Mystery Arrow

Autumnarcher · January 29, 2009, 09:00:00 PM

I was rooting around in some arrow boxes down in the cave the other night, sorting through some shafts to see if I could put together some arrows.

I ran across a half dozen old arrows I have no clue where I got them from. Anyway, they caught my eye because they are full length shafts, smaller than 5/16", I'm guessing 9/32 ?

Interestingly enough, I put one on my scale, and it was pretty heavy at 540 gr, and the wood is real hard. Its not a laminated shaft, so I was wondering if anyone might have an idea what type of wood they are. The bare wood appears to be a very light color.

They are spined at 47-50#, and I shortened one up to 28" and it shoots good off both my longbows, and serious penetration due to the weight and small diameter. I kind of like them, I'm going to try to refletch them, and get some proper sized points for them.

I'd like to get some more shafts like these if I can, I like the small diameter in a heavy arrow.

Hot Hap · January 29, 2009, 09:10:00 PM

Might be a Cedarsmith compressed ramin. Hap

Shaun · January 29, 2009, 09:26:00 PM

Those may be Sweetland Forgewoods. They are no good, please send them to me for safe disposal. Note, if they are forgewoods, one end will be heavier than the other, that's the point end.

Orion · January 29, 2009, 09:38:00 PM

Shaun doesn't know what he's talking about. They're junk. Send them to me. Yeah, I agree with Shaun. They appear to be forgewoods. Best cedar shaft ever made.

Autumnarcher · January 29, 2009, 09:43:00 PM

Can you still get them?

Autumnarcher · January 29, 2009, 10:00:00 PM

I just checked the piece I cut off, scraped it with my knife, and yep- its cedar. I'd like to get more of those.

Killdeer · January 29, 2009, 10:04:00 PM

The devil lurks in old arrow boxes. I bet you used to be a happy camper.

Killdeer~

Autumnarcher · January 29, 2009, 10:33:00 PM

Killdeer, I didnt even know I had them. I guess either someone gave them to me or I got them at a yard sale or something. There were some old Bear Microflight arrows in there too, but they are way too stiff for me at 75# spine. FOrthelife of me I can't remember where I got them.

Bjorn · January 29, 2009, 10:41:00 PM

Hey! The Sweetlands have a heavy end that is meant to be the front of the shaft, and they were designed to be shortened from the nock end.
That is why they fly so good unless you get it bassackwards. Balance them to see which end is which.

Autumnarcher · January 30, 2009, 07:34:00 AM

Interesting, I'll chsck that. I wish I had more than a half-dozen of them.

Bjorn · January 30, 2009, 12:14:00 PM

I got more than 1/2 dozen.......those might get lonely better send them to me!

Oregon Okie · January 30, 2009, 12:36:00 PM

if they are sweetland's they are hard to find and I live 5 blocks from where the store used to be. Guess that wouldn't make 'em easier to find but it should.

Autumnarcher · January 30, 2009, 11:46:00 PM

I checked the balance on a shaft after removing the nock, feathers and tip and found it to be 2"FOC on a full length shaft. I cleaned the shafts up, crowned them and crested them today. Still debating on which feathers I'm gonna put on them, but it definitely gives those arrows a new life to them. I have to find some tips that fit them right, and if I can a broadhead to fly good on them, I'll hunt with them next season.

I did a search for forgewood shafts, and found that a shop in Alaska was makingthem, but are no longer and the business is for sale.

aromakr · January 31, 2009, 12:19:00 AM

Autumarcher:

The original Forgewoods were made by Bill Sweetland in Oregon from POC the only wood Bill claimed that would work properly. Its a great shaft, look for some "head shrinkers" they were made by Bear, its an aluminum adapter that will allow heads like the Razorhead fit. The reason the Alaska operation failed is they were using woods other than POC, yes they would compress but the compression did not last.
Bob

Danny Rowan · January 31, 2009, 01:54:00 AM

John,

The ends of the shafts should be painted,black for the nock end and red for the point end, I think I remember that correctly. Trim from the nock end. The point end will be denser and closer to 5/16 and the nock end will be 9/32.

Danny

Tom Phillips · January 31, 2009, 08:20:00 AM

I thought Sweetland made the "headshrinker" too ?
I believe one step that was not used in the reintroduction of Sweetland's back a handful of years ago was Formahldahyde was used in Bill S. special process !!!!!!!

I love them,tough,and quite your bow.I have close to 4 dozen that took many years to acquire.

TradOnly · January 31, 2009, 08:32:00 AM

Check out Alaska Frontier Archery on the net.

Autumnarcher · January 31, 2009, 09:02:00 AM

Alaska Frontier Archery is the one I mentioned that is no longer makingthem, and is for sale.

Brently · January 31, 2009, 11:05:00 AM

Sounds like Sweetlands, great arrows, Bill Sweetland would demonstrate the toughness of the shafts by taking a 3" piece of the shaft and driving it through a piece of plywood, also if I remember they had a no break warranty on them. They just got too expensive to make. This is what I remember about them.

Van/TX · January 31, 2009, 07:47:00 PM

Yep, most likely Forgewoods. I had a few back in the day. Killed my first deer with one :D ...Van

Note the aluminum adapter that was used since the diameter of the shaft was so small.