What to do? My mate, Paddy, wants a 41" arrow!

[Benny Nganabbarru]

He used-to be heavily into that Japanese kyudo archery when he lived there, and just recently he ordered himself the heaviest bow they were willing to make, perhaps drawing 29+ kg, presumably at that super-draw they do.

I rescued him last year with my double rifle, seconds after he hit a buffalo at ten yards with a Hill longbow he borrowed from me. Hill longbows are too high-tech for my mad friend. He insists on hunting with a Japanese bow that's about as tall as a giraffe. I can't talk him out of it.

Do you suppose folks like Surewood could help, with heavy spines?

Or, should we get the local engineering shop to make-up a heap of cute little steel joiners to connect Goldtips or something that can be rear-weighted?

Any other ideas? The buffalo's already as good as dead, we just need the arrow.

"An Irishman and a Dutchman walked into a pub..."

[Pat B]

Maybe bamboo. Bambusa multiplex, if it grows in Australia would be a good choice. Round culms, 12"+ internodes, thick walls with small diameter center hole and marginal overall taper. Makes great regular size arrows.

[Tim Finley]

Maybe a fish arrow ?

[ChuckC]

Benny, if you are doing the "joining" thing, maybe just glue in standard inserts ( brass might be best) and screw in a piece of appropriate threaded rod to join them.  Glue one side well so it stays put then you can take them apart for transport.

Place weight tubes inside the "front" one for added weight and see how it flies.   Ummmmm good luck.  Chamber that round before the "giraffe" gets near the buffalo please...
ChuckC

[Zradix]

easton makes a 1.1 meter (43.3") xx75 kyudo shaft.

there are 45.3" bamboo kyudo shafts on amazon in the 75-85# range.

Hope this helps.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Thank you, Team! Heaps of good ideas!

[Bvas]

JMO. But if your already shooting gold tips, why not just do a two piece gold tip, and use an extra long aluminum footing to cover the joint in the gt?

[monterey]

You can hand plane wood shafts to whatever sizes you need.  If you will be doing large quantities, the Veritas doweler makes it pretty simple.  I have made atlatl darts of 72" with the doweler.  There's a fancy schmanzy one that can be adjusted for diameter.  Mine is the simple 3/8" model

[Lucas K]

There are plans to build you own doweling jig on this site I think. Look for Jim Davis, pretty sure that was the fellow who posted them.

[frank bullitt]

Cane, and or bamboo!

[Ray Hammond]

bamboo....even fish arrows will not be stiff enough at that length. kyudo arrows are usually bamboo.

[ChuckC]

Benny, another option maybe to find a source for 4' ramin dowels and sort thru for a handful or good ones.
ChuckC

[Gurge]

I would agree with the bamboo idea. Splicing 2 arrows together seems like it would create a weak/strong point and possibly mess up the archers paradox that we rely on for accurate shots. The dowel maker idea would work too but you have to make sure the grain doesn't run off or you could end up with one of those horrible "arrow hand" pictures (don't google it. If you do you'll probably check your arrows every time like you're supposed to.).

[tecum-tha]

Heck. This is only a 63# bow. Let him do his thing. Mother nature will take care of it. Don't go with him, but make sure he arranges for his funeral in time. It will go this or the other way. Survival of the fittest or less stupid. I guess the buffalo will be the fittest and maybe even smarter than your friend.

[YosemiteSam]

If a friend wants to do something crazy, as the friend, you must refuse to help.  If he cannot do it without your help, then so much the better.

I have to ask, if the buffalo is already as good as dead, is this really ethical hunting?

The American bison, wapiti, caribou and other animals that sustained people's lives and spirits on this continent for far more years than large-scale agriculture or cattle deserve a special respect when hunting.  I hope you plan to hunt in an honorable way.

[Roadkill]

BOW TEST ON A DEAD BUFF....can't wait for that one.  Double rifle is 100% trad, too. What caliber?
How's your mate going to sneak about with that extra long bow?

[Tim Finley]

Japp Kopendrayer (I may have spelled his name wrong),of YUMI archery makes bamboo Japanese arrows and they are pretty nice .

[Gurge]

I would agree with the bamboo idea. Splicing 2 arrows together seems like it would create a weak/strong point and possibly mess up the archers paradox that we rely on for accurate shots. The dowel maker idea would work too but you have to make sure the grain doesn't run off or you could end up with one of those horrible "arrow hand" pictures (don't google it. If you do you'll probably check your arrows every time like you're supposed to.).