why wood?

[Green]

Aluminum/Carbon = Science
Wood = Art....not only in making them look good, but in trying to perfect a naturally imperfect flying object.  When you have made a set of woods, and have gotten them to fly to your mark....well then, you've done something.

[jsweka]

Shooting carbon arrows out of a longbow is kind of like fishing with a nightcrawler on the end of a bamboo flyrod - It might be very effective, but something just doesn't seem right about it.

[Don Stokes]

Thanks for that, Rooselk. I'm with HH on this one. You can't get more involved in archery than when making your own wood arrows.

[illianabowhntr67]

They are quiet.I also like working with wood arrows.

[Rooselk]

Originally posted by Don Stokes:
Thanks for that, Rooselk. I'm with HH on this one. You can't get more involved in archery than when making your own wood arrows.

I agree. To my mind traditional bowhunters making their own wood arrows is akin to flyfishers tying their own flies. It just seems to me to be a natural part of the sport.

[SveinD]

As stated wood is not as tough as carbon, so I choose carbon for economic purposes.
At least for outdoors shooting this is an apparent $-saver!
This is especially so if you reinforce the carbons with aluminum tubes front and back!

However, wood feels better to shoot (imo) and relates more to the trad of trad archery!

All that said, bamboo arrows are very hard to crack, and imo better than alum, and almost as good as carbon in durability! They look cool, retain the trad concept and offers a very durable self nock! Plus you can be even more Trad and grow them yourself  :p

[dan d]

To my mind traditional bowhunters making their own wood arrows is akin to flyfishers tying their own flies. It just seems to me to be a natural part of the sport. [/QB]

Good comparison !
I also liked the Howard Hill quote.
Dan

[SlowBowke]

 

An age old question but always a good one and one well answered here by all above.

Bows came into my life about around 1957. No one in my family had or or EVER had one to my knowledge....

From then on it was love at first skinned forearm!

I drove my parents mad when we DID go to town to buy MORE  19 cent hardware arrows for my all wood, warped, high school shop made recurve a neighbor didnt want. Arm guard? Glove or tab? I had no clue they existed. No mentor, no idea of what I was doing...except it was a part of me from day one. Perhaps sharing a birthdate with HH was my "curse" lol.

I was in my teens before I was able to hold in my hand a bow that wasnt homemade. You whipper-snappers give that some thought.    

Nothing was safe and mom always said she KNEW where Steven was at all times......out shooting his bow with Spot tagging along.

No better times were ever had by boy and companion out "hunting" sparrows and you name it!

Of course, wood was the ONLY option then and, for me, the "zing" of archery is solidly linked to those first years when life was so simple and fun.

Times have certainly changed for me as an aging adult.......but part of me remains in that young boy and his Fox Terrier cruising the fence rows and thickets, stalking and shooting.

Wood arrows were also part of my first "serious" archery sets and I think I hang onto the past as much as I am able.

With a 60s recurve in my hand and woodies on my back with age appropriate broadheads.....time has taken a turn back to a simplier time and they have yet to fail me.

Ive tried all the arrow matierials. Still shoot a few "new fangled" fiberglass ones too.    

The deer just didnt seem to notice all the high tech statistics of the "new and improved" shafts.
Dead is dead as the saying goes and since it ain't broke.....no need to "fix" it.

With the high costs of our trad stuff today, one of my thrills, that remains a thrill every year, is an old used recurve and 30-40 yr old arrows and heads that I dont have 100 bucks in all together.....successfully doing today, what they did "back then"...and doing so just as well.

My "quest", odd though it may be, is to find as many 1952 items as I can afford (aka CHEAP) and take ye olde wiley whitetail with the set up from the year I came kicking and screaming into this vail of tears.

Size be danged....a trophy that will be...for me.

Additionally? A broadhead on an arrow should LOOK LIKE a broadhead on an arrow. Tough to explain.
Wood, feathers and a two NON moving blades are mandatory to me........or it isn't TRULY an "arrow".

I fell in love with a certain way, believe in it and it has proven time and again worthy of such dedication.

To me, it is not mearly a question of THEIR "worth" but more so if we, ourselves, are worthy of using them as those that have gone before us.

Sorry......windy old coot anyway.

God bless

[KEG]

SlowBowke, well said.

[Bjorn]

Yeah, I could never have said it that well, or typed that much!

[Tom Leemans]

Wood connects us back to the earth in a way that carbon fiber and aluminum can't. (Yes, I know all the materials come from the earth technically) That said, I shoot tonkin cane shafts.
 

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Douglas fir is tougher than carbon, at least when hitting heavy bones or when stump-shooting termite mounds.

Also, they are accurate enough for minute-of-milk bottle shooting.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Amen, Steve, and beautifully written sentiment! Thanks!

[term]

SlowBowke,WELL SAID thanks

[caleb0100]

Because it feels better. And because no wooden arrow can ever be perfect, just like me.

[stykbender]

Slowbowke said most of it. Same reason I shoot 2 blades and sharpen with a file. Wood is art, "OLD SCHOOL" and I'm too old to change. It also is an excuse when I MISS! But they look purrty!

[barredfeather]

SlowBowke, as I read your reply, it took me back to my youth in the late 50's and 60's....hauntingly similiar. Only thing to add is wood has life.

Jerry

[Uncle Buck]

I love the look and "feel" of wood arrows. I can group my wood arrows 6" or less at 20 yards when I am faithful to practice. Carbon or aluminum might shoot a little better than that, but the deer wont notice the difference If I have only a marginal shot, I would rather just let them walk, knowing that I got close enough is a reward in itself

[frassettor]

wood have a soul. I do shoot carbons as well.

[duncan idaho]

Who or what company makes the best wooden arrows?