A homemade (Very) traditional head -

Archer · 11-16-2009, 12:04 PM

I was asked by a friend to make a replica arrow for is den. When I was at the WI deer and turkey expo last year I picked up some chert stone flakes that will work great for this project. My knapping leaves a lot to be desired but this will be just for show.

I used a nice, thin, white piece for the arrowhead.

I made some wood and cooper tools and an antler brow tine to flake away the stone. The leather is to protect my hand as I press the coper tool against the chert. The flakes are sharp.

I started by squaring off the bottom of the flake and then chipped the head to shape.

Archer · 11-16-2009, 12:05 PM

Lastly I added the grooves to each side that will be used to tie the head to the shaft. This is where I make the most mistakes and break the head.

Next, I used a knife to cut a groove in the end of a wood shaft to accept the stone head.

Archer · 11-16-2009, 12:05 PM

I will trim away the extra wood after I tie the head on.

To tie the head to the shaft, I use the sinew I save from the loins/backstraps from my deer.

It separates into nice thin threads.

I soaked the sinew threads in cold water to soften and stretch them. While waiting, I stained the wood shaft. The sinew does not really get tied onto the shaft. It is more like wrapping a wet noodle around the shaft. After I put on a few layers, I dried it with a blow dryer (just like I'm sure the early people did). This makes it shrink tight. I then rub the sinew with a block of bees wax to waterproof it so it won't get wet and loosen up.

Archer · 11-16-2009, 12:06 PM

For the fletching, I use turkey feathers from the birds we harvest and tied them on. I will do a build along on how to make the fletching at some point.

Bowhunter · 11-16-2009, 08:18 PM

This is unreal! Archer, how long does it take you to build an arrow like this?

Archer · 11-16-2009, 09:00 PM

Times stops when your doing this sort of stuff. I don't really keep track since there is no deadline.

Booner · 11-16-2009, 10:06 PM

Beautiful work!! Where did you research the ways to build this arrow? It looks to be done the way the native american did it.

Archer · 11-17-2009, 05:34 AM

I have been interested in Native culture since I was a kid. I like to make native gear so I did a lot od study on the subject. Here are some of the things I have made using native techniques.

I also made a Tipi, I will post how to make it later.

Booner · 11-17-2009, 09:30 PM

I love the native american way of creating and building items for survival. Some of them would have been great modern day inventors. Do you know anything about arrow shaft selection or type of wood used back then?

Archer · 11-17-2009, 09:45 PM

It was whatever was handy and plentyfull and even included reeds. Most were straighted by hand and with heat.

Booner · 11-17-2009, 09:55 PM

have you ever attempted to make home made shafts? If not..I see a challenge in the works. hahahaa

varmint101 · 11-26-2009, 07:45 PM

That's awesome Archer! I too love the native side. I've always been fascinated with it. I guess I need to figure out how to get to making my own heads like that. I am positive I would enjoy the heck out of it.

ike_osu · 12-05-2009, 08:27 PM

That is nice! I wish I had the patience and knowledge to do things like this! I look forward to seeing more of your work!

BuckFeverLodge · 12-05-2009, 09:59 PM

What I find most interesting, is the fact that technology continually changes broadhead designs, durability, sharpness, ect, ect, ect. Yet, hundreds of years ago, the Native Americans could kill wild animals of all sizes in this country with chisseled stones, sticks of wood, and bows that shot arrows at speeds which we wouldn't shoot at a foam target. Amazing, simply amazing. Sometimes it makes me think, "are we over-complicating things?"

Yet again, another GREAT thread Archer.

camoprincess · 12-08-2009, 09:27 AM

Archer ~ what do you charge for an arrow like that? I have some Indian heritage and I am really into the bear and moose and lodge decor, I would love to have one of those for my living room.

11-16-2009, 12:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Archer Broadhead Admin Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SE WI Posts: 200	A homemade (Very) traditional head I was asked by a friend to make a replica arrow for is den. When I was at the WI deer and turkey expo last year I picked up some chert stone flakes that will work great for this project. My knapping leaves a lot to be desired but this will be just for show. I used a nice, thin, white piece for the arrowhead. I made some wood and cooper tools and an antler brow tine to flake away the stone. The leather is to protect my hand as I press the coper tool against the chert. The flakes are sharp. I started by squaring off the bottom of the flake and then chipped the head to shape. __________________ Member: Wisconsin Bowhunters Association Member: Wisconsin Traditional Archers Member: Professional Bowhunters Society Member: MI Bowhunters Assoc. Member: American Broadhead Collectors Club Member: Sherwood Forest Bowmen Instinctors

11-16-2009, 12:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
Archer Broadhead Admin Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SE WI Posts: 200	Lastly I added the grooves to each side that will be used to tie the head to the shaft. This is where I make the most mistakes and break the head. Next, I used a knife to cut a groove in the end of a wood shaft to accept the stone head. __________________ Member: Wisconsin Bowhunters Association Member: Wisconsin Traditional Archers Member: Professional Bowhunters Society Member: MI Bowhunters Assoc. Member: American Broadhead Collectors Club Member: Sherwood Forest Bowmen Instinctors

