Primitive Arrow(s)

[MIR]

Does anyone know who makes primitive Native American arrows, like the real deal. I know there are a multitude of styles Im looking for a Cherokee style of arrow, I would imagine being made with a flint type or bone arrow head. Not too knowledgeable in this area, I mainly just want an arrow for display and would also like to know where I can get more information on Cherokee weapons used in the western carolinas during the mid to later part of the 18th century, any help here would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Daryl Crawford]

Check out Ryan Gill
https://gillsprimitivearchery.com/about/

 

[waksupi]

Do the research, and make them your self. A well made correct arrow will cost at least $45 each, at least that is what I was getting for them back 20 years ago when I still made them.

The arrows offered by the person in the ad above miss the museum correct arrows by a wide margin.

 

[Red Owl]

Check with the folks in Cherokee NC. They can help. Years ago they had a pamphlet with blowguns, war clubs, etc. The various tribes made arrows differently so you need to get the correct info. The Cherokee in OK- their culture got mixed with all the other tribes- to a degree so stick with the NC branch.
Blowguns- another pre-1840 PC weapon.

 

[rich pierce]

I’d use cane. But making a set of primitive arrows that all shoot the same is a lot tougher than making a bow. For display, not a problem.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

I made these with Onondaga chert, turkey feathers and real sinew.

 

[chorizo]

https://goknapping.com/collections/points_and_blades-metal_points_blades

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

Many years ago, I tried to make an atlatl and arrow for it as a project for a college course. In the end I gave up and attached a REAL arrowhead I found around Abrams, Wisconsin to my arrow. Did not try to deceive the professor as there would have been no way for me to make a point that good on my first effort. I passed the course, and let's leave it at that.

Years later I gave the point to a Native American woman who passed it down to a child in her care. Hopefully he still has it.

 

[Old Painless]

These are some old timers. They were well made.

 

[Mikekj]

Does anyone know who makes primitive Native American arrows, like the real deal. I know there are a multitude of styles Im looking for a Cherokee style of arrow, I would imagine being made with a flint type or bone arrow head. Not too knowledgeable in this area, I mainly just want an arrow for display and would also like to know where I can get more information on Cherokee weapons used in the western carolinas during the mid to later part of the 18th century, any help here would be appreciated.
Thanks

I doubt that the Cherokee were using stone points in the 18th century.
Once the Europeans showed up with metal the American “Stone Age” probably ended.

 

[flconch53]

I doubt that the Cherokee were using stone points in the 18th century.
Once the Europeans showed up with metal the American “Stone Age” probably ended.

One of the trade items in the East was hoop iron. All kind of things were made out of it.

 

[Tradbow]

The Cherokee used a two fletch arrow using the tail feathers of a wild turkey. There is a specific way to attach the feathers.
At the Chehaw Primitive Festival earlier this month a great demonstration was done on the Cherokee two fletch arrows by chehawknapper ( Ben).

 

[beardedhorse]

Many Cherokee live in Oklahoma today having been transplanted from the Southeast. Tallequah is the heart or capitol of Cherokee country where they guard their cane for arrow shafts, flutes and possibly blowguns. (For blowguns giant cane - Arundinaria giganetea is best but may only be in the Southeast). Oklahoma arrow shafting is Arundinaria tecta or "switch cane". Both two feather and three feather fletching styles are used. The Traditional Bowyer's Bible has photos and drawings of the two feather fletch where full length barbs are on one side of the quill and the other side has partial or shorter barbs. The binary fletch with wild turkey tail feathers are hafted opposite each other or 180 degrees apart whereas the three feather fletch with secondary wing feathers are situated 120 degrees like most contemporary arrows. In my library is a book written by a Cherokee man, Al Herrin, who made both bows and arrows. He used to have a newsletter not only about arrow and bow making but other interesting tid bits of Cherokee culture. He may have since moved from Oklahoma. Not sure if he is still alive now. I make and shoot a variety of arrows of different materials and designs but haven't been down to Oklahoma to cut switch cane in decades. Perhaps you should contact a Cherokee arrowsmith who is a serious researcher and replicator. Before they left the southeast their bows were quite long and made from black locust. In Oklahoma, osage orange or hedge apple is currently a favorite bow wood. In addition to switch cane, dogwood is also used for arrows. Look up the specialty arrows and the points used for a special cornstalk competition.

 

[Tradbow]

Mr Herron is still alive (85) years old.
Several types of white woods were used by the Eastern Cherokee for bows. River cane was used but more prevalent with the Creek nations. This is/was what’s used now.
There’s a big difference between the Eastern and Western Band of the Cherokee with the Eastern Band believing that they are mostly Cherokee and that the Western Band has intermarried with other tribes in the Oklahoma Arkansas region and diluted the Cherokee linage. Some get a mite touchy about it.

 

[TDM]

My Cherokee heritage comes from Alabama. Before the Trail of Tears.

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

Log on to Bowsite.com and go to the Leatherwall, which is traditional archery. There are some guys there who are quite good craftsmen.

 

[Red Owl]

How did the 2 fletch arrows fly?

 

[beardedhorse]

They shoot well at close distances. When arranged with a slight twist will give it a spin but not to the degree of a primary, 3 feather helical fletch. Even a straight two feather fletch will have some degree of rotation. The old wives' tail of hafting an arrowhead in line with the nock for shooting game and hafting at right angles for shooting humans has been disproven. It appeared in old books and those who learned from the books but not actual experience will repeat this myth. Tom A Hawk. What kind of wood did you use on the arrows? Old Painless, are the old arrows pictured attributed to Cherokee? Ishi's tribe, the Yana of California in the late 1800's, early 1900's is proof that not all stone points were replaced by metal arrowheads. Tradbow, Thanks for the good news that Mr. Herrin is still with us. Would the Eastern Cherokee white wood bows include ash and hickory and elm?

 

[flconch53]

Certainly Ash and Hickory.

 

[MIR]

Not having much luck......