Natural points...

[Julian]

Anyone use anything besides bone or stone? I've collected a few large catfish spines and a few stingray barbs. Have some river cane drying out I am planning on attaching them to. Was wondering if anyone has used these materials or perhaps some others I haven't seen?? Going to make a few fishing arrows and possibly small game as well mostly for rabbits. Any ideas? Examples? Pictures are always cool!! What have you guys done? Or possibly even some bone points carved into interesting or different heads???

[RJonesRCRV]

I imagine a straight grain hardwood would make a good small game point, either blunt or carved to a broadhead shape.

[Pat B]

Fire hardened hardwoods were used by Native Americans and bamboo blades were used where it was indigenous. Also honey locust spines were used by NA.

[newhouse114]

The biggest problem with points of those types is getting enough weigh in the front of your arrow.

[SAM E. STEPHENS]

Alligator Gar scales were used for points , I have a big bucket of them somewhere. If I can find them I will send you some...

,,,,Sam,,,

[Mo_coon-catcher]

Just haft the light heads into hardwood shoots. There is enough forward taper and mass, that the low mass of the head won't make much difference. I did a little experimenting with bamboo carved into heads leaving the outside culm as the edge. They were fairly sharp, but the edge didn't hold at all, especially shooting through a wet substance. I did a few test shooting them through different substances to get an idea of the damage done. Through fruit they would punch a hole the size of the head and fairly cleanly cut. Through a hunk of meat it would initially cut but just poke a hole after a couple inches since the edge was softened and rounded off. They would just shatter anytime they hit something hard such as bone or wood. To me by themselves, they aren't good for hunting much bigger than fox. Wth a little poison they would be great. Especially with the tendency  to break off splinters. I figure that hardwoods would be the same. I tested them on bamboo shafts, so they were forward tapered but lighter, running about 300-350gr and shot them out of a light weight bow.

Kyle

[Pat B]

The sourwood shoot arrows and hill cane arrows I shoot are all quite weight forward. Red osier too.