Primative Native arrows

[Rancid Crabtree]

I was asked by a friend to make a replica arrow for is den. I was at the WI deer and turkey expo last weekend and picked up some chert stone flakes that will work great for this project.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/chert1.jpg

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

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/chert2.jpg

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.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/chert3.jpg

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

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/chert4.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/chert5.jpg

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.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/chert6.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/chert7.jpg

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

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/chert8.jpg

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

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/chert9.jpg

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

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/chert91.jpg

It separates into nice thin threads.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/chert92.jpg

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.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/chert93.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/chert94.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/chert95.jpg

For the fletching, I went back to the turkey feathers and tied them on.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/chert96.jpg

[Rancid Crabtree]

While stone is fun to work with, I still like the old school metal points from the Pope and Young days. I made these using harvested turkey feathers and band saw blade points. All lashed together.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/finished2.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/finished.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/primitiveheads.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/primitivequiver2.jpg

Here is the Native American Tipi I made and some of my homemade gear.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/arrows/tipi.jpg

[Bowfly]

This is great mate have you ever hunted/taken game with these type of arrow?
Thanks
Rod

[howie]

Your a man of many trades, great work and extremely interesting stuff.......Howie

[Rancid Crabtree]

It is nor legal to use stone point anymore. I make the privative arrows for display only.

This is great mate have you ever hunted/taken game with these type of arrow?
Thanks
Rod

[Bowfly]

Ok mate thanks. They look great for displays all the same.
Rod

[RazorX]

Great work mate. I could read posts like this for hours!

Thanks for sharing.

Jase.

[Nomad]

Good stuff mate. only place on the net that i could find help about how to fasten the head onto the shaft. thx

[Glenn]

Thanks for the post Rancid, very good post, always good to see how to post on the site, especially a Primitive one like this one. Seems silly you can't hunt with stone points. In 1994 I stayed with a family in Idaho, they lived in a permanate tipi setup, I made my first selfbow there and did a bit of knapping there as well, would like to do a lot more next time I go over to get those flakes running to the centre, I have a lot of trouble with that. I have taken game with that bow I made there but haven't used a knapped head yet, I will one day...Glenn...