Magistra Nicolaa de Bracton
I have been fletching my own arrows for several years. Up
until recently, I had not attempted to give my arrows a more authentic look and
feel. However, the acquisition of a hickory traditional longbow and the desire
to participate in the period archery shoot at Pennsic, in which all equipment
must be as authentic as possible, spurred a project to create a set of more
authentic-style arrows.
Shafts
According
to Roger Ascham in Toxophilus or The
Schole of Shooting, dated to 1545, the best woods for arrows include birch,
hardbearm, oak, and ash.
Ffor some wood belonges to ye excedyng part, some to ye scant part, some to ye meane, as Brafell, Turkiewood, Fuflicke, Sugar chefle, and such lyke, make deade, heuy lumpish, hobblyng shaftes. Againe Hulder, black thorne, Serues tree, Beche, Elder, Aspe, and Salowe, eyther for theyr wekenes or lyghtenesse, make holow, starting, sludding, gaddynge shaftes. But Birche, Hardbeme, some Ooke, and fome Affhe, beynge bothe stronge ynoughe to stande in a bowe, and alfo lyght ynoughe to flye far, are best for a meane, whiche is to be foughte oute in euery thinge.[1]
He also states that the wood should be well
seasoned and must be “as the grain lyeth” or it will not fly cleanly.[2]
Actual shafts from the war arrows found on the Mary Rose were constructed of a
number of hardwoods, with aspen (despite Ascham’s dismissal of it as too light)
and poplar being most common.[3] Lengths generally ranged from 29”-31” in
length, which may sound relatively short until one realizes these were used
with bows that might well have a draw weight of over 100 lbs. Diameter of these arrows could range from
1/2" to 3/8” and were often significantly tapered from nock to shoulder.
Arrows
from the Mary Rose, as found and modern replicas. From the Mary Rose museum website, http://www.maryrose.org/meet-the-crew/soldiers-and-gunners/archery/
In
comparison, my longbow has a draw weight of 35 lbs and I generally use 5/16”
shafting. The shafts of these arrows are
commercially manufactured of Port Orford cedar.
The shafts were sealed with two coats of tung oil.
