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Arrow Makers
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Articles and Information
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Martin Archery
- Information on different types of bows and arrows, including compound, recurve and longbow, and technical information. Catalogue available for download.
The Stickbow
- Information for the traditional archer. Features include building techniques for selfbows and laminated bows, making wood arrows, archery collecting, a bulletin board, and a classifieds section.
Fletching as Done in Times of Yore
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The fletchers of the Middle Ages and Tudor period had arrow making down to a fine art. There is evidence of their work to be seen in Westminster Abbey and the Mary Rose exhibition. There are approximately 3,500 of the Mary Rose arrows, mainly made from poplar and mainly of the bobtail type - tapering from 1/2" (12.7 mm) at the head to around ?" (9.5 mm) at the nock and on the whole 30" (762 mm) long. The feather material has decomposed, but there still remains evidence on the shafts of how the fletching was applied.
The Westminster Abbey arrow was discovered high up in the Abbey over a century go. When I went to see the arrow I was given these measurements: 11.5 mm in the middle; 7.65 mm at the nock; 10.5 mm at the head and a little under 30" (762 mm) long. That is, the shaft is barrelled. The arrow had a horn reinforced self nock, as do all the Mary Rose arrows. The other similarity is that both types of arrows have a greenish substance in the fletching area which shows evidence of whipping (possibly silk or linen), and also shows where the fletchings sat, from impressions left.
Until recently, it was thought by some that this green substance was fish glue, but, having obtained some fish glue I can tell you that this is not probable, as fish glue is water based.
During the mediæval period much trading was done through Venice, the great centre of the Renaissance. There was an enormous amount of resins, oils, pigments and other concoctions available, and as we know much yew timber was imported into England from the continent for bowmaking.
The Mary Rose arrows were submerged in the Solent for over 450 years and the green water resistant substance has survived on most of the arrows.
Here is a concoction that I have been working on to simulate and approximate the fletching substance:
1 part boiled linseed oil
3 parts Dammar resin
1 part pure turpentine
1/4 part ground verdigris
a pinch of Verona green earth
Combine the ingredients and heat gently (NO NAKED FLAMES HERE).
Many 17th century varnish mixers must have really needed a fire extinguisher!
There still remain questions: how the prepared fletchings were applied to the shaft; whether the varnish was applied before or after fletching; whether the silk/linen whipping was a part of the fletching process, or acted merely as security for the fletching. There is a possibility that the green colour (possibly verdigris) was added to the varnish to indicate these were "Livery arrows", the King's property.
Fletchers and Knappers
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Arrow Works
- Arrow Work creates custom designed arrows, cresting and fletching using the finest materials available.
Beman Arrows
- Maker of high-quality carbon arrows.
Carbon Tech Arrows
- Archery and hunting carbon arrows for target, bowhunting, long bow and more.
Custom wood arrows
- traditional arrows for bowhunting, target shooting. made from port orford cedar. made to order.
DJR Arrows
- Creating custom cedar arrows for traditional archery made from Port Orford Cedar.
Eastern Cherokee of the Old Cherokee Nation of New Echota
- Featuring articles made by several Cherokee artists including hand crafted arrows, flutes, unique copper and silver jewelry, and hand engraved knives.
Kojiki Enterprises - Custom-made Kyudo Arrows
- Japan-trained arrow-smith based in Sacramento, CA offers kyudo arrows meeting ANKF standards. Additional tips, background stories and links
Native Way
- Our products include Native American style bows and arrows, lances, stone axes, stone and metal bladed knives, and fishlures.
No Frontiers Archery
- Makes custom cedar arrows for traditional archers.
Ralphs, Steve - The Bow and Arrow Man
- UK-based Grand Master of the Traditional Bowyers Guild. Makes all types of traditional bows and arrows, and offers pictures of his handiwork on the site, as well as ordering information, and some information on films in which his work has been used.
Riccardelli's Arrowsmithing
- Arrows for bowhunting, target shooting.
Sauk Trail Archery
- Sauk Trail Archery custom made recurve bows and longbows. Specializing in traditional archery. Wood arrows, shafts, & cresting, and all traditional archery accessories. Bear and Whitetial Deer Hunts.
Sioux Arrows
- Native American arrows, each uniquely handcrafted by a Sioux/Assiniboine Indian.
Wicked Sticks
- Crafts custom longbows and arrows for the traditional bowhunter.
Woodenarrows.com
- Custom made traditional wooden arrows by Trent and Tristan Foster. Site has information on traditional archery as well as arrows. By custom arrows online. Link to Bowyers and organizations.
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