River cane arrow question

[TroyH]

I went down south this week and visited family.  While there I hunted up some rive cane.  I cut several dozen stalks.  My question is, the cane will naturally be slightly larger on one end.  Which end should be the head end and which the nock end?

[2fletch]

There should not be much difference in diameter from one end to the other, but use the small end for the nock end. I've never used it the other way, nor have I seen it used that way. My guess is that it would be more apt to break on impact.

How far is Covington from Evansville? I went to high school there.

[varmint]

Like a nock tapered wooden shaft,the ones I have,or have made utilize the smaller end at the nock.Not sure if that's the "standard" or correct way,but that's my experience.

[Aeronut]

Big end forward so you have a natural taper to the nock.  This puts the weight of the shaft forward.

Dennis

[TimZeigler]

Yup, fat end up front.  If ya doit the other way with the skinny end to the front, then it would want to tumble end over end.  The weight in the rear would maintain more energy as the light weight front would lose energy causing the rear of the arrow to move to the front.  Kinda like throwing a dart backwards, it'll go for a bit but not fer long.