@cdmacdonald2112 Glad the video was of use to you, and thank you for letting me know. Good luck with making your own arrows. As you rightly say, it's not as bad as you might think. Best wishes!
I wonder can you use cider instead of ash or poppel? I've had a hard time trying to find ash or poppel shafts in sweden. I got a 60 pound bow but i will upgrade to one probably around 110 pound soon, so i wonder if cider is good enough?
@Rhonerin I wish I could give you an answer but not being a bowyer I haven't had that much experience with different woods, and certainly have never used Cider nor heard of anyone else doin so. If you do have a go then I would be very interested to hear how you get on though. Good luck if you do have a try!
How heavy is that bow you're shooting at the end, 100lb? It looks like a monster! I pulled on a 60lb recurve not so long ago and nearly dislocated my shoulder :o(
@paulalford100 Thanks Paula. Yes that's my English yew bow with a draw weight of 100lbs. I have another that weighs in at 123lbs but that can be quite a struggle on cold days! :)
@Patchyman253 Yes you certainly could. The jig helps to position the three fletchings evenly around the arrow and in the correct orientation to the nock but you could just as easily set them out by eye with a little practice.
@Fighter7ful No that's quite true. Remember that this is not a video on how to make arrows in the medieval way, but rather to make medieval-looking arrows. Therein lies the difference. I am simply showing you how to make arrows that look medieval but using modern techniques.
@CannibalCarp We believe they were used against plate armour. The chisel head has 4 cutting edges, These puncture the initial hole in the iron or steel, then the long chisel sides open up the metal like a tin can and create a hole larger than the shaft so it can pass through with minimal friction. The head is thick and stubby so it doesn't bend. Some people maintain these are crossbow quarrel heads and not arrow heads, but I disagree.
@markitisthen The jig I use in the video is the Tollgate jig, made by The Arten Company of Jedburgh in Scotland (01835 863380). I bought it from Quicks many years ago. but I'm not sure if it is still available, however any good archery supplier will sell similar versions of it.
I am fascinated. Friend just gave me Bernard Cornwell's Azincourt, so had to check out fletching (and of course longbows). Lovely video man. Beautiful arrows.
this video is awesome, but uhhhhh, the music would fit better to a video showing us how to quick draw our revolvers when the clock strikes 12, just sayn
Wow this video reminds of why in high school I spent my spare time making bows and arrows and why now I want to pick it up again. Each piece is a labored piece of art with a deadly end goal. Awesome video and instruction, the music is highly entertaining!
Very cool demonstration of medieval arrow making. I'm making my own arrows too based on Norman times in the 11th century. (but the use of 19th century themed Clint Eastwood American Western music and Cigaro cactuses?)
@roglet123 Sometimes I do, but the process is quite labour intensive and does not 100% guarrantee that the nock won't split. I have found that using binding alone, as in the video, is actually a surer way of protecting the nock. Recently I have started using a horn insert and binding on all my arrows and this works very well.
@usaruss Yes arrows still have the cock feather, which is set at right angles to the string nock. Using a fletching jig will help to set the feathers in the right position as the jig has 3 pre-set positions, one of which is for the cock feather.
Out of curiosity, how would being an archer in those days have been helpful when it looked like a single arrow took you 30ish minutes, not including the time for the arrowhead itself. And that's with modern means.. >.<
@Chance680 The manufacture of arrows in the middle ages was a massive industry, with each county and major town within being given a quota of arrows or component parts to deliver to the crown for each campaign. It was not unknown for arrows numbering half a million or more to be carried in a single siege train.
@MicrowavedHamster I don't know about other bows, but I would recommend the following for the history of the English longbow: The Great Warbow by Robert Hardy and Matthew Strickland; Secrets of the English War Bow by Hugh D.H. Soar, Mark Stretton and Joseph Gibbs; Longbow: A Social and Military History by Robert Hardy; The Medieval Archer by Jim Bradbury; Arrowstorm by Richard Wadge.
I am purchasing an English Warbow soon and had to watch your video again so I can get some pointers on making arrows for it. Good stuff. Love your vids.
@misper34 Great to hear that the video was of use to you. That makes all the effort worthwhile when I receive nice comments like that. Many thanks! :)
@equitably Nope, that's correct. I am making medieval-style arrows. This is not a "medieval style" arrow making video as that would be completely different.
@2010Nodari Yes, it is good against plate as the 4-sided chisel head will cut a small hole, then peel back the metal and create a large enough gap for the shaft to follow. A thick head like this will not curl up either, as apposed to something like the type 7 Norman needle bodkin.
@ColonelChamberlain A taper is the gradual decrease in size from one end of the arrow to the other. In this instance the shaft tapers down from a thickness of 1/2" at the head to 3/8" at the nock. Hope this helps.
@bigbowbrum hello, I have only shot on shelf with my recurve, and i've always wondered when you release, do the fletchings hurt or do they at least scratch as the arrow flies over your hand?
@squidballs2 No, the fletchings won't scratch the finger so long as the nocking position on the string is slightly higher than parallel when compared to the level at which the arrow will sit on the finger at full draw. This will make the arrow lift when loosed and allow the fletchings to fly above the finger. If the nocking point is too low then yes, the fletchings will cut so just raise your nocking point a little and try again.
huh... i wonder what the makers of arrows were like during war. watching like 1000s of arrows flying by and hardly any of them hitting lol... must be a bitch making that many arrows.
@DrahcirLXIV the english i beleive had thousands of ppl to do this. so did alot of others like the romans and the persians who had used bows in there wars. and the big thing wasnt arrows it was the bow they demanded these in the tens of thousands so hope i helped.
Have you tried adding a two inch cow horn nock reinforcement? I have tried this. It is not difficult to do. I'm thinking of using Coats Barbour thread size No. 12 on the war arrows. I have tried with 18/3 thread on smaller arrows 11/32 and it works great.
@jpavlvs Yes I usually have buffalo horn inserts but for these arrows I didn't bother as they were just for everyday use rather than for using at public displays.
@bigbowbrum Where would 13th and 14th century fletchers get buffalo horn? Certainly not Cape Buffalo or Bison. Water buffalo is doubtful too. I think they used horn from local cattle. English Longhorn, Kerry and any breed of ox.
@jpavlvs They wouldn't have used buffalo horn, that's correct. They would have used local cow horn but buffalo horn is the modern equivallent and much easier to get hold of. These are not museum quality arrows. The video is showing how to easily make medieval-style arrows. The question really is, where do you draw the line?
