Unusual arrows for I.D.

[katana]

I am becoming more convinced that these, indeed, may be crossbow 'bolts'.
The European crossbows tend to have smaller 'prods' (bow part) than Ethnic made ones. This is due to the materials that the prod is made. African crossbows I have seen have prods almost the same size as a normal bow...which would need the 'bolt' to be longer than the average European crossbow.
Perhaps the leather flights are better suited to a crossbow....more wear resistant and less affected by any moisture on the stock of the crossbow(feathers would clump up)

Regards David

[Jim McDougall]

Well this interesting topic has got my curiosity going, and realizing how little I knew of crossbows and the bolts (arrows) , so decided to do at least some research on them.
I agree with Michael, my guess of crossbow bolts would be misplaced in the standard European forms, and the other suggestions seem plausible, especially if possibly African weapons might have used something like these, as David has suggested.

Concerning the leather fletches, I found the following:
"...bolts differed from arrows in that they were fletched with leather, or in rare cases copper strips instead of feathers. Since these materials lacked the natural curvature of feathers, they were usually attached in a slight spiral around the bolt shaft to provide the spin necessary for accuracy and improved flight".
"Daily Life in the Middle Ages"
Paul B. Newman, 2001 p.232-33

It notes further more rigid heads, thicker shorter shafts and highly durable fletching to withstand tremendous force of launch and impact.

These seem, as noted, more modern, light, and the leather fletches unusual. From what I have understood, the fletches were typically three.

All best regards,
Jim

[Matchlock]

[QUOTE=Jim McDougall]

Concerning the leather fletches, I found the following:
"...bolts differed from arrows in that they were fletched with leather, or in rare cases copper strips instead of feathers. Since these materials lacked the natural curvature of feathers, they were usually attached in a slight spiral around the bolt shaft to provide the spin necessary for accuracy and improved flight".
"Daily Life in the Middle Ages"
Paul B. Newman, 2001 p.232-33

It notes further more rigid heads, thicker shorter shafts and highly durable fletching to withstand tremendous force of launch and impact.


Hi Jim,

Highly interesting quotation, thank you so much, and also very lively discussion going on here - just great, folks!

On almost all Late Gothic crossbow quarrels that I have inspected (and they numbered in hundreds) the mostly wooden fletches/flights were inset with a slight torsion/curve to achieve a more accurate ballistic spin as they went.

The famous Nuremberg Löffelholz Scrapbook started by Martin Loffelhölz in 1505 illustrates two mechanical devices to cut curved slits in the hafts of crossbow quarrels.

Here they are.

Michael