Forgewood shafts.

[String Cutter]

I would like to start a part time gig until I retire in afew years...  that's kinda steap for what I'm looking for?? But again I don't know what machinery and such that includes?? But i guess it's nice to dream sometimes??

[Fletcher]

The Sweetland Forgewoods really are some amazing shafts.  

It was mentioned earlier that the POC originals don't swell, but I'll beg to differ.  I have one that is puffed up like a toad.   :eek:    Funny thing, they swell up oval, due to the way the boards are compressed.

[d. ward]

I personaly have shot several critters with Sweetland forgewoods from elk to black bear sized game and for my money you will never ever find a better wooden arrow then a Bill Sweetland forgewood.They were well ahead of their time.
Rick they only swell if they have no finish on them and have to get fairly wet before swelling.One other thing that makes them oval shaped is I was shooting one into a piece of plywood and the compression of going through the plywood really ovaled the first 3 inches of the shaft.
Even if a guy had Bill's equ.you can not get the POC at all and if you were to find some the cost of the arrows would be way to high.They are great shafts if you can ever find a few to try.bowdoc

[joe skipp]

I always shot them, bought all my Forgewood Battleshafts from the Kittredge Bow Hut. My favorites were the full length dipped ones in Sky or Baby blue with white feathers. I took many animals with these arrows. I still have ONE left...was thinking about using it this fall on deer....If Forgewoods were still around, I would still be shooting them.

[d. ward]

Joe my buddy has a full set of original matched battleshafts and I have tried many times over the years to get them off him but he will not give them up.Sweetlands are just super good arrows.bd

[maxwell]

I have probably six doz. of the battleshafts forgewoods made by the guy in alaska before he closed down.  They are straight as can be 5/16  and most with a 175 grain head are in the 800-850 grain area I have only broken one in all the years shooting them and that was in a car engine.
My bad-  measured weight of  some yesterday   that I got from I think Danny Rowan with 175 grain head they were 1000 grain area.

Really nice heads for close range hunting.

[Bjorn]

1000 gns might have penetrated the car engine-better luck next time  

[snag]

At the end of Steve's operation in Alaska he was using hemlock to make shafts into Forgewood shafts. The best wood for this process is Port Orford Cedar because of the natural glue-like compound in it. Under pressure and heat that substance binds the wood fiber together and it won't expand or try to obtain it's original shape. Whereas, with hemlock and other woods it will try and expand back. So, with Hemlock you should make arrows out it unless you have a dry environment for them.  It is extremely hard to find "arrow quality" POC today. When I spoke with a Forest Service employee about obtaining POC for making arrows he told me there is only about 200 acres left in Oregon.  Of that a much smaller percentage is of arrow quality. Then you have to figure in waste from the process....not a good scenario for recapturing an investment in machinery and time and effort....just my opinion.
I know of a man who says he has dozens of the old POC Forgewoods...I also asked if he would consider putting me in his will!!!  

[Danny Rowan]

Yeah Dave,

I know of a man in Oregon who supposedly has a room full of them. I was able to contact him once to see if he would sell any. He said he would never sell them and he does not shoot them. Shame, I know some people collect them but they were made to be shot. If they were still made I would not be shooting carbons. I have a couple of sets of six each stashed I am saving for special hunts.

Danny

[snag]

I'm with you on this Danny. They were meant to be shot. I have one dozen that I have made into arrows. They are ready for the task at hand! Hopefully a juicy elk!

[marlon]

Very difficult finding forgewoods.I have a dozend always looking for 100# plus. I know that wont find. Marlonb