Trad Gang

Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: DerekWB on August 08, 2021, 09:09:50 PM

Title: Fletching through the ages?
Post by: DerekWB on August 08, 2021, 09:09:50 PM

Hey everyone,

I'm looking around for someone smarter than Google... or at least smarter than me at using Google. The last few weeks I began playing around with arrow building more. Watching hours of YouTube, attempts at cresting, and trying to find other ways make my Goldtips really stand out from the rest of the crowd. Well, I keep seeing pictures and videos of people making medieval style arrows and wrapping the fletching with sewing thread. I really like the looks of it, but noticed the only videos and pictures of tied arrows have "medieval" in the name.

Why is this? Is this simply only popular for medieval style archery, or is there a reason people don't add the nylon thread to 4 inch. helical feathers?

Thank you in advance!

Title: Re: Fletching through the ages?
Post by: M60gunner on August 09, 2021, 12:47:15 PM

I see that usually on arrows made in Asia and Europe. With our modern glues we use my opinion is the tie on is for decoration

Title: Re: Fletching through the ages?
Post by: woodchucker on October 26, 2021, 01:40:14 PM

Native Americans used to tie on fletching for durability, as their usual glue was pine pitch.
They would "glue" the feathers in place, then wrap them, to keep them there.

I imagine "mideviel" arrows for the same reason...??

As for "google"... I imagine it's the same reason everything on ebay is listed as "vintage"...