11-16-2009, 12:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Archer Broadhead Admin Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SE WI Posts: 200	I will trim away the extra wood after I tie the head on. To tie the head to the shaft, I use the sinew I save from the loins/backstraps from my deer. It separates into nice thin threads. I soaked the sinew threads in cold water to soften and stretch them. While waiting, I stained the wood shaft. The sinew does not really get tied onto the shaft. It is more like wrapping a wet noodle around the shaft. After I put on a few layers, I dried it with a blow dryer (just like I'm sure the early people did). This makes it shrink tight. I then rub the sinew with a block of bees wax to waterproof it so it won't get wet and loosen up. __________________ Member: Wisconsin Bowhunters Association Member: Wisconsin Traditional Archers Member: Professional Bowhunters Society Member: MI Bowhunters Assoc. Member: American Broadhead Collectors Club Member: Sherwood Forest Bowmen Instinctors

11-16-2009, 12:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Archer Broadhead Admin Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SE WI Posts: 200	For the fletching, I use turkey feathers from the birds we harvest and tied them on. I will do a build along on how to make the fletching at some point. __________________ Member: Wisconsin Bowhunters Association Member: Wisconsin Traditional Archers Member: Professional Bowhunters Society Member: MI Bowhunters Assoc. Member: American Broadhead Collectors Club Member: Sherwood Forest Bowmen Instinctors

11-16-2009, 09:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Archer Broadhead Admin Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SE WI Posts: 200	Times stops when your doing this sort of stuff. I don't really keep track since there is no deadline. __________________ Member: Wisconsin Bowhunters Association Member: Wisconsin Traditional Archers Member: Professional Bowhunters Society Member: MI Bowhunters Assoc. Member: American Broadhead Collectors Club Member: Sherwood Forest Bowmen Instinctors

11-16-2009, 08:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bowhunter 85gr Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mesquite Texas, USA Posts: 39	This is unreal! Archer, how long does it take you to build an arrow like this?

11-16-2009, 10:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
Booner Administrator Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Arkansas USA Posts: 952	Beautiful work!! Where did you research the ways to build this arrow? It looks to be done the way the native american did it.

11-17-2009, 05:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
Archer Broadhead Admin Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SE WI Posts: 200	I have been interested in Native culture since I was a kid. I like to make native gear so I did a lot od study on the subject. Here are some of the things I have made using native techniques. I also made a Tipi, I will post how to make it later. __________________ Member: Wisconsin Bowhunters Association Member: Wisconsin Traditional Archers Member: Professional Bowhunters Society Member: MI Bowhunters Assoc. Member: American Broadhead Collectors Club Member: Sherwood Forest Bowmen Instinctors

11-17-2009, 09:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
Booner Administrator Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Arkansas USA Posts: 952	I love the native american way of creating and building items for survival. Some of them would have been great modern day inventors. Do you know anything about arrow shaft selection or type of wood used back then?

11-17-2009, 09:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
Archer Broadhead Admin Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SE WI Posts: 200	It was whatever was handy and plentyfull and even included reeds. Most were straighted by hand and with heat. __________________ Member: Wisconsin Bowhunters Association Member: Wisconsin Traditional Archers Member: Professional Bowhunters Society Member: MI Bowhunters Assoc. Member: American Broadhead Collectors Club Member: Sherwood Forest Bowmen Instinctors

11-17-2009, 09:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
Booner Administrator Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Arkansas USA Posts: 952	have you ever attempted to make home made shafts? If not..I see a challenge in the works. hahahaa

11-26-2009, 07:45 PM	#12 (permalink)
varmint101 130gr Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Freetown, IN Posts: 456	That's awesome Archer! I too love the native side. I've always been fascinated with it. I guess I need to figure out how to get to making my own heads like that. I am positive I would enjoy the heck out of it.

12-05-2009, 08:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
ike_osu Broadhead Tester Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: MO Posts: 330	That is nice! I wish I had the patience and knowledge to do things like this! I look forward to seeing more of your work! __________________ http://www.ikesoutdoors.comArticles, Product reviews, How-to videos and more www.jakefeather.com Video Production, DVD Duplication, Website Design

12-05-2009, 09:59 PM	#14 (permalink)
BuckFeverLodge Broadhead Admin Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SW Michigan Posts: 1,398	What I find most interesting, is the fact that technology continually changes broadhead designs, durability, sharpness, ect, ect, ect. Yet, hundreds of years ago, the Native Americans could kill wild animals of all sizes in this country with chisseled stones, sticks of wood, and bows that shot arrows at speeds which we wouldn't shoot at a foam target. Amazing, simply amazing. Sometimes it makes me think, "are we over-complicating things?" Yet again, another GREAT thread Archer. __________________ ATHENS FACTORY STAFF SHOOTER, Red Feather Archery Field Staff, Eco3 Outdoors Pro Staff, U-slide Bow Holder Pro Staff, LTL Acorn Outdoors Pro Staff "Anybody can kill one with a gun" Steve Casselman "It's going to be a very bad year for a lot of unsuspecting critters!" Matt Futtere - Arrowdynamic Solutions

12-08-2009, 09:27 AM	#15 (permalink)
camoprincess 145gr Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SW Michigan Posts: 638	Archer ~ what do you charge for an arrow like that? I have some Indian heritage and I am really into the bear and moose and lodge decor, I would love to have one of those for my living room. __________________ CamoPrincess The " Princess "Assassin "Yes, I do shoot like a GIRL, and am dern proud of it too." ATHENS ARCHERY Field Staff Buck Addicts Field Staff Broadheadshed.com Field Staff Athens Accomplice 32 ~ Black, 48#, 24"DL

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