@RockingOrange11 Yes the video is correct, 7 inches long by 3/4 of an inch high. They may sound large but remember that these are being made to be shot from bows with a draw weight over 100lbs. If I were making target arrows to be shot off a 50lbs bow then I would be using 5/16" shafts with fletchings probably no longer than 5 inches. Hope this helps. Best wishes.
how long would u say it takes u to make a arrow. and how long it took you before you got really good at making them. i am considering to attempt to make some of my own arrows on free time like the ones from your video. i just need to know if it will be to time consuming.
@hairypickle123 I guess it takes about an hour, but it is difficult to judge as you can't make one from start to finish in one go as there are drying times to take into account for the head and the varnish etc. I don't make that many so I became good at it really quickly. It's not difficult at all, just take your time and you will be fine. Why not just make one and see how you get on? each time you make one you will get quicker and better. Good luck and enjoy!
@bayouboy745 Thanks for the interest but not at the moment. I have broken or lost so many arrows that I only have 2 left! That's what happens during the summer display season when we are putting on so many shoots. I am now trying to find time to make myself up another dozen before the next event. However, if all goes well I am hoping to start selling arrows on eBay once I can get a workshop set up. Prices will be around £15 each for arrows as per this video due to the high cost of the heads.
This afternoon I learned why you use epoxy; I had made 6 arrows (ash shafts, 'dropped' goose fletching and bodkin points) with the points affixed with hide glue (historical accuracy/ ease of replacement if the shaft snapped and I had to clean out the socket). When they were done I headed out to the butts to do my daily 50 (25 grouping, 25 application) - only to spend 20 minutes pulling apart the straw butt to recover some expensive arrowheads that had come adrift...
sell the arrow to me in normal price and then i'm going to sell to my friend katsumoto for 90 millions!What do you say?Are you in?You take 20%!By the way EXCELLENT work!
@1234ANTONIS $60 for a dozen is normal price for our arrows, cedar shaft, stone tip, hardwood spliced nock, turkey feater fletchs and a cresting of your choice.. name your poundage. oh we also stain and always varnish our arrows for durabily.
@Me102288 That's a motherfucking bargain for handmade arrows that don't look like gay modern day arrows that cost about the same and that are made for pussies.
@GraveUypo Yes I guess so because they last for years if shot at soft targets. Plus these arrows are made to be used, rather than as museum pieces, but I'm pleased you think the finished arrow is worthy of not being wasted! Thank you.
I'll pay you 90 million dollars per tenth of a microsecond if u can make me 4 of these arrows. that's 2093819047012947190283412908309128301280497129049012348129038 dollars if you play your cards right. i need those arrows to help me take over the world.
sell the arrow to me in normal price and then i'm going to sell to my friend katsumoto for 90 millions!What do you say?Are you in?You take 20%!By the way EXCELLENT work!
I have a lathe available that would be just long enough. I have no tools and only used it once to make a pommel for my Gladius. I carved the bone grip too. Ash or poplar would be best I am thinking if your going to turn the shaft. anything else may not stay stiff enough at say, 31 inches long. Sorry thinking out loud....
@jpavlvs All sounds good to me. Most of my arrows are made of Poplar and are between 30 - 32" long. Birch is very dense as well but can be quite heavy as a result.
@jpavlvs I taper the shafts myself using sandpaper but it is very labour intensive and time consuming. Some people turn them on a lathe and others put one end of the shaft in a drill and spin the shaft that way, holding some sandpaper around the shaft with a gloved hand. It is also possible to buy tapered shafts from archery suppliers, and when I am feeling particularly lazy I sometimes do this too! :o)
Very time consuming even with modern glues and tools. No wonder they ditched the bows for guns when they figured out that stuffing a ball in a pipe behind some black powder works. And you don't have to train for a life time either to hit something with it.
@seaforthpiper The 1/2" end is at the point and 3/8" at the nock. I use sandpaper to taper the shafts by hand, but this is a very slow and labour intensive method. Most archers either use a small lathe or put the shaft in a drill bit and spin the shaft while either gripping sandpaper in the hand or by constructing a jig on a table with lengths of wood lined with sandpaper and then forcing a spinning shaft between the two lengths of wood with the gap between them narrowing from 1/2" to 3/8".
@bigbowbrum I THOUGHT the heavy end would be at the point. I wonder if 'they' (the old fletchers) used ash or willow 'wands' or young shoots that would have a natural taper or if they did what I do - I split an ash billet and then rip strips that follow the grain (they would have riven the strips rather than saw them, of course) and then shave the square rods 8-, then 16-sided, then round with a spokeshave. given a shaving-bench or horse the work might go quite quickly with less chance of waste.
@seaforthpiper I too believe that fletchers may have used young shoots with a natural taper. Whether they did that in medieval times is debatable though due to the huge quantities needed so I imagine it was a much older technique, perhaps used in pre-Roman times, but who knows. I believe medieval fletchers either forced shafts through progressively smaller round templates or else used the square rods to 8-sided,16-sided shaving method you mention. The latter would be my guess. Great comment!
@bigbowbrum Probably all three - although the latter two methods are more suited to wartime production. I think that a steel dowel-plate would be a very expensive piece of kit (req. specialist, highly-skilled smithing) compared to a wooden-handled shave which is a 'cottage' instrument. I'll stop cluttering up your comments section now and go back to enjoying/learning from your vids when I'm not putting arrows down-range!
@seaforthpiper Your comments are not clutter at all my friend. It is always nice to hear from people who have something of interest to add. I only wish the bowyers, fletchers, arrowsmiths and archers of old had recorded more of what they did and how they did it, then we wouldn't have to guess all the time. But then perhaps that would destroy some of the enjoyment of archaeological experimentation and trying to find out for ourselves. Happy shooting!
@bigbowbrum Thank you, although I DO go on a bit.... Yes, pity there was no Pepys or 'Voice from the Ranks' among the Trades - without the internet I wonder how many there would be even now. They probably thought that they'd done their duty to the trade by passing it on to an apprentice. Who was it who said that "archeology was more 'vendetta' than academics"?
@bigbowbrum I can see the advantange of the tapered shaft: not only does it put more weight forward, but wood splits more readily from root to trunk - putting the nock at the narrow end would reduce the chance of the string splitting the shaft of a self-nocked arrow. I'm going to experiment with 1/2" riven rods placed in a 'shooting board' and then planed to the finished taper. they had that level of tool technology then, and I suspect the work would go quickly. I'll share the results.
