Self Nocks on Wood Arrows

[Mud_Slide_Slim]

As I keep going down the road of learning about wood arrows, please tell me...how many of you use them and why.  Aesthetics? Are they more durable?  Better?  I had a plastic nock on a wood arrow blow up on me the other day and it scared the heck out of me... (fletcher...it was not one of your test arrows).  Fortunately my bow and I were unscathed.  This is the main reason for my inquiry.  Looking forward to the education!

Bill-

[Jack Skinner]

Better probably not. More aestheticly pleasing to my eye yes.
 
More durable maybe my nocks outlast my shooting the rest of the arrow into something I shouldnt have. I have had a self nock break as well, but rare.
 
They take an investment in time, to make correctly. With hard woods you dont need an insert like with ash, but softwoods some kind of insert like a hardwood, bone, rawhide is needed on poplar, cedar, fir. Just one mans opinion.
 

[Pat B]

For me self nocks are way more durable and reliable. That is all I use any more. I've had plastic nocks break and that is scary and dangerous. I've never had a self nock break and I have used them on cedars, ash, poplar, spruce, fir, hardwood shoot shafts, cane and other wood shafting. I use self nocks and reinforced self nocks all with good results.

[Orion]

What Jack said.  It's not unusual to hit a nock with another arrow.  A plastic nock might be broken, but unless it's a perfect Robin Hood, the arrow is reusable.  Just slap on another plastic nock.  When a self nock is hit, it usually means the end of the arrow. And after all that work.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Not always, often times you can add a taper and glue a plastic nock on and continue shooting it.

[Pat B]

...I also don't shoot groups. This helps with the longevity of the self nocks.

[Mike Vines]

I prefer to use buffalo horn to reinforce mine.

   

[njloco]

Now those are just too pretty to even shoot !

[Matty]

Nice guys!

[Mud_Slide_Slim]

Thanks for all the replies guys.  I have another question that I forgot to put in my original post.  Do you make these to fit snug on the string or do you make them more like a speed nock where they are more loose fitting?  Or is it just a personal preference?  I really do like the looks of those self nocks....just something very appealing about them.

Bill-

[Pat B]

It is a personal preference as far as I am concerned but I prefer a loose fit...with any nocks. You can make self nocks loose, a tight tapered fit or a snap fit. They all work.

[halfseminole]

I've used reinforced self nocks as well.  Pretty much the best solution outside of bone nocks.  I just can't cut bone for all of them.  A horn reinforced nock is still virtually bulletproof.

[Pat B]

I've not used bone or horn nocks(not talking about reinforcements)but a few guys I know that have used them had them break also. If you make them yourself they may work well but I would not trust a store bought bone or horn nock.

[halfseminole]

I agree with you.  I do my own though.  My next set will be reinforced self nocks, though.

[Mud_Slide_Slim]

So....when you are talking about bone or horn nocks, are you meaning the sliver of material that is cut and slid into the back of an arrow and then re-cut to become the liner of the nock (see jack skinners post up above...the last photo) or are you meaning the entire nock is made out of bone or horn?  The ones shown above are the only ones I am familiar with.  

Will search for some good how-to videos today...Aside from shooting longbows, I believe making wood arrows is gonna be my next endeavor.

Bill-

[Mike Vines]

Originally posted by Mud_Slide_Slim:
 

Aside from shooting longbows, I believe making wood arrows is gonna be my next endeavor.

Bill-

BE VERY CAREFUL, I started the same way.

[Pat B]

The spines added to a self nock makes it a reinforced nock. I was referring to bone or horn nocks that are added to arrows, specifically cane arrows.

[Jon Stewart]

mud, youtube will have some how to's for you.

As far as using nock inserts in bamboo, I have turned down several different woods to use as nock inserts and to my surprise osage was the weekest.  Every osage nock insert I made and used, broke.  I also soak the nock insert after it is sanded into a nock with locktite super glue.

Have fun and experiment with your wood arrows.

Once you have the arrow making down you need to take up flint knapping.

[Thumper Dunker]

I got tiered of running out of nocks. Self nocks work great and look cool.

[Mud_Slide_Slim]

Thanks for the replies everyone.  I am getting excited over some possibilities for the fall and having these type of arrows for deer hunting.  I take it I would need to look at the archery dealers that are more primitive-based for these type of supplies...i.e. bone, horn, etc.  

John Stewart...I already have a bag of flint, a bopper, and some other odds and ends that a buddy of mine got me started with.  I've been able to eek one bird point out so far...and a crude one at that.  Working 6 days a week I only have so much down time   :rolleyes:   Let's not forget wanting to tan my own hides...(I've had two deer hides in the freezer for 2 years that my wife reminds me of when space gets a little crowded) Just not enough time...

Bill-