Wooden arrows and traditional bows have been used for thousands of years and are almost as old as human history. The bow and arrow originated as a means for hunting, gradually evolving into a weapon of war and later progressing into a sporting endeavor. While modern versions of these classic weapons are currently more popular, various versions of the traditional bow and arrow are still available.
Arrows
Wooden arrows are comprised of four parts. The rear end of the arrow is the nock, a small groove that keeps the arrow set against the bowstring. Next is the fletching, three light protrusions that help balance the arrow as it flies. Traditional arrows always used feathers for fletching, though contemporary wooden arrows can use vinyl or rubber. The shaft is the main body of the arrow, and the tip of the arrow is known as the arrowhead.
Arrowheads
Arrowheads on wooden arrows have varied through the centuries. The most ancient arrows used sharpened stones and rocks for their arrowheads. As people learned to melt and mold metals, metal arrowheads replaced the original stone arrowheads. Contemporary archers have the luxury of using one of two types of arrowheads on wooden arrows, as identified by the Ohio State Department of Natural Resources. Field points are basic, smooth metal tips that are slightly blunt; field points are used for target shooting and practice. Broadheads are hunting arrows that feature razor-sharp tips and three or four blades on the sides; these arrowheads are used for hunting big game.
Traditional Bows
There are several traditional versions of the bow and arrow. The crossbow resembles a sideways bow with a wooden stabilizer extending from the bow's geometric center; this allowed an archer to keep the crossbow loaded and ready to fire at a moment's notice. The recurve bow is made of a single piece of wood; each end of the bow curves forward, hence the name "recurve." The longbow, also made of a single piece of wood, is the iconic traditional bow, the version that most people imagine when they think of Robin Hood and England of the Middle Ages.
Longbow
The longbow became the iconic version of the bow and arrow due to its poignant place in British history. According to Andrew Liebs, author of "Sports and Games of the Renaissance," the longbow developed in 13th century Wales and was originally used for hunting. But the longbow, unlike its predecessors or contemporaries, had the distinct quality of speed; Liebs notes that a trained archer could loose 12 arrows per minute from a longbow, and skilled archers could fire even more. In times of war, a battalion of archers could loose thousands of arrows per minute, effectively decimating the frontlines of an approaching enemy. Major victories at Agincourt, Poitiers and Ciécy are credited to the use of the longbow.
Sport
Once muskets began taking the front lines in war in the 16th century, traditional bows and arrows reverted to their original hunting use but also took on fresh life in the sporting arena. Many festivals and events featured archery tournaments and competitions, and the sport of archery continues to this day. Traditional bows and wooden arrows are still used in competition, with rules governed by the International Archery Federation.
Wood
Traditional bows have been constructed of many types of wood, though bow makers often prefer yew, according to "The Bow Builder's Book: European Bow Building from the Stone Age to Today." Yew's sapwood, the more exterior part of the wood, possesses an elastic quality that allows the bow to bend as you draw the bowstring. Yew's heartwood, the more central part of the wood, is harder, which forces the bow to return to its original state after you release the bowstring. The contrast between the sapwood and heartwood gives the bow its pressured release.
References
- "Sports and Games of the Renaissance"; Andrew Liebs; Greenwood; 2004
- "The Bow Builder's Book: European Bow Building from the Stone Age to Today"; Flemming Alrune, Wulf Hein, Jürgen Junkmanns, Boris Pantel, Holger Reisch, Achim Stegmeyer, Ulli Stehl, Konrad Vögele, and Jorge Zschieschang; 2007
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources: Chapter 5: Archery and Bowhunting
