Hey primitive guys what besides river cane have y'all used for primitive shafts?
There was just an article in TBM about using dogwood shoots for shafts. I have also seen guys use wild rose shoots.
Viburnum dentatum appropriately, the common name is Arrowwood Viburnum. The shoots can be amazingly straight from the get go.
http://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/treedetail.cfm?itemID=931
Kris
Thanks guys
River cane(Arundaneria gigantia)is only one of the 3 native US canes. All three make good arrows, some better than others. You can also get Tonkin cane(Japanese)which is sold as plant stakes in garden centers or other non-native cane varieties like Japanese arrow bamboo or Bambusa multiplex from some plant nurseries or on line as started plants.
I like Hill Cane(Arundaneria appalachiana),a native cane that grows only here in the Appalachian mountains but also switch cane(Arundaneria tecta,)sourwood shoots, blackhaw viburnum or red osier dogwood.
I've used many hardwoods for shafts including black cherry, hazlenut, viburnum and many others.
It is pretty hard to go wrong. I've also used wild rose.
More on my site.
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/layout.html
Jawge