@bigbowbrum It might take a while - it seems that my duties/responsibilties increase the moment I announce plans for a 'leisure' (or at least 'unpaid') activity. Thank goodness for insomnia.....
Are the feathers from the left of right side of the gooses wing. I found that feathers that don't match left and right make the arrow wobble in flight. Have you tried peacock? They are a beautiful ruddy colored feather.
@jpavlvs I think they are all left wing but I am not 100%. Yes you are correct, you certainly can't mix and match from different wings on the same arrow, as the arrow won't spin. They have to be either all left or all right. I always use Turkey although I have played around with Goose once but I found the feathers quite greasy. I have never tried Peacock though. Thanks for the recommendation. Best wishes.
@arikarp100 I am actually in talks with my good friend Martin about starting to make up this style of arrow for sale on eBay. We haven't decided on a price yet but I would guess it would be around £12 - 15 each.
@rikkenbakken I buy them at re-enactment fayres from Hector Cole. Google his name for his site or look at other good archery suppliers such as barebow archery, fairbow or diy archery. Best wishes.
Beautiful work. presumably, back-in-the-day, when arrows were required by the thousand, there would have been many fletchers supplying the military's needs.
perfect choice of music too. btw my you tube psodonym relates to a fiddle bow; they're crap at loosing arrows. Regards.
i'm 15 years old canadian ( french ) i played with a 30 pound bow when i was 10 and now i want start for real , any one know a guide that can help me ? thx alots , i take any tips and btw , very nice arrow !! :)
i'm 15 years old canadian ( french ) i played with a 30 pound bow when i was 10 and now i want start for real , any one know a guide that can help me ? thx alots , i take any tips and btw , very nice arrow
@lukassnakeman No, I don't tend to buy broadheads as they are for hunting and of course it is illegal to hunt with a bow in England. They are also a right pig to dig out of targets! My arrows are meant to be replicas of the varieties used for warfare during the Hundred Years War, and as a generalisation the heads used were more like those in this video so they would have a better chance against different forms of armour. Best wishes to you.
@raymearsful Impossible to say. What style are you looking for? American flatbow, modern recurve, barebow, hunter, Victorian-style English longbow etc. What would you use it for - target, clout, hunting? I can only talk about English longbows as that is my area of expertise. Start with a Victorian-style target longow as they are more accurate eand easier to learn. Draw weight depends on your strength. No more than 30lbs at a guess.
@raymearsful You could, but they wouldn't be the same quality. All mine are hand-forged using quality iron or steel. What you buy on eBay will be cheap Indian steel and machined heads, which are fine if that's what you want.
@michelthegreatable I buy mine from Richard Head Longbows, but other good suppliers are Fairbow, BareBow Archery and DIY Archery. All are on the net.
I still can't believe your near Southampton, I swear i've been walking in the shadow of your footprints hahaha. You know what swung it for me? reading on the old walls that most of the army who fought at Agincourt passed under those very gates. Sometime when i'm there next we must go shooting and I can learn from the pro's ;) haha. Another great video mate. Must get me some of those Towton bodkins
@Hardrada88 Yep, Southampton has some terrific medieval ruins, though unfortunately the town council doesn't promote them like they should. Let me know when you want to come and shoot with us. We always welcome like-minded souls to come and meet up for a shoot.
Hey, i just wanted to say this video has helped me start this project perfectly. I used poplar and then cut 1/2" pieces and used a small hand taper to scrape the sides and then hand sanded the rest because i dont have tools at the moment. it worked, just took about 20 minutes per arrow. I really liked the danish oil too, it took a little bit to find but works great! You make your arrow shafts 30" long, how long of a bow is that tailored too, or is that length a good standard?
@mghch The length of the arrows should match your own draw length. As long as the bow is tillered to draw to that length then you can make them as long as you like. My max draw is 32" but I know tall archers who draw 36"! Most traditional longbows are made around 80" long. The standard arrow length for "warbow" archers is 30 - 32". Glad the video helped.
Book of Armaments, Chapter 7: And Bigbowbrum raised the Araldite up on high, saying, "O LORD, bless this Thy Araldyte that with it Thou mayest streghten these Bodkins to pierce the hearts of Thine enemies, in Thy mercy." And the LORD spake, saying "First shalt thou squeeze out the Holy Resin, then shalt thou count to three drops, no more, no less. Once the number three be reached, then addest thou three drops of Holy Hardenere, who being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it."
a suggestion for beginners (as i am a beginner) in the U.S., in 'craft' stores, a pack of multicolored 'party' feathers can be purchased, for the same price as three 'natural' feathers (turkey). (colors are 'clown colors').
@rjpancerniCAUSA I used those party feathers, they fill the middle with like a cocking so they didnt really cut the right way to go on evenly, im trying to find the natural turkey feathers now
Hi, like your work. Two questions - Firstly are the ash and poplar shafts you use cut yourself or where do you purchase them? And do you sand them to a taper by hand or use a lathe to spin them?
Great video... the western text made me chuckle... very medieval England. :)
I've had a half stave of Ash in the garage for a while now. It was going to become an American Flatbow, but something in my soul is pushing me to an English Longbow. It must be the English influence from my Dad's half... the Irish from my mother's side doesn't hold much sway on my archery (though that's where the family's archers are) as swords aren't much use on an archery range.
@thirteenfingers Hi, nice to hear from you. Good luck if you decide to make a bow. I have never worked with Ash myself but I have heard it is a nice wood to use. Best wishes.
Hi!! can anybody tell me how to make a flaming arrow REALLY work..!! i mean i did an xperiment by soaking a cloth into gasoline, n to make it more thicker i added mobile oil into it.. then wrapped it up on d arrow.. but still whenever i launched d thing it 'pooofffed' out as soon as it was let loose.. any idea how can it reach its target still lit..???
@BobbyBux Yes, I have read that each town, county or shire would be instructed to provide a certain number of sacks of feathers for the fletchers depending on the size/wealth of each place. No doubt each town had a fletchers guild which would have worked to supply the crown in times of war. A million or more arrows would need a great deal of men working flat out, though armouries such as the Tower certainly held a great number of sheafs (24 arrows) in stock, even in times of peace.
@rjpancerniCAUSA I rarely make my own fletchings from complete feathers, prefering to buy them ready cut from the quill, but if I do then I cut the quill as thin as I can, also passing it over a sheet of sandpaper to get it thin enough to lie flat. This is usually sufficient but if not then the string will certainly bind it tight, even if not using adhesive (which I would use anyway).
