About Arrow Fletching

Fletching can be seen as a craft, a recreational activity, or a career if you happen to be living in a pre-gunpowder society. Fletchers provide endless ammo for those who prefer to hunt in a more primitive way. Fletching is easy to learn and it is very satisfying to actually use something that is hand-crafted.

History

The act of fletching has existed since the invention of projectile weapons. In primitive times, hunters often had to collect the materials needed for hunting from nature. Fletching is now less common due to the discovery of gun powder, the invention of rifling, and the modern popularity of husbandry over hunting as a source of meat. Fletching is still done for recreation, especially since many experienced hunters prefer to create their own arrows themselves.

Function

Fletching is the act of stabilizing arrows in order to increase the accuracy, range, and power of an arrow. This is done by attaching feathers or vanes to the side of the arrow that is opposite of the arrowhead. The feathers catch the wind and stabilize flight according to aerodynamic principals. Fletching is also a word that is used to describe arrow-making in general. This process includes the making of the shaft and arrowheads, the collection of sinew, and coating the arrows in order to prevent them from falling apart.

Benefits

Instead of buying arrows and waiting all winter for a chance to go shooting, you can spend dreary winters making your own arrows. Through this process, you can gain a sense of how your ancestors put food on the table centuries ago. In addition to enjoying a fun activity, educational experience and smaller cost, you will also gradually develop a sense of how you want your arrows weighted and designed. With practice, you can gradually develop arrows that are better than the ones found at the store.

Types

Arrows come in all sorts of sizes. An arrow can be dozens of centimeters long, or it can be several feet long. The shaft of the arrow (the main body of the arrow) can be made out of various types of wood, bamboo, or reeds. Modern arrows can be made out of just about anything. Some arrow shafts are made out of multiple types of wood or other materials in order to maximize strength and lightness. Arrows come with a vast assortment of arrowheads that can be made out of stone, metal, bone, or harder wood.

Expert Insight

The shafts of an arrow must by symmetrical in order to maximize the aerodynamics of the arrow. Arrows must be made out of material that is light enough to shoot, but heavy enough to not snap when they impact the target. These shafts would benefit from varnish because moisture can cause the wood to warp. For the arrows, find the quill, which is the hard part a little bit above the middle of the feather. Cut the bottom part of the feather off and split the quill. These feathers should by tied to the shaft by sinew. Make sure that the sinew is tied very tightly and that the excess sinew is cut off.