@jpavlvs 3/92

[swfladoug]

great thanks a lot!

[swfladoug]

were do i get this THREAD

[RichardHeadLongbows]

@swfladoug our webshop, w w w longbowandarrow.co.uk

[celticbattleaxe]

Precision and accuracy - just like the olden days when you make them YOURSELF!!

GREAT VIDEO AND DEMO!!! Two thumbs up!!

[trentkoehn]

do these fly as straight as modern arrows

[RichardHeadLongbows]

No, traditional arrows would have trouble competing against a modern arrow, having said that it still depends on the archer to shoot accurately no matter what the equipment.

[trentkoehn]

thanks thats what i wanted to know I shoot a 50 pnd lonbow and was considering making my own arrows

[RichardHeadLongbows]

@trentkoehn DO NOT use modern (metal/carbon) arrows with wooden Longbows.

[trentkoehn]

@RichardHeadLongbows  thank u

[trentkoehn]

@RichardHeadLongbows would aluminum work

[Snailpoyero]

what type of string do you use for the binding? Thanks

[Snailpoyero]

cool video, what do you use as the string that you are binging them with? Thanks

[RichardHeadLongbows]

@Snailpoyero we use Linen. Available from your webshop.

[DDIISSalvo]

I need to know something..what type of wood is it..I use pine or alamo, but i think those are too heavy..please answer

[RichardHeadLongbows]

@DDIISSalvo The wood in the video is Poplar

[caibarien71]

medieval arrows are beautiful,,, I made eight of them ,,, but I found they are very hard on the varnish of the bow,,,, is like passing a file everytime an arrow is release.....

[blazinghawk666]

did u know elctrical tape is great to use lmfao. me and my mate was experimenting and believe it or not it works great XD

[Rloganarcher]

Hi, I have just fletched my arrows but im really unsure what thread I could or should use. Could you advise me what type and where I could get it? Also, I bought some arrows from a trade fair a few months ago with an identical shape to the feathers but I cant find anywhere that sells them, do you know what the name of the shape is and wher I could get hem? Thank you.

[raraireng]

so u can use goose feathers too?

can u use other feathers?

[RichardHeadLongbows]

Yes you can use most feathers of appropriate stiffness. If your arrows are matched well enough to the bow and if you have a good technique you can shoot without them.

[AHorseAtHeart]

i try to do that but the string just clogs up with the feathers bringing the feathers down

[RichardHeadLongbows]

Thanks for commenting, just sounds like you need practice, keep it up.

[zskar]

this is awesome

[Friends752]

i cheated i glued mine =P

where can you get feathers like the ones you use?

[RichardHeadLongbows]

Feathers are available through our store.

[iscay666]

Hi i bought feathers similar to the ones in this video the person i bought them from said they were turkey feathers but they are about 1 mil wide and the spines are in a C like shape is this a real feather or synthetic? im really not sure weather im being ripped off or not couse i want un altered goose feathers for my arrows couse i want to be as traditional to the english as possible.

[RichardHeadLongbows]

Hi,

They sound authentic from your description, geese were not the only native bird in England but they have gone down in popular history as a good bird to use.

[iscay666]

Also do you know a store or place that sells medievil broad heads to australia?

[magemager0]

i go walking by the lakeside to find some pretty decent goose feathers

[dumbell12]

Thanks for this video, it help me figure out how to tie off the feathers once I got to the end of them.

[RichardHeadLongbows]

No problem, glad we could help.

[dumbell12]

I glad you posted this video. I didn't know how to finish of the wind of the string.

Thanks.

[zenthex1234]

dosent that creat drag??? i think its bad for the arrows!!!!

[RichardHeadLongbows]

Yes, it does.

[zenthex1234]

lots of drag i bet. so what the point of this?????

[RichardHeadLongbows]

AS you can see from our info about this video, it is demonstrating the Medieval art of binding an arrow, this was done because they didnt have waterproof glues i.e. if it rains your feathers will fall off!!!

[zenthex1234]

oh... i dident think about that.... thanks for the info

[RichardHeadLongbows]

No problem, happy to help.

[Olwe1992]

You can also do this WITHOUT any glue, you have to be quite good tho. anyways, thanks for this video I watched it a long time ago, and since then I've never fletched an arrow in another way. Medieval longbows ftw! 5/5*

[iscay666]

I usally bind them without any glue then i get some super glue and put it in between the fears to hold the string down the stop the feathers from moving during your shots

[HereComeTheJudge2]

My question is what exactly was that first step? Did you inset the beginning of the string into the arrow then wind over it? Also, do you guys ship to the States?

Anyway it's incredible to see such skill at work. Thanks for sharing this.

[RichardHeadLongbows]

HI, no, its not inserted, I simply fold the binding into right angle and place that along the quill then spin the shaft till the taught binding holds down the piece at a right angle, you should be able to just see it if you slow the vid down. And yes we ship all over the world! Thanks for the kind words.

[Washala]

I don't fully understand why people in the middle ages would spend that amount of energy in the perfection of an arrow, when they mostly used it but once on the battlefield...

[LordEinar]

So it will work.

M.

[WillieDines1]

One need to remember that warbow arrows need to be a good bit stronger anyway, since they have much heavier draw weight, which I believe to apparently have been up to around 200lbs draw weight.

