Grooved wooden shaft

[Scott E]

I've heard that one can cut grooves in a wooden shaft to make it fly better? Any one know if this is true or how to do it?-Scott  

[George Tsoukalas]

The only grooves I've done are down the length of a shoot shaft. The theory is the shaft stays straighter. They were found on the arrows of Plains Tribes. Some think they were put there as blood grooves.  I don't believe so but what do I know. Jawge

[tecum-tha]

The grooves can be scraped in with the tip of a nail sticking out of a V-groove. Then the grooves must be put over a flame making the edges of the grooves harden and thus help to keep the arrow straight. George is right about their use on shoot shafts mostly. I guess 3 to 4 grooves are usefull here.

[Squirrel Bait]

About the same as the old fluted aluminum's?

[owlbait]

One of the first shafts I shot had "blood grooves" in it. That shaft stayed straight and flew great until the day I finally broke it! It was also flame hardened at the gooves.

[tradtusker]

thats an interesting concept.
wonder if anyone still does that.  :confused:

[ChuckC]

Groovy
ChuckC

[TimZeigler]

A straight groove would work to allow moisture to escape evenly when drying shoots for arrows.

I believe Native Americans carved both straight and zigzag grooves, calling them lightning grooves.  Giving the arrow the power to fly straight to its mark.  You see many of these primitive arrows noted in Jim Hamms books on Indian bows and arrows.