Awesome video. Now i'd like to make my self :D
3zys 1 week ago
Great videa man, completely inspired me to make some of my own. Doesn't look as daunting now that i've seen how it's done!
cdmacdonald2112 1 week ago
@cdmacdonald2112 Glad the video was of use to you, and thank you for letting me know. Good luck with making your own arrows. As you rightly say, it's not as bad as you might think. Best wishes!
bigbowbrum 1 week ago
Loved it.
TheCyclemanmoter 2 weeks ago
I wonder can you use cider instead of ash or poppel? I've had a hard time trying to find ash or poppel shafts in sweden. I got a 60 pound bow but i will upgrade to one probably around 110 pound soon, so i wonder if cider is good enough?
Rhonerin 2 weeks ago
@Rhonerin I wish I could give you an answer but not being a bowyer I haven't had that much experience with different woods, and certainly have never used Cider nor heard of anyone else doin so. If you do have a go then I would be very interested to hear how you get on though. Good luck if you do have a try!
bigbowbrum 1 week ago
Lovely! That's a real craft.
How heavy is that bow you're shooting at the end, 100lb? It looks like a monster! I pulled on a 60lb recurve not so long ago and nearly dislocated my shoulder :o(
paulalford100 3 weeks ago
@paulalford100 Thanks Paula. Yes that's my English yew bow with a draw weight of 100lbs. I have another that weighs in at 123lbs but that can be quite a struggle on cold days! :)
bigbowbrum 2 weeks ago
Quick question. Could you fletch the arrows using the tape without the help of a jig?
Patchyman253 3 weeks ago
@Patchyman253 Yes you certainly could. The jig helps to position the three fletchings evenly around the arrow and in the correct orientation to the nock but you could just as easily set them out by eye with a little practice.
bigbowbrum 3 weeks ago
@bigbowbrum Thanks!
Patchyman253 3 weeks ago
Hmmm....Western music and super-glue?...Is not medieval !
Fighter7ful 1 month ago
@Fighter7ful No that's quite true. Remember that this is not a video on how to make arrows in the medieval way, but rather to make medieval-looking arrows. Therein lies the difference. I am simply showing you how to make arrows that look medieval but using modern techniques.
bigbowbrum 3 weeks ago
@bigbowbrum I understand and I appreciate your work.
The result is very beautiful.
If you put some medieval music on the video he will have one authentic look.
I wiss you a good year.
God blessyou!
Fighter7ful 3 weeks ago
Fantastic workmenship!
TheFrazer1995 1 month ago
Stupid question. What would a heavy war bodkin design would be used against. Almost looks chisel like.
CannibalCarp 1 month ago
@CannibalCarp We believe they were used against plate armour. The chisel head has 4 cutting edges, These puncture the initial hole in the iron or steel, then the long chisel sides open up the metal like a tin can and create a hole larger than the shaft so it can pass through with minimal friction. The head is thick and stubby so it doesn't bend. Some people maintain these are crossbow quarrel heads and not arrow heads, but I disagree.
bigbowbrum 1 month ago
May I ask what make of fletching jig you are using here please?
thankyou.
markitisthen 1 month ago in playlist Favorite videos
@markitisthen The jig I use in the video is the Tollgate jig, made by The Arten Company of Jedburgh in Scotland (01835 863380). I bought it from Quicks many years ago. but I'm not sure if it is still available, however any good archery supplier will sell similar versions of it.
bigbowbrum 1 month ago
I am fascinated. Friend just gave me Bernard Cornwell's Azincourt, so had to check out fletching (and of course longbows). Lovely video man. Beautiful arrows.
MuntucoGer1 1 month ago
@MuntucoGer1 Nick Hook, great book!
Downfacingdog 1 month ago
this video is awesome, but uhhhhh, the music would fit better to a video showing us how to quick draw our revolvers when the clock strikes 12, just sayn
namekman01 1 month ago
cool..thanks for sharing..now i have an idea of how my forefathers made arrows!
careaidegirl31 1 month ago
This is all so amazing, they are a work of art!
2012feartheginger 2 months ago
Wow this video reminds of why in high school I spent my spare time making bows and arrows and why now I want to pick it up again. Each piece is a labored piece of art with a deadly end goal. Awesome video and instruction, the music is highly entertaining!
greenfish13 2 months ago
Beautiful work sir.
empiregeneral31 2 months ago in playlist More videos from bigbowbrum
Great video and music. Thanks.
saxonlight 2 months ago in playlist Favorite videos
Very cool demonstration of medieval arrow making. I'm making my own arrows too based on Norman times in the 11th century. (but the use of 19th century themed Clint Eastwood American Western music and Cigaro cactuses?)
WJHHunterston 2 months ago
why dont you reinforce the nocks with horn?
roglet123 2 months ago in playlist More videos from bigbowbrum
@roglet123 Sometimes I do, but the process is quite labour intensive and does not 100% guarrantee that the nock won't split. I have found that using binding alone, as in the video, is actually a surer way of protecting the nock. Recently I have started using a horn insert and binding on all my arrows and this works very well.
bigbowbrum 2 months ago
this guy is awesome,
buggsquasher 2 months ago 3
@buggsquasher Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the video.
bigbowbrum 2 months ago
Neat. A lot of old books used to mention the cock feather, that was a bit of a right angle to the others. Is that a consideration here?
usaruss 2 months ago
@usaruss Yes arrows still have the cock feather, which is set at right angles to the string nock. Using a fletching jig will help to set the feathers in the right position as the jig has 3 pre-set positions, one of which is for the cock feather.
bigbowbrum 2 months ago
Yep very midievil, how ingenious
sirbata 2 months ago
Very cool video. It's a shame guns have over-taken archers since I myself hate guns. Practically no skill is needed and they're stronger. -.-
Chance680 2 months ago
Out of curiosity, how would being an archer in those days have been helpful when it looked like a single arrow took you 30ish minutes, not including the time for the arrowhead itself. And that's with modern means.. >.<
Chance680 2 months ago
@Chance680 The manufacture of arrows in the middle ages was a massive industry, with each county and major town within being given a quota of arrows or component parts to deliver to the crown for each campaign. It was not unknown for arrows numbering half a million or more to be carried in a single siege train.
bigbowbrum 2 months ago
@bigbowbrum If one wants to learn more about the history of the longbow/recurve bow/bows in general, what literature would you recommend?
