Let's see your bone points?!

[Ethan Grotheer]

Hey guys, I just made my first couple (elk)bone point!. I'll post pics in a bit, but I'm hoping to stick a Turk this spring with one and my  Trilam. But I wanted to see what all you guys have made or hunted with. Let's see some killer heads!

[Ethan Grotheer]

[ARriverdog]

really nice looking work!!
JW

[Crittergetter]

Very interesting, anyone take big game with bone points? Good lookin points Ethan!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Neat looking points,

I am only asking because I dont know... Are they as effective as stone or steel in their cutting ability?

[Stump73]

Those are very nice.

[Ethan Grotheer]

I don't know personally. I remember reading that Doug Campbell killed a deer with one very effectively.. The struggle is weight. My heaviest weighed 74 grs. Which with sinew and globs of glue perhaps I'll hit 100 grs.

[Zbone]

Always been curious, how to knap bone?

[Ethan Grotheer]

Well,.. I didn't necessarily go the primitive route in construction. I used a band saw and a sander to form the heads.. Then a small round file for the serrations.

[Pat B]

A few guys on TradGang(Doug Campbell for one)have taken deer with bone points.
Dead is dead so I guess they are effective.

[Sky-Dogg]

You don't actually knap bone. Knapping flint, stone, and glass works because of the geometric construction of these materials.  Percussion and pressure knapping shape conchoidal fracturing materials through a process of lithic reduction.  You are essentially removing a geometric portion (flake) of the material by knocking or pushing it off by applying stress at the proper angle. Bone is not a conchoidal fracturing material.  It is worked by primitive or modern means which essentially employ cutting and abrasive means to shape and sharpen the bone. Primitive means utilize stones and rocks for cutting and abrading.  Modern means utilize saws and manual or power abrasive wheels, belts, files, and bits.

Brian

[Sockrsblur]

Wild rose shaft, pine pitch glue, sinew, previous years 8pt leg bone... I learned a lot last year making them.

[Sockrsblur]

[Sockrsblur]

Experimented with field points...




Sinew wrapped them after shaping to add durability


Tried dying some...

[Pat B]

Nice work, James. Those small serrations probably are a good idea for bone points.

[Sockrsblur]

To be honest I found an uncommon and unexpected beauty in the natural materials I tried. What you can create is limited by your imagination and patience.
 


 


 

I was so excited to try new things I kept thinking of that I didn't spend enough time investigating spine changes. Consider longer shafts weaken spine, lighter bone points strengthen spine, shooting around the handle of a self bow requires a weaker Spined arrow, natural shafting can change spine for the first year of drying until it stabilizes, how big does the green diameter of Red Osier Dogwood have to be to yield the spine you seek after a year of drying...
It goes on and on but consider the Zen like moment you learn enough to put a true flying hand made shaft through the rib cage of a whitetail deer. Some thoughts take longer to realize and that's just fine with me. Best of luck Ethan. There are many here that will share what they know and shorten your learning curve.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I think those are pretty neat!

when you sand an edge, can you cut yourself On it?  do they dull in a quiver quickly? Again, these questions are out of pure ignorance and not trying to start debates on what is better....

Thank you and Cool stuff.

[Sockrsblur]

Charlie metal points are inarguably superior to bone. I was very careful with the heads, I added Multiple layers of thick fleece in the bottom of quiver. If this makes sense... I didn't feel the sides of the bone blade would outwardly cut me but had great confidence once the tip of the same point was driven into a deer the sides of the blade would open a wound chanel. A little more bow, 60#, added to my confidence and a limited shot distance seemed like a good idea... just my thoughts and no I didn't get it done last year     trying again this year.

[cmh]

I have alot of moose and caribout antler.... Could you use that? If so it could kill some time and be fruitful as well  

[newhouse114]

Antler is too soft, Ivory or bone is about as soft as I would go.