Forgewood shafts?

[J-dog]

Never been too much a wood arrow person? like the mystic but just never used them except for a breif period when a friend was making them, wood.

My question is what is a forgewood shaft - just a regular hardwood that has been compressed? seem to have been popular at one point in time yet the only place I found selling them was in AK or is there other places?

Thanks Yall from a wood arrow rookie    ,

J

[portugeejn]

Here is a link to an interesting discussion on the trad collecting forum.  Long story short is the ones  being made now are not the same ones that are spoken of historically.  I've never seen the new ones but have examined some of the old ones, as they were made in Eugene OR where my wife and I currently live.  They are pretty interesting.  

Ron  

   forgewood discussion

[Orion]

Actually, forgewoods were not hardwoods, they were Port Orford Cedar. They were made by cutting wood blanks 1 1/4 inch on one end and tapered down to 5/8 inch on one other end.  Then these blanks/boards were compressed to 3/8 inches from end to end and cut to 3/8 inch square stock.  These, in turn were doweled to 11/32, 5/16 and smaller diameters.  Not only did the original forgewood process yield a denser, stronger and heavier arrow for the diameter and spine than uncompressed cedars, the process also yielded a very weight forward shaft.  I still have a couple dozen.  Nothing shoots better.  And no, they're not for sale.

The Alaska folks were using the same process with Bob Sweetland's original equipment, but they are no longer producing shafts.

Most compressed shafts nowadays are just run through dies, which compresses the outside fibers of the shaft, but not the entire shaft.  Still yields a heavier and slightly more durable shaft at a given spine than uncompressed cedars.

[joe skipp]

I shot Forgewoods in the early 70's, the Battleshafts in Sky Blue color...purchased them from Kittredge Bow Hut. Best wooden arrows I have ever shot. When they went out of business, I turned to Barrel Tapered Ash...very impressed with performance and penetration.

[AkDan]

I've seen some of the new forgewoods, neat stuff.

Also shot some barrel tapered ash and really loved it.  got talked back into cedar a number of years ago....think I'm going to end up going back to barrel tapered ash again here soon.

[LKH]

I have some of the old and some of the new.  Used them for a while, but now only have four of the old ones left.  They really penetrated well.  Good chance they will be coming on line again.  While they were made of Port Orford, its the process, not the type of wood that matters.

[Al Kidner]

Where we getting your barrell tapered ash shafts from lads?


AK.

[Gator1]

Check hickory creek arrows

Dennis is a sponsor here

[Orion]

LKH:  The wood does make a difference.  Can't squeeze hardwoods like that.  I believe the Alaskan folks were using it on some kind of Alaskan Spruce, a softwood.  Don't know of anyone who has used that process on hardwoods.

[Rick McGowan]

Alaska Frontier Archery was using Alaskan Yellow Hemlock, they were excellent shafts and would have been my first choice for buffalo, except you just couldn't get them on any kind of reliable basis.

[d. ward]

There is not much P.O.C the be had right now.Makeing it diffecult to reproduce the compressed shafts.On the collecting page,we had quite a discussion going on them check it out.Bob Burton posted some interesting info.Snag lives in Oregon and checked into the P.O.C but the cost right now is way to high for arrow matirals.....I have several of the older Sweetlands I still use for bear hunting every spring...Great arrows...bowdoc

[heydeerman]

Over on the LWall the biz is up for sale for $75,000.

Copied from LW.

Alaska Frontier Archery is home to the Forgewood Arrow originally created by Bill Sweetland many years ago. Due to retiring and moving I am discounting this business to below even it's equipment replacement value. If you have a serious interest in keeping this great traditional heritage alive please contact me at my website. alaskafrontierarchery.com Steve Tanner AFA

[J-dog]

I was wondering, all that I read say they were the thing in arrows. I take it they are tapered big on the point side down to the knock - whichever taper that is?

Might try the barrel taper ash shafts - if you cant get forgewood. Be worth a shot to try some woods.

Thankyou to all for the info. Gonna keep studying the forgewoods.

J

[AkDan]

the blanks were cut out tapered..compressed they were paralell shafts.  It gave them the effect and durability of a footed shaft, and a heavier shaft to boot in a smaller diameter.  There is a pretty sweet video out of the process.  Been quite awhile since I saw it though...still good stuff.