MicrowavedHamster 2 months ago
@MicrowavedHamster I don't know about other bows, but I would recommend the following for the history of the English longbow: The Great Warbow by Robert Hardy and Matthew Strickland; Secrets of the English War Bow by Hugh D.H. Soar, Mark Stretton and Joseph Gibbs; Longbow: A Social and Military History by Robert Hardy; The Medieval Archer by Jim Bradbury; Arrowstorm by Richard Wadge.
bigbowbrum 2 months ago
Man this is awesome,I've never seen anything better than this arrows...Greetings from Croatia ;)
BowMan1321 2 months ago
hey greeting from italia where do you get your somac thread at i need some. thank you for your time
jonah214 3 months ago
@jonah214 Hi. I buy the Somac thread from Richard Head Longbows. He has a good website and ships overseas.
bigbowbrum 2 months ago
for some reason i want watch a western now
MourningStar13666 3 months ago
why is old wild west tipe of music playing all the time?!
ahvala7 3 months ago
@ahvala7 Because I like to be different and making each video with a Mandolin playing in the background would get boring very quickly! :)
bigbowbrum 2 months ago 5
I am purchasing an English Warbow soon and had to watch your video again so I can get some pointers on making arrows for it. Good stuff. Love your vids.
misper34 3 months ago
@misper34 Great to hear that the video was of use to you. That makes all the effort worthwhile when I receive nice comments like that. Many thanks! :)
bigbowbrum 3 months ago
Nothing very medieval in this, ay?!
equitably 3 months ago
@equitably Nope, that's correct. I am making medieval-style arrows. This is not a "medieval style" arrow making video as that would be completely different.
bigbowbrum 3 months ago
@bigbowbrum Right you are, well argued.
equitably 3 months ago
you are my new kick ass!!! cause this whole vid kicks major ass
huntercarney1 3 months ago
>>>>------------------->
RockingOrange11 3 months ago
whats the name of this song?
vojtusnemeckus 3 months ago
loving the ennio morricone music!
bornirish1 3 months ago
Fapping a bow with oil ;P
Fynniann 3 months ago
Heavy War Bodkin is that effective at all?
2010Nodari 4 months ago
@2010Nodari Yes, it is good against plate as the 4-sided chisel head will cut a small hole, then peel back the metal and create a large enough gap for the shaft to follow. A thick head like this will not curl up either, as apposed to something like the type 7 Norman needle bodkin.
bigbowbrum 3 months ago
i have no idea what a taper is but this is pretty cool
ColonelChamberlain 4 months ago
@ColonelChamberlain A taper is the gradual decrease in size from one end of the arrow to the other. In this instance the shaft tapers down from a thickness of 1/2" at the head to 3/8" at the nock. Hope this helps.
bigbowbrum 4 months ago
@bigbowbrum hello, I have only shot on shelf with my recurve, and i've always wondered when you release, do the fletchings hurt or do they at least scratch as the arrow flies over your hand?
squidballs2 4 months ago
@squidballs2 No, the fletchings won't scratch the finger so long as the nocking position on the string is slightly higher than parallel when compared to the level at which the arrow will sit on the finger at full draw. This will make the arrow lift when loosed and allow the fletchings to fly above the finger. If the nocking point is too low then yes, the fletchings will cut so just raise your nocking point a little and try again.
bigbowbrum 4 months ago
huh... i wonder what the makers of arrows were like during war. watching like 1000s of arrows flying by and hardly any of them hitting lol... must be a bitch making that many arrows.
DrahcirLXIV 4 months ago
@DrahcirLXIV the english i beleive had thousands of ppl to do this. so did alot of others like the romans and the persians who had used bows in there wars. and the big thing wasnt arrows it was the bow they demanded these in the tens of thousands so hope i helped.
jonah214 3 months ago
Have you tried adding a two inch cow horn nock reinforcement? I have tried this. It is not difficult to do. I'm thinking of using Coats Barbour thread size No. 12 on the war arrows. I have tried with 18/3 thread on smaller arrows 11/32 and it works great.
jpavlvs 4 months ago
@jpavlvs Yes I usually have buffalo horn inserts but for these arrows I didn't bother as they were just for everyday use rather than for using at public displays.
bigbowbrum 4 months ago
@bigbowbrum Where would 13th and 14th century fletchers get buffalo horn? Certainly not Cape Buffalo or Bison. Water buffalo is doubtful too. I think they used horn from local cattle. English Longhorn, Kerry and any breed of ox.
jpavlvs 3 months ago
@jpavlvs They wouldn't have used buffalo horn, that's correct. They would have used local cow horn but buffalo horn is the modern equivallent and much easier to get hold of. These are not museum quality arrows. The video is showing how to easily make medieval-style arrows. The question really is, where do you draw the line?
bigbowbrum 3 months ago
Very cool--thanks for posting. Cheers from Canada.
BardofCornwall 4 months ago
whats the name of the music? pretty cool xD
RoDrakka 4 months ago
20 people cant afford a longbow
RockingOrange11 4 months ago
do you mean 7inch or 7cm?
RockingOrange11 4 months ago
@RockingOrange11 Yes the video is correct, 7 inches long by 3/4 of an inch high. They may sound large but remember that these are being made to be shot from bows with a draw weight over 100lbs. If I were making target arrows to be shot off a 50lbs bow then I would be using 5/16" shafts with fletchings probably no longer than 5 inches. Hope this helps. Best wishes.
bigbowbrum 4 months ago
@bigbowbrum thanks mate., Love your sport
RockingOrange11 4 months ago
how long would u say it takes u to make a arrow. and how long it took you before you got really good at making them. i am considering to attempt to make some of my own arrows on free time like the ones from your video. i just need to know if it will be to time consuming.
hairypickle123 5 months ago
@hairypickle123 I guess it takes about an hour, but it is difficult to judge as you can't make one from start to finish in one go as there are drying times to take into account for the head and the varnish etc. I don't make that many so I became good at it really quickly. It's not difficult at all, just take your time and you will be fine. Why not just make one and see how you get on? each time you make one you will get quicker and better. Good luck and enjoy!
bigbowbrum 4 months ago
wherre did you buy your feathers?
carver552 5 months ago
@carver552 I buy them from Richard Head Longbows. He has a good site on the net. You can also get them from Barebow Archery, Fairbow and DIY Archery.
bigbowbrum 5 months ago
those are some very nice arrows
73ZIMO 5 months ago
nice work men ;)
AdriWL 5 months ago
Would you consider selling some of the arrows you have made and collected, if so for how much.
