I was messing around in my garage yesterday while it was cold, wet, and nasty out. I had about 4 stalks of river cane up in the rafters of my garage that have been there for over a year. So I snatched one down from there and went to work on it. I used my heat gun to straighten it and that worked very well. This stuff is kind of a pain to straighten, but once you get it straight it looks really good. I sanded the nodes and affixed a stone Obsidian point that a fellow trad ganger sent me, he's just getting started knapping and I thought this would be a fine way to use one.
(Thanks Mike)
The turkey feathers are mine and the lashing around the point is B50 string material, then super glue soaked to keep it tight. I don't have any pine tar so I had to improvise with the super glue. The red string on each end and through the fletching is red sewing thread. Then the yellow below the nock is also B50.
It's mostly for looks, but I built it to have the ability to kill if I was so inclined to use it someday.....otherwise what's the point in making it? Right?
I'm positive that it's plenty lethal and I was really surprised how nice the natural taper adds some awesome FOC balance to the completed shaft. All total arrow wt. came out to around 575gr. which would be just perfect for anything you wanted to put it into.
Thanks for looking!
~SEMO~
(http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww146/mohunter68/TraditonalBowandRiverCaneArrowwithObsidianPoint002.jpg)
(http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww146/mohunter68/TraditonalBowandRiverCaneArrowwithObsidianPoint003.jpg)
(http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww146/mohunter68/TraditonalBowandRiverCaneArrowwithObsidianPoint005.jpg)
(http://i714.photobucket.com/albums/ww146/mohunter68/TraditonalBowandRiverCaneArrowwithObsidianPoint004.jpg)
nice work buddy.it is nice to see some selfbows and arrows every now and then.keep up the good work,steve :thumbsup:
Cool!
Lots of work,but a really cool arrow.
Nice lookin arrow my friend. :thumbsup:
Nice, how did it spine? Shawn
Good job. looks real good.
Very cool!
sooo cool, nice job.
Nice job. I've got some arrow bamboo I've been meaning to try. I think I have my inspiration
RIVER CANE,READY TO BRING THE PAIN GOOD WORK,,,,,,
Yeah, it is always an inspiration to see primitive gear...makes me want to build som'thin. Thanks for sharing.
Beauty! I'd have a hard time shooting it w/o a dozen more to replace it. Well done!
QuoteOriginally posted by Shawn Leonard:
Nice, how did it spine? Shawn
I got .400 on my testing jig, but I haven't tested mine against any others so I can't say it's 100% accurate. I have tested it against other "Known" spined arrow shafts and it seems to be spot on.
The front of center is what amazed me. The natural taper to cane shafts is amazing. Almost identical to my Grizzly Stick Sitkas. :thumbsup:
Thanks for the compliments guys.
It is alot of work, but it's fun work. Keeps my mind busy on miserable days when I can't get outside. I had alot of fun with it, but at the rate I was going a complete set would take me a whole week.
:campfire:
Thanks, now kill something with it, that makes all the work worth it! Shawn
I'm seriously thinking about it Shawn. I've got about 3 more stalks of cane left up in the rafters and I'm considering finishing all of them to have enough to hit the woods with come spring. How cool would it be to poke a spring gobbler with a shaft made from nearly all natural materials?
Way cool. :thumbsup:
Great job Chris!
God bless,Mudd
Thanks Roy, I may need to look you up next time I'm in your neck of the woods and take a peek at your arrow shaft garden you spoke of? :D
Come cut all you want.
I have a bunch of natures carbons growing right here in the yard.
God bless,Mudd
If you sanded the nodes, you removed the natural wax that waterproofs the cane. Rub some bees'wax into the shaft where you sanded. The heat from friction is all you need and you don't want to put so much on that the shaft feels tacky or sticky. And it is a lot of fun to make your own from scratch. Bill
That's no problem Bill, I've got bees wax.
Roy, next time I'm headed up to Montgomery City to visit my brother and my nephews I'll get your # and maybe swing by. I'll bring my bow and maybe we can fling a few while I'm there?
very nice!
Very nice work. I like the metal collar below the stone point. What was it?
That is Saweeeet!
Wish I could do that! I would like to just do one to put over my mantle, that is nice.
Wow, sweet.....♠
QuoteOriginally posted by MercilessMing:
Very nice work. I like the metal collar below the stone point. What was it?
That is a 45 casing with the base cut off of it, and the only reason why I added that was for safety concerns. Since I had never made a cane arrow before I wasn't sure what to expect or what might happen if/when I shot it. I guess the pics posted lately of arrow shafts embedded in hands from arrows blowing up kinda makes me nervous? So the piece of brass hopefull will add another layer of protection at least to make sure it doesn't split from the notch that holds the arrow head and travel the length of the cane shaft.
I know it's not completely traditional, but it makes me feel better if nothing else.
Nice arrow and point. But I have three pieces of advice.
One, do not sand the nodes as this tends to weaken river cane. It is best to heat and compress them somewhat.
Second, super glue is great for a lot of things but it is way too brittle thus subject to break. If you want to use a none traditional method use epoxy and color it black with charcoal.
Last, the hafting that you are using will not hold up as it will give. A traditional method is sinew and back strap is best just soak and pile off thin threads. Soak the back strap first. Then make up some hide glue. I know where can I get hide glue. For all of you with a weak stomach , here goes. Go to your local grocery store and buy unflavored gelatin then heat a small amount of water and mix in the gelatin until it is a little thinner than honey. Let it cool till up can put your finger in it. Moisten the sinew with water till the sinew is soft then dip your finger and saturate the sinew and wrap the haft area. You do not have it have a lot of wrap. When it dries it just keeps shrinking and it unbelievably strong. About gelatin it is almost pure protein that is the reason that it so good for you but hide glue is almost pure protein. They are one in the same. One last note if you use epoxy there is no need to wrap as the point or the shaft will break before the epoxy gives way.
Fine looking arrow. Put it to good use. :thumbsup: