Unusual arrows for I.D.

Jim McDougall · 24th February 2009, 04:24 PM

Well...they're not Apache.

Just kidding! Couldn't resist the old western movies where the rugged cowboy rides up to the arrow bristled cover wagons and felled settlers and picks up an arrow and sternly proclaims with conviction....yup...Comanches ...as if the arrow has a label on it.
Always thought that was so amazing, as this seemed standard in these movies, with of course the tribal names varying as Hollywood 'research' strained the bounds of historic reality.

While I know little on these weapons, my guess would be that these are crossbow bolts, and naturally more will be discovered once researched.
What has your research revealed Colin? It seems leather would be an unusually heavy material for the 'flights' (?).

Hope somebody comes in on this.

All the best,
Jim

Matchlock · 24th February 2009, 05:14 PM

Hi Jim,

I beg to differ but I do not think that Colin's arrows are crossbow bolts. Some months ago, in a post on a singular collection of crossbows and accouterments, I pictured some characteristic crossbow bolts (quarrels):

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7457

As they had to fit tight in the narrow cutout of the crossbow nut most of them had ovally flattened or even completely fattened rear ends. Also the usual length of a quarrel is some 39-42 cm and they are equipped with rather short iron bolts and either wooden or leather fletches.

All the European late medieval quarrels that I have seen had oak hafts, the fletches were mostly of beechwood or withe. In the 18th and 19th centuries, crossbow bolts became even shorter (ca. 25-30 cm) and their fletches were made of birds feathers while their irons were very short (ca. 3-4 cm), round and had an acutely pointed tip.

I think that Colin's items are definitely arrows for a bow but cannot make a quick shot at their national origin nor can I offer an explanation why their rear ends are not cut in.

Michael

Henk · 24th February 2009, 08:14 PM

I cann't recall where I read it, but some time ago I read a very interesting article about crossbowarrows and the use of leather fletches. The use of leather had a particular reason above the use of feather fletches. The production of identical leather fletches resulted in arrows with the same flight qualities.

24th February 2009, 05:14 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Jim, I beg to differ but I do not think that Colin's arrows are crossbow bolts. Some months ago, in a post on a singular collection of crossbows and accouterments, I pictured some characteristic crossbow bolts (quarrels): http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7457 As they had to fit tight in the narrow cutout of the crossbow nut most of them had ovally flattened or even completely fattened rear ends. Also the usual length of a quarrel is some 39-42 cm and they are equipped with rather short iron bolts and either wooden or leather fletches. All the European late medieval quarrels that I have seen had oak hafts, the fletches were mostly of beechwood or withe. In the 18th and 19th centuries, crossbow bolts became even shorter (ca. 25-30 cm) and their fletches were made of birds feathers while their irons were very short (ca. 3-4 cm), round and had an acutely pointed tip. I think that Colin's items are definitely arrows for a bow but cannot make a quick shot at their national origin nor can I offer an explanation why their rear ends are not cut in. Michael Last edited by Matchlock; 24th February 2009 at 07:50 PM.

24th February 2009, 04:24 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,506	Well...they're not Apache. Just kidding! Couldn't resist the old western movies where the rugged cowboy rides up to the arrow bristled cover wagons and felled settlers and picks up an arrow and sternly proclaims with conviction....yup...Comanches ...as if the arrow has a label on it. Always thought that was so amazing, as this seemed standard in these movies, with of course the tribal names varying as Hollywood 'research' strained the bounds of historic reality. While I know little on these weapons, my guess would be that these are crossbow bolts, and naturally more will be discovered once researched. What has your research revealed Colin? It seems leather would be an unusually heavy material for the 'flights' (?). Hope somebody comes in on this. All the best, Jim

24th February 2009, 08:14 PM	#3
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	I cann't recall where I read it, but some time ago I read a very interesting article about crossbowarrows and the use of leather fletches. The use of leather had a particular reason above the use of feather fletches. The production of identical leather fletches resulted in arrows with the same flight qualities.