bayouboy745 5 months ago
@bayouboy745 Thanks for the interest but not at the moment. I have broken or lost so many arrows that I only have 2 left! That's what happens during the summer display season when we are putting on so many shoots. I am now trying to find time to make myself up another dozen before the next event. However, if all goes well I am hoping to start selling arrows on eBay once I can get a workshop set up. Prices will be around £15 each for arrows as per this video due to the high cost of the heads.
bigbowbrum 5 months ago
This afternoon I learned why you use epoxy; I had made 6 arrows (ash shafts, 'dropped' goose fletching and bodkin points) with the points affixed with hide glue (historical accuracy/ ease of replacement if the shaft snapped and I had to clean out the socket). When they were done I headed out to the butts to do my daily 50 (25 grouping, 25 application) - only to spend 20 minutes pulling apart the straw butt to recover some expensive arrowheads that had come adrift...
seaforthpiper 5 months ago
I like the cowboy music for a medieval video haha
marlocker8 5 months ago
That doesn't look like thread it looks like chord. Did you coat the thread with hide glue when you finished?
jpavlvs 5 months ago in playlist Arco
@jpavlvs No, it's just thread though I admit it is quite thick.
bigbowbrum 5 months ago
Does anyone know the songs used? More particularly, the very last one? I have found the rest on my own, but can't seem to find that one. Thanks.
Imonaboat657 5 months ago
@Imonaboat657
here you go my friend :) i love these music and a big fan of Clint Eastwood.
A Few Dollars More theme 2. Rare song
just type that on youtube and click the first one
havoka 5 months ago
@havoka ahhhh thank you so very very much!
Imonaboat657 5 months ago
sell the arrow to me in normal price and then i'm going to sell to my friend katsumoto for 90 millions!What do you say?Are you in?You take 20%!By the way EXCELLENT work!
1234ANTONIS 5 months ago
@1234ANTONIS $60 for a dozen is normal price for our arrows, cedar shaft, stone tip, hardwood spliced nock, turkey feater fletchs and a cresting of your choice.. name your poundage. oh we also stain and always varnish our arrows for durabily.
Me102288 5 months ago
@Me102288 That's a motherfucking bargain for handmade arrows that don't look like gay modern day arrows that cost about the same and that are made for pussies.
xbox360ftw123 5 months ago
when im rich, im gonna move to an estate in the uk and just hunt in my forest of a backyard, and have an armory where i can smith my own weapons
hawie2 5 months ago
Comment removed
Imonaboat657 5 months ago
is it wrong to think "what a waste" when someone shoots an arrow?
GraveUypo 6 months ago
@GraveUypo Yes I guess so because they last for years if shot at soft targets. Plus these arrows are made to be used, rather than as museum pieces, but I'm pleased you think the finished arrow is worthy of not being wasted! Thank you.
bigbowbrum 6 months ago
how do you get the shafts to be 100% straight?
John57154 6 months ago
@John57154 I buy them that way, but if the shaft has a slight bend it can always be heated over the steam of a kettle and then bent back into shape.
bigbowbrum 6 months ago
I'll pay you 90 million dollars per tenth of a microsecond if u can make me 4 of these arrows. that's 2093819047012947190283412908309128301280497129049012348129038 dollars if you play your cards right. i need those arrows to help me take over the world.
katsumorymoto 6 months ago
@katsumorymoto Sounds tempting but I don't quite believe you! ;o)
bigbowbrum 6 months ago
sell the arrow to me in normal price and then i'm going to sell to my friend katsumoto for 90 millions!What do you say?Are you in?You take 20%!By the way EXCELLENT work!
1234ANTONIS 5 months ago
a question, did you pull of the fletchingtape?
RockingOrange11 6 months ago
@RockingOrange11 No, the fletching tape is double sided, so I was only pulling off the protective covering.
bigbowbrum 6 months ago
@bigbowbrum a quiton where u got the iron trip?
SeyyidKing 5 months ago
@SeyyidKing The heads are made by blacksmith Hector Cole. If you Google his name he has a pretty good website.
bigbowbrum 5 months ago
very well done, but you will probably find a couple people dead in the woodes and you will never find those arrowes again.
gudavepave 6 months ago
I have a lathe available that would be just long enough. I have no tools and only used it once to make a pommel for my Gladius. I carved the bone grip too. Ash or poplar would be best I am thinking if your going to turn the shaft. anything else may not stay stiff enough at say, 31 inches long. Sorry thinking out loud....
jpavlvs 6 months ago
@jpavlvs All sounds good to me. Most of my arrows are made of Poplar and are between 30 - 32" long. Birch is very dense as well but can be quite heavy as a result.
bigbowbrum 6 months ago
Another question, if you don't mind. Where or how do you get the bobtail shafts?
jpavlvs 6 months ago
@jpavlvs I taper the shafts myself using sandpaper but it is very labour intensive and time consuming. Some people turn them on a lathe and others put one end of the shaft in a drill and spin the shaft that way, holding some sandpaper around the shaft with a gloved hand. It is also possible to buy tapered shafts from archery suppliers, and when I am feeling particularly lazy I sometimes do this too! :o)
bigbowbrum 6 months ago
very beautiful sir! job well done! awesome video!
headshot0211 6 months ago
20 people are hit by an arrow..
elementals4avatar 6 months ago
Very time consuming even with modern glues and tools. No wonder they ditched the bows for guns when they figured out that stuffing a ball in a pipe behind some black powder works. And you don't have to train for a life time either to hit something with it.
BH206L3 6 months ago
How do you taper the shafts? and, (dumb question. I know) is the 1/2" end at the nock or the point?
seaforthpiper 6 months ago
@seaforthpiper The 1/2" end is at the point and 3/8" at the nock. I use sandpaper to taper the shafts by hand, but this is a very slow and labour intensive method. Most archers either use a small lathe or put the shaft in a drill bit and spin the shaft while either gripping sandpaper in the hand or by constructing a jig on a table with lengths of wood lined with sandpaper and then forcing a spinning shaft between the two lengths of wood with the gap between them narrowing from 1/2" to 3/8".
bigbowbrum 6 months ago
@bigbowbrum I THOUGHT the heavy end would be at the point. I wonder if 'they' (the old fletchers) used ash or willow 'wands' or young shoots that would have a natural taper or if they did what I do - I split an ash billet and then rip strips that follow the grain (they would have riven the strips rather than saw them, of course) and then shave the square rods 8-, then 16-sided, then round with a spokeshave. given a shaving-bench or horse the work might go quite quickly with less chance of waste.