I would also think that the bodkins on the arrows would've been made to be razor sharp to have a better chance of piercing a soldier's armour, and so I wouldn't imagine that many arrows would've broken so easily unless they were hittong stone walls/rocks.

[RainHammer]

ohh... i just imagined after the vid that how they did it in the middle ages ...

blacksmith: "honey il be back home in a sec just gotta do these arrows first"

his wife: "how many?"

blacksmith: "abaut 2541 left tomorrow i got to finish the rest..."

his wife: "2541!? so many?"

blacksmith: "dont worry i got 59345 for tomorrow ou and 4 swords"

uoooo so much aking work for 1 min of war...

and 1 war lasted 100 years the 1 between british and french.

[HereComeTheJudge2]

Because they were paid to... or forced to... whichever. It's not like the soldier was making them himself. Think of it akin to making bullets in the old days for a war. You had workers or volunteers doing the labour.

[Callawayhot]

a lot of times they didnt accually do it perfect. the back then they were much faster at it too.

[WillieDines1]

Even with the use of modern day glue to secure the fletchings, it is still very much a treat to watch proper traditional techniques being used, especially when it comes to arrows.

Is it better to use a foam target boss with medieval arrows to save the wear and tear on them, or would a 'longbow quality' straw target boss be better?

Thank you for posting some great vids, top rating.

[RichardHeadLongbows]

Thanks for comments,its not the arrow that causes so much damage to targets more the type of head, if you use a bodkin either forged or the new machine made bodkins we sell you can reduce damage made by say a hunting head.Having said that straw targets will damage quickly!

[WillieDines1]

Hi Richard, thank you for your reply.

The points on the arrows I have, are 77 grain Modbods, but saying that, I was would've imagined that a layered foam boss would be best, especially since I'm only looking for a boss to practice at home with.

Thank you once again Richard and if possible, it would be great to see a video showing all the various types of bodkin points.

[Coyote1911]

Awesome! I have a better idea of how they do it now. So back in the day they would not use glue just use the binding to hold down the feathers for that one shot?

[longbow1415]

Next question,

Having cut the feathers to size, do you trim them to shape after they are glued onto the arrow?

[RichardHeadLongbows]

HI,

I suggest you buy our arrow making booklet, its only £4, you can get it on ebay or direct from us.

[longbow1415]

Thanks, i suppose its just practice practice practice!

[longbow1415]

Help me out please,

What do you cut the feathers with to get a nice edge..a knife or scissors..can you post a video of you cutting them ?

[RichardHeadLongbows]

HI,

We use VERY sharp scissors, please be careful, I doubt we will post a video on using scissors as its really a matter of practice! hope that helps.

[atepiro]

LOL its funny. This is NOT medieval arrow. You use SUPER-GLUE.

[RichardHeadLongbows]

Yes it is funny, as we are not at war with the French any more people want their arrows to last more than one shot, this means we have to use glue to help keep the binding together so it does not fall apart, thats why the details about this video says `medieval style arrow`

[SniperJochen]

I have a question, About the cut of the feathers. the triangular cut is the clasical sheald cut? and what other cuts is consistant whit the medieval period?

[RichardHeadLongbows]

HI, The cut in the video is a simple triangular shape, not shield. Medieval fletchings would have been triangular, parallel and `swineback`.

[Krimzon07]

beautifull.....

[TheOneInTheCloak]

What kind of fletches do you use for binding?

[RichardHeadLongbows]

The ones used on the arrow in the vid are Turkey feathers cut from full length to 6 1/2" then cut to a triangular shape.

[TheOneInTheCloak]

Thanks for the info.

[61862006]

What does this do?

[RichardHeadLongbows]

Binding an arrow stops the feathers coming off, or at least helps them from coming un-stuck! this would happen in the medieval period as the glues they had back then were not water proof.

[61862006]

ahh. I've just recieved some new arrows and wen shot at any distance they stick into the target really well, is there anything I can do to the tip of the arrows so there easier to get out of the target?

[RichardHeadLongbows]

Not Really, this is hard to answer with out knowing any of the details of the arrows/the bow/the target etc...if its a longbow then clubs can buy `longbow quality` target bosses that are not wound as tight and make it easy to remove arrows.

[61862006]

ok, thanks

[TheScoutNO]

Hi:P What kind of string is the best for the bow? I've heard that waxed linen thread works well, but i don't know where to buy it. I'm making a longbow that is about as tall as myself (170) I suppose that the string has to be quite thick!?

[RichardHeadLongbows]

Hi, Have a look at our website for all the string making materials you will need, you can always give us a call for advice on what to purchase. Website can be found in the info for this video by clicking the MORE button.

[TheScoutNO]

Okay, thank you;)

[eoj105]

cool video, thanks for posting this up!

[rottunpunk]

useful vid

thanks

what kind of string do you use to bind with?

[RichardHeadLongbows]

Thanks for the comments, we use `SOMAC` linen thread.

[raraireng]

ohh...and what kind of feathers?

or do u buy them?

[RichardHeadLongbows]

@raraireng we use Turkey feathers, yes we sell them.

[raraireng]

ok, thanks for the information!!!!

[JVic1992]

this is helpful