Unique arrow IDENTIFIED--PICS included!

Wary Buck · August 11, 2011, 05:01:00 PM

Neighbor sold me a very nice Browning recurve as well as a quiver full of Microflite arrows. He came over today to say he'd found a couple other arrows and that I could have 'em. One is a fish arrow like I've never seen. Maybe it's a very common old arrow, but it was new to me. He thought he'd bought it in Columbus which makes me wonder if maybe it was a very old Saunders product.

It is made of metal, and has an integral barbed head attached to two parallel stainless? rods about the size of a Bic ink cartridge or maybe a bowstring. These are connected/welded? together at the front with the barbed head, in the center, and back at the "nock" end. The gap between the two rods which make up the arrow, is about the same diameter as the rods themselves (about the width of an average bowstring).

When nocked on a string, the two rods lay "flat" on the shelf and then the head is vertical or perpendicular to the ground. There is no fletch. The guy said he'd taken fish including gar with it.

Anyone know what I'm talking about? Is it a collectible or just a novelty? I'm not much of a bow and arrow historian, so maybe this is a common old piece of equipment? Or maybe not? Except for the point it almost resembles a marshmallow cooker. :D

PHOTOS ATTACHED TWO posts below!!!!

Greg Szalewski · August 11, 2011, 09:19:00 PM

Sounds interesting Bryce. Get a pic up somehow. I wouldn't have a clue about it but like seeing old archery stuff all the same.

Wary Buck · August 11, 2011, 09:32:00 PM

Okay, tried a different camera and it's letting me download. Here's the "nock" end.

Here is the pointy-end. Ha. This would be the view from the side if I were shooting.

This is the head end viewed from above. The nock is situated as such that the two parallel rods lay side-by-side on the shelf. The arrowhead is perpendicular.

And this last photo just adds a little perspective with my hand in the picture and the "shaft" and the broadhead turned so you can see both.

kennym · August 11, 2011, 09:35:00 PM

Never seen one but it's cool!

giff · August 11, 2011, 09:37:00 PM

that is pretty cool

frank bullitt · August 11, 2011, 09:49:00 PM

Cool! Bryce, post over on the History/Collectors section for info., too!

mwosborn · August 11, 2011, 09:54:00 PM

Bryce - I grew up in Norfolk (70's) and can remember my dad and his friends having arrows like that - I vaguely remember that someone they knew in the area made them. Can't remember much more than that but I know they had them - cool find.

Mitch

owlbait · August 11, 2011, 10:11:00 PM

Awesome arrow. I've shot metal fish arrows before and they had great weight but when you bend them, they stay bent. That one is unique.

hawk22 · August 11, 2011, 10:15:00 PM

They almost look like an arrow that would be used in a spear gun

PICKNGRIN · August 11, 2011, 10:17:00 PM

I agree with hawk22.
Are you going to be at the Fremont Shoot on Labor Day weekend Bryce?

Wary Buck · August 11, 2011, 10:25:00 PM

I MIGHT be in town over Labor Day. Depends on how the antelope scouting trip goes here in a few days. If I find what I think is a viable option, I'll blow off the shoot to try to hunt. My guess, however, is that I'll be in town (actually live 1/2 mi. from the shoot--Nebraska Traditional Archers Rendezvous).

Wary Buck · August 11, 2011, 10:55:00 PM

LINK

Ron Brunges on the Archery history/collectors forum identified it as a Micro-Spear made by Trumark from Columbus, NE. The link above is one of the ads I found by then googling the product. Thanks, Ron!

Pat B · August 11, 2011, 10:56:00 PM

Could it be for a spear gun or Hawaiian sling?

Wary Buck · August 11, 2011, 11:09:00 PM

It's advertised as a bowfishing arrow in the link above (ads in 1970 in Field and Stream) but I wonder if it couldn't be used underwater as well.

Tru-mark was the name of the company that manufactured Wrist-Rocket slingshots. Apparently Saunders Archery had a hand in there as well. Both were out of Columbus, NE.

Charlie Lamb · August 11, 2011, 11:53:00 PM

I remember those from the sixties and seventies. They didn't last long but looked like a fairly good idea.
I suspect that a big carp could mess one up pretty quick.

Attachment of line to shaft was also unique.

PaddyMac · August 12, 2011, 10:52:00 AM

A double barreled arrow. Wow.

mwosborn · August 17, 2011, 10:31:00 PM

Glad you found out where they came from - I thought that they were made locally - maybe my memory is not as bad as I thought not as bad as I thought.