seaforthpiper 6 months ago
@seaforthpiper I too believe that fletchers may have used young shoots with a natural taper. Whether they did that in medieval times is debatable though due to the huge quantities needed so I imagine it was a much older technique, perhaps used in pre-Roman times, but who knows. I believe medieval fletchers either forced shafts through progressively smaller round templates or else used the square rods to 8-sided,16-sided shaving method you mention. The latter would be my guess. Great comment!
bigbowbrum 6 months ago
@bigbowbrum Probably all three - although the latter two methods are more suited to wartime production. I think that a steel dowel-plate would be a very expensive piece of kit (req. specialist, highly-skilled smithing) compared to a wooden-handled shave which is a 'cottage' instrument. I'll stop cluttering up your comments section now and go back to enjoying/learning from your vids when I'm not putting arrows down-range!
seaforthpiper 6 months ago
@seaforthpiper Your comments are not clutter at all my friend. It is always nice to hear from people who have something of interest to add. I only wish the bowyers, fletchers, arrowsmiths and archers of old had recorded more of what they did and how they did it, then we wouldn't have to guess all the time. But then perhaps that would destroy some of the enjoyment of archaeological experimentation and trying to find out for ourselves. Happy shooting!
bigbowbrum 6 months ago
@bigbowbrum Thank you, although I DO go on a bit.... Yes, pity there was no Pepys or 'Voice from the Ranks' among the Trades - without the internet I wonder how many there would be even now. They probably thought that they'd done their duty to the trade by passing it on to an apprentice. Who was it who said that "archeology was more 'vendetta' than academics"?
seaforthpiper 6 months ago
@bigbowbrum I can see the advantange of the tapered shaft: not only does it put more weight forward, but wood splits more readily from root to trunk - putting the nock at the narrow end would reduce the chance of the string splitting the shaft of a self-nocked arrow. I'm going to experiment with 1/2" riven rods placed in a 'shooting board' and then planed to the finished taper. they had that level of tool technology then, and I suspect the work would go quickly. I'll share the results.
seaforthpiper 6 months ago
@seaforthpiper I shall look forward to your results!
bigbowbrum 6 months ago
@bigbowbrum It might take a while - it seems that my duties/responsibilties increase the moment I announce plans for a 'leisure' (or at least 'unpaid') activity. Thank goodness for insomnia.....
seaforthpiper 6 months ago
how do you make the arrow heads could you make a video on that plz
SuperHunter220 6 months ago
@SuperHunter220 Sorry but I don't make them myself. They are bought off blacksmiths and arrowsmiths at re-enactment fayres.
bigbowbrum 6 months ago
pause at 7:28 for a Gift
PaulkyArcher 6 months ago
Are the feathers from the left of right side of the gooses wing. I found that feathers that don't match left and right make the arrow wobble in flight. Have you tried peacock? They are a beautiful ruddy colored feather.
jpavlvs 6 months ago
@jpavlvs I think they are all left wing but I am not 100%. Yes you are correct, you certainly can't mix and match from different wings on the same arrow, as the arrow won't spin. They have to be either all left or all right. I always use Turkey although I have played around with Goose once but I found the feathers quite greasy. I have never tried Peacock though. Thanks for the recommendation. Best wishes.
bigbowbrum 6 months ago
And this folks is why hand made arrows cost so much - each one is a real labour of love! But so satisfying to make your own arrows.
Great idea with the masking tape for cutting fletching, I'll have to use that next time! Now to find an Aussie supplier of linen thread.....
Thanks for another great video.
Mububban23 6 months ago
if ur were ever to sell some arrows how much would they be
arikarp100 6 months ago
@arikarp100 I am actually in talks with my good friend Martin about starting to make up this style of arrow for sale on eBay. We haven't decided on a price yet but I would guess it would be around £12 - 15 each.
bigbowbrum 6 months ago
Awesome music, where did you get those arrowheads ?
rikkenbakken 7 months ago
@rikkenbakken I buy them at re-enactment fayres from Hector Cole. Google his name for his site or look at other good archery suppliers such as barebow archery, fairbow or diy archery. Best wishes.
bigbowbrum 6 months ago
Beautiful work. presumably, back-in-the-day, when arrows were required by the thousand, there would have been many fletchers supplying the military's needs.
perfect choice of music too. btw my you tube psodonym relates to a fiddle bow; they're crap at loosing arrows. Regards.
MrBowsmith 7 months ago
I want to make arrows myself, but the same as mylineagell, i don't know where to get the arrowheads, where do you get them?
lantrovia 7 months ago
@lantrovia I will send you a list of the suppliers I use.
bigbowbrum 7 months ago
I like the music,it's perfect.
AIR112able 7 months ago
i'm 15 years old canadian ( french ) i played with a 30 pound bow when i was 10 and now i want start for real , any one know a guide that can help me ? thx alots , i take any tips and btw , very nice arrow !! :)
MyLineageII 7 months ago
i'm 15 years old canadian ( french ) i played with a 30 pound bow when i was 10 and now i want start for real , any one know a guide that can help me ? thx alots , i take any tips and btw , very nice arrow
MyLineageII 7 months ago
i really love your video but where do you buy the arrow head ? ( the metal part ) srry for my bad english
MyLineageII 7 months ago
@MyLineageII I will send you a list of all the suppliers I use.
bigbowbrum 7 months ago
I've been into bows for a wile now. J.R.R. Tolkien and John Flanagan get a huge peice of credit!
spider1g5 7 months ago in playlist English Warbow
no broad head arrow tips?
lukassnakeman 7 months ago
@lukassnakeman No, I don't tend to buy broadheads as they are for hunting and of course it is illegal to hunt with a bow in England. They are also a right pig to dig out of targets! My arrows are meant to be replicas of the varieties used for warfare during the Hundred Years War, and as a generalisation the heads used were more like those in this video so they would have a better chance against different forms of armour. Best wishes to you.
bigbowbrum 7 months ago
as the song is called xD?
cazanovato 7 months ago
@raymearsful Impossible to say. What style are you looking for? American flatbow, modern recurve, barebow, hunter, Victorian-style English longbow etc. What would you use it for - target, clout, hunting? I can only talk about English longbows as that is my area of expertise. Start with a Victorian-style target longow as they are more accurate eand easier to learn. Draw weight depends on your strength. No more than 30lbs at a guess.
bigbowbrum 7 months ago
@raymearsful You could, but they wouldn't be the same quality. All mine are hand-forged using quality iron or steel. What you buy on eBay will be cheap Indian steel and machined heads, which are fine if that's what you want.
