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I make arrows the way my Iroquois ancestors did long ago. You can, too.
In our modern world, the hard part is getting the material, but you can use some alternatives that I’ve suggested.
Just remember: These arrows might look crude, but they’re not toys. Use them for target practice only, under the supervision of an adult, or display them in your room. Be careful!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
STEP 1: Shafts should be about as thick as your little finger and a couple of inches longer than the distance from your armpit to your fingertips. Make sure they’re straight as an arrow! After you gather them (get permission before cutting any growing thing), bundle them in groups of five and let dry for a few days. Dowels can be used as a substitute; they are available at lumber and building-supply stores.
STEP 2: Once the shaft is dry, scrape off the bark until the wood is smooth.]
STEP 3: Cut a notch (about as deep as the diameter of the shaft) for the bowstring by scraping one end with a sharp stone. To get a sharp stone, find a piece of quartzite cobble (river stone) and break it in half with another rock. At the end of the shaft that receives the arrowhead, scrape out a notch that is 3/8 – to 5/8-inch deep. You can also use a knife, small saw or file.
STEP 4: Grind an arrowhead into the right shape by scraping the material against a sidewalk until the arrowhead has a point and a sharp edge. It’s a simple but tedious process. For safer arrowheads, you can round off the point.
STEP 5: Using the sharp rock, gouge a notch on either side of the wide end of the arrowhead for holding the cordage.
STEP 6: Place the arrowhead in the notch, wrap it with a piece of cordage 8 to 10 inches long and glue it with hot glue. I use resin, which is made from boiling pitch (sap) from trees. Making resin can be dangerous because natural turpentines must be burned off. For cordage, I use sinew, which I prepare by pounding deer tendons between rocks, then separate them into long, stringy fibers. Before I can use the sinew, I must chew it. The enzymes in saliva help dissolve the collagen that holds the tissues together, and this is what makes it work like glue. (Soaking it in water won’t work.)
STEP 7: For fletching (arranging) the feathers on your arrows, make sure each vane comes from the same side of the wing. Split each feather down the middle of the spine (use scissors or pocketknife) and trim it to size.
STEP 8: Glue the feathers onto the shaft, making sure the top feather is aligned with the bowstring notch, then space the two others equally from the first. Wrap more thread around each end of the feathers and set the arrow aside to dry for a day.
STEP 9: Once the wrappings are dry, the arrow is ready for painting. I put animal fat in a tin can and melt it in the sun. Then I mix in some reddish earth and daub it on the arrow with a paintbrush. You can use watercolors or oil-based paint.
Now it’s time for target practice!
This is a great project that I really enjoy doing beacuse Native Americans interst me. It’s not that hard and a great way to spend an afternoon on a weekend or in the summer that really beats playing video games inside! I didn’t have any problems with it and am going to try it again with my scout troop later this summer. Thanks!
This is an awesome way to make arrows and I like to do Native American projects, so this one was perfect for me. It’s not that hard and a great way to spend an afternoon on a weekend or in the summer. My only problem with this was that it is really hard to find arrowheads, so I had to use one from my dad’s collection. Are there any fake arrowheads you can buy because my dad has said if I want to do this project again, I can’t use one of his because his collection is really important to him! Suggestions please!!
great idea
you are not chewing the intestine, you are chewing the tendons, which is pretty much just like chewing really tough meat
taht was fun
that is about hom imake my arrows dude.
cool!
thAT WAS AWSOME!!!!!!! TRY @ HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tHIS WAS AWSOME YO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TRY @ HOME!!!
that chewing on the intestine… yeah thats just nasty
This was a lot funner than buying an arrow at the store. Thanks you very much.
This is a really good way to make arrows… it really worked 4 me!
that was FUN!!!!!!!:)
:LOL:
i made the tip flint and i shot it a steel plate and sparks flew everywhere!
my pack gives them out for arrow uv lite!!
i made mine flint and i shot it at a steel plate and sparks shot everywhere
This arrow is like the one the mighty native Americans used.I love it!
it was cool i thought u would use a stick but it was fun
realarrows are better but if youre lost these are good . ARHCERY RULES !!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE THE ARROW DUDE!!!!!!!
AWESOME DUDE!!11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
making the arrow tip was fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I made the arrow! and shot it in the middel
this arrow is sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet
i think flint would work for the arrowhead because it’s nice and sharp
sweet dudes!
th is the coolest
it was good
i shot my arrow so far!!!
THIS WAS SO COOL