Something Special for my Selfbow

[Bounty Hunter]

#3354

Well I’ve been playing with some bamboo shafts and finally after some trial and error I learned how to cut self nocks in the shafts. I’ve been building as set of bamboo arrows with homemade trade points for my selfbow, so here are a some pictures of the points in different stages, and some finished arrows. I’m cutting the trade points out of 1/16 inch steel plate. Then finish shaping them before I heat temper and then blue the head. The single bevel edge is put on totally with a file as I didn’t want to mess with the tempering using a grinder. The points weight between 155-160 grains when finished.

Here are a some pictures of the first three arrows I finished. I just got in a bit ago testing these with my selfbow and she loves them.

[Brennan Herr]

#18968

That is really cool…nice work

[lee]

#19061

Awesome

[Stephen Graf]

#19391

i guess the thicker steel plate is harder than the spoons were… All that work and I think I would be a little scared to shoot one. I’d probably leave them laying on the mantle.

But I bet they will do the job. They don’t look like they took the blueing too well… But that’s a good idea.

[Bounty Hunter]

#19421

Thanks guys!!!

Steve, they took the blueing better than the pictures show. I have learned something though, I’ll put the initial edge on them before blueing next time. Working with them as I put the edge on really did a number on the blueing.

The steel plate isn’t really any harder than the spoons, I was just looking for more weight for my points. The finished spoon points only weighed 85-90 grains, where these are in the 155-160 grain class. With the bamboo shafts I end up with an arrow in the 450 grain range, which gives me about 10 grains per pound of bow, but the big thing is I have a front of center of 24% which should make these some really good arrows.

Derek

[William Warren]

#19972

I’ve got some cane I’ve been saving. Now I know what I want to do with it. Thanks for sharing that. I saw your video too. Very good idea.

Duncan

[Bounty Hunter]

#19997

Duncan, glad I was of some help. Let me know if you have any questions I can help answer.

Derek

[Stephen Graf]

#20477

I noticed the nodes seem almost invisible… Did you take them down, or is it the natural look?

But I have to say, I just can’t warm up to that color blue…

[Bounty Hunter]

#20543

Steve Graf wrote: I noticed the nodes seem almost invisible… Did you take them down, or is it the natural look?

But I have to say, I just can’t warm up to that color blue…

Trimming and then sanding down the nodes is part of the prep work on bamboo and cane shafts. In close up pictures you can see where they were, but they are smooth and even with the rest of the shafts.

As far as the blue, I picked it because it is a color that doesn’t appear naturally in the woods. I was looking for a darker color, that would also be easy to find (if I miss) because I’ll be hunting out of a blind with these. I would have liked to go with natual barred feathers but the white would have given me away in the dark blind.

[Stephen Graf]

#20673

I guess those arrows are like a pretty girl in an ugly dress. No reason not to dance is it?

I guess I haven’t seen “pro” cain arrows. All the ones I’ve seen, the nodes were still proud.

How hard is it to get them spined to shoot? Do you do it by diameter? Or just feel?

Ever put a wood footing on them?

[William Warren]

#20762

I take it Steve is not a Duke fan looks like Duke blue instead of the Carolina blue.

Are those single bevels right twist? I’m a lefty and I shoot right helical.

[Bounty Hunter]

#20823

Steve, the initial spine is based on the diameter, but I put them on a spine tester to get a set of shafts selected. Even the same diameters will vary anywhere from 10-15 pounds in spine.

If I had been picking the color based on school then I would have had to to found some VT Maroon or UVA Orange……LOL I may live in Texas but I grew up in Virginia, just across the mountain from UVA.

Duncan, they are right wing single bevels as I shoot a right helical also.

[Stephen Graf]

#21481

I grew up about an hour from Charlottesville myself. Now that is some pretty country! You are right Duncan, not a fan. But no worries, I am not a fan of the other guys either… Don’t follow ball sports.

One more question on the cane… I have a friend here that is growing some sort of Japanese arrow cane. Supposed to be the good stuff. What is the cane you are using?

The pictures look like there are no dimples or divits around the nodes. Could your cane be that perfect, or are they turned to their good side for the picture?

Duncan – don’t forget about the NCBA rabbit hunt in January… Info in your copy of the mag.

[Bounty Hunter]

#21852

What I am using is the Japanese Arrow Bamboo and yes it is good stuff. As far as dimples and divits, they are there, just not caught in the pictures. I’ll take some more pictures when I get home this evening and post them. I’ll also post a picture of one I finished last night with a stone point on it, that doesn’t have blue fletching……;)

[Bounty Hunter]

#22110

Here you go Steve, some pictures of a non-blue fletched bamboo arrow and also some close-ups of the nodes.

[Vintage Archer]

#22202

Bounty Hunter.

That is some real fine craftsmanship! some of the nicest primitive equipment I have seen in a long time.Great Job.

[Bounty Hunter]

#22282

vintage archer wrote:

Bounty Hunter.

That is some real fine craftsmanship! some of the nicest primitive equipment I have seen in a long time.Great Job.

Thanks you very much!!!! I am proud of them and the only thing they need to finish the job is to be clovered in blood.

[Stephen Graf]

#22712

Thanks for the additional pictures. I think there is a dead pig walking, somewhere…

Can’t wait to see those arrows finished up and complete, with blood that is…

[skifrk]

#23243

Really cool picture and craftsmanship you are doing there BountyHunter.

[Bounty Hunter]

#27216

Steve you are welcome! I almost got a chance to try them this weekend, had a big 8 come to within 20 yards, but he never cleared the brush. I’ll post a video later.

skifrk wrote: Really cool picture and craftsmanship you are doing there BountyHunter.

Thanks, I hope to get better with more practice. Also had a buddy give me some old saw blades that I’m going to try and make some more trade point from them. Will keep y’all posted on how it works.

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