bigbowbrum 7 months ago
where do you get the arrowheads?
michelthegreatable 7 months ago
@michelthegreatable I buy mine from Richard Head Longbows, but other good suppliers are Fairbow, BareBow Archery and DIY Archery. All are on the net.
bigbowbrum 7 months ago
@raymearsful I buy mine from Richard Head Longbows, but other good suppliers are Fairbow, BareBow Archery and DIY Archery. All are on the net.
bigbowbrum 7 months ago
i feel sorry for the people who had to make all of those arrows... theres something to add to the olympics "fastest mideval arrow maker" xD
lota25s 7 months ago 2
I still can't believe your near Southampton, I swear i've been walking in the shadow of your footprints hahaha. You know what swung it for me? reading on the old walls that most of the army who fought at Agincourt passed under those very gates. Sometime when i'm there next we must go shooting and I can learn from the pro's ;) haha. Another great video mate. Must get me some of those Towton bodkins
Hardrada88 7 months ago
@Hardrada88 Yep, Southampton has some terrific medieval ruins, though unfortunately the town council doesn't promote them like they should. Let me know when you want to come and shoot with us. We always welcome like-minded souls to come and meet up for a shoot.
bigbowbrum 7 months ago
That was a nice nock point. I'm actually surprised you applied the fletchings in such a modern way instead of wrapping them.
battletoads22 7 months ago
thanks for the haters to make the likebar look like a joint!
coolboxboy 8 months ago
Hey, i just wanted to say this video has helped me start this project perfectly. I used poplar and then cut 1/2" pieces and used a small hand taper to scrape the sides and then hand sanded the rest because i dont have tools at the moment. it worked, just took about 20 minutes per arrow. I really liked the danish oil too, it took a little bit to find but works great! You make your arrow shafts 30" long, how long of a bow is that tailored too, or is that length a good standard?
mghch 8 months ago
@mghch The length of the arrows should match your own draw length. As long as the bow is tillered to draw to that length then you can make them as long as you like. My max draw is 32" but I know tall archers who draw 36"! Most traditional longbows are made around 80" long. The standard arrow length for "warbow" archers is 30 - 32". Glad the video helped.
bigbowbrum 7 months ago
Book of Armaments, Chapter 7: And Bigbowbrum raised the Araldite up on high, saying, "O LORD, bless this Thy Araldyte that with it Thou mayest streghten these Bodkins to pierce the hearts of Thine enemies, in Thy mercy." And the LORD spake, saying "First shalt thou squeeze out the Holy Resin, then shalt thou count to three drops, no more, no less. Once the number three be reached, then addest thou three drops of Holy Hardenere, who being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it."
Varadinus 8 months ago 7
@Varadinus Ha ha, great stuff! :o)
bigbowbrum 8 months ago
creat tutorial dude!
ThePyroChemists 8 months ago
creat tut dude!
ThePyroChemists 8 months ago
a suggestion for beginners (as i am a beginner) in the U.S., in 'craft' stores, a pack of multicolored 'party' feathers can be purchased, for the same price as three 'natural' feathers (turkey). (colors are 'clown colors').
rjpancerniCAUSA 8 months ago
@rjpancerniCAUSA I used those party feathers, they fill the middle with like a cocking so they didnt really cut the right way to go on evenly, im trying to find the natural turkey feathers now
mghch 8 months ago
i just don't get it!!!!
how can 20 people have disliked this video??
i just don't get it!!!
masterkiter89 8 months ago
I think I have nearly all the skills I need now, to survive the Zombie Apocalypse! :P Awesome video!!
LolFishFail 8 months ago
Hi, like your work. Two questions - Firstly are the ash and poplar shafts you use cut yourself or where do you purchase them? And do you sand them to a taper by hand or use a lathe to spin them?
IxedBacov 8 months ago
@IxedBacov Hi. I buy my shafts off the internet from richard head longbows, and yes, I do sand them to a taper myself although it takes ages!
bigbowbrum 8 months ago
Well done sir!
I hope to shoot with you some day!
Peace.
kevseadog 9 months ago
dont loose it and be a numpty
sirmrkill1 9 months ago
Great video... the western text made me chuckle... very medieval England. :)
I've had a half stave of Ash in the garage for a while now. It was going to become an American Flatbow, but something in my soul is pushing me to an English Longbow. It must be the English influence from my Dad's half... the Irish from my mother's side doesn't hold much sway on my archery (though that's where the family's archers are) as swords aren't much use on an archery range.
I just need to decide what to make!
thirteenfingers 9 months ago
@thirteenfingers Hi, nice to hear from you. Good luck if you decide to make a bow. I have never worked with Ash myself but I have heard it is a nice wood to use. Best wishes.
bigbowbrum 9 months ago
Hi!! can anybody tell me how to make a flaming arrow REALLY work..!! i mean i did an xperiment by soaking a cloth into gasoline, n to make it more thicker i added mobile oil into it.. then wrapped it up on d arrow.. but still whenever i launched d thing it 'pooofffed' out as soon as it was let loose.. any idea how can it reach its target still lit..???
lord0arch0angel 9 months ago
@lord0arch0angel Steel wool and lamp oil works, let it burn for a couple of seconds before loosing the arrow.
Like a wise man once said; not very medieval i´ll admit but quick and easy.
LordVilhelm 9 months ago
@BobbyBux Yes, I have read that each town, county or shire would be instructed to provide a certain number of sacks of feathers for the fletchers depending on the size/wealth of each place. No doubt each town had a fletchers guild which would have worked to supply the crown in times of war. A million or more arrows would need a great deal of men working flat out, though armouries such as the Tower certainly held a great number of sheafs (24 arrows) in stock, even in times of peace.
bigbowbrum 9 months ago
Thank you. Just made a 'home made' bodkin (chop saw an drill, no forge).
Can the quill be straightened? (flat?) If no, then 'string' (and adhesive) will secure feather to shaft.
rjpancerniCAUSA 9 months ago
@rjpancerniCAUSA I rarely make my own fletchings from complete feathers, prefering to buy them ready cut from the quill, but if I do then I cut the quill as thin as I can, also passing it over a sheet of sandpaper to get it thin enough to lie flat. This is usually sufficient but if not then the string will certainly bind it tight, even if not using adhesive (which I would use anyway).
bigbowbrum 9 months ago
@bigbowbrum Thank you. Was 'shocked' at how strong quills are. This is quite the 'learning experience'.
rjpancerniCAUSA 9 months ago