120lb WARBOW arrows

[White Hawk]

Just thought ozbow members might like to see a few pics of the latest set of war arrows made for one of my customers. This set in my opinion is a unique one as it is the first collaboration between two of what I would consider our countries best arrow makers, Steve Wallace and Troy Mantzaris.

Steve hand crafted the shafts for us from square billets of Vic Ash to suit a 120lbs warbow. As with all Steves shafts there is a tight tolerance on grain weight. They are slightly bigger than 23/64 in size and 32” in length thus being made to be used with full warbow draw.

The shafts were passed onto Troy who begun his work with them and he was responsible for crafting the horn inserts, cutting the self nocks and fletching with hand cut feathers and wrapping the arrows. Troy has perfected the art of self nocking to a point where they actually click onto the string like a plastic nock, negating the usual problem one faces with self nocks of arrows slipping off the string. The arrows are crafted so well that they appear machine made, Troy has a rare attention to detail.

Troy and Steve are amongst the best fletchers anywhere, and as you can see, these truly are works of art, functional art, but art none the less, and I know both Steve and Troy are far too modest to ever do this so I am instead as I feel they deserve the recognition, well done boyz and Huzzahh!

Gav

[otis.drum]

i love the nocks. they look great and are a simply brilliant idea.

[Len]

Magnificant arrows, very well done.

[Stickbow Hunter]

They look excellent - beautiful craftsmanship.

Jeff

[GrahameA]

Love the binding of the fletches. It is a challenge to get the wrap evenly spaced.

[Guy Layton]

Gav,

Those arrows look FANTASTIC mate....!

I have seen Steve's work first hand and it is second to none..... I have not seen Troy's work before, but from what you have posted, he deserves the same title...!

Great work to you both...!

Gav, what size and type of point are you running on those arrows...?

Cheers Guy..

[White Hawk]

Hey Guy,

the points are short bodkins. They have the wedge shape characteristic of bodkins designed to pierce armour. Their weight sits around 150gns. These points are historically accurate to the period these types of arrow were used. The shorter version became popular (as opposed to long bodkins) as plate armour became more common and of better quality replacing maille as the norm. The medieval arms race.

We have done a few demos with this type of war arrow against a coat of plate (all be it with 80-90lb warbows) and pierced the plate no probs with a direct hit. The trick is getting them out again with out breaking them!

We have also put together some arrows with swallowtails of varying sizes, long bodkins, fire baskets and cresent points as well to demonstrate the wide variety of points available to archers of the period.

cheers mate

Gav

[UPTHETOP]

Gav very NNIICCEE indeed it is good to see Aussie fletchers at the for front and working together.

Cheers Wayno

[White Hawk]

Hey Wayno,
that's why I thought it important to show their work in this collaboration, having these two guys work together can only be good for their craft. We have seen quite a few bow makers working together here sharing knowledge and skills but it hasn't happended as much with arrow makers.

I am lucky enough to own a set of both Steve's and Troy's arrows and both always gather a crowd, both trad and non trad archers appreciate the work in them.

cheers mate

Gav

[kerrille]

yes gav as usual a beautifull work of art when people see the arrows made for me they are in ore at the craftman ship and like to touch and feel them, once again fellers a job well done

...nev...

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Very nice, and well-done. What spine and weight are they?

[Gringa Bows]

top quality arrows ...............Rod

[Steven J]

Beautiful work and great photos. I would love to see them next to a standard arrow to give a better idea of their size. I think that we would all be amazed at the size of them.

Steve

[Cody Roiter]

Nice arrows...

[pdccr]

Really well done on the arrows, i can never get the bindings even.

[Ol Man]

Those are some very fine arrows. I always loved the looks of bound feathers. Love the self-nocks very elegant.

[Mububban]

I've had some mild success doing that style of horn reinforced self nock, using bought slivers of horn and hacksaw blades to make the cut. Unfortunately 2 blades is too thin, and 3 blades is too thick. Araldite fills in the gaps but I do wish I had a 2.5 thickness hacksaw blade

[Wolfgang D]

WOW!!!!!
Thats incredible! Thankyou Gav for posting these amazing pictures.
I have made a few arrows using in the traditional to primitave styles but they were hard enough and only one-offs!
I think even people who have no knowledge in the field of archery would have to allow their jaw to drop at the sight of arrows like that!.

We might be coming to Geelong this Sunday, should be good.

Cheers, Wolfgang

[waynerob]

Unfortunately 2 blades is too thin, and 3 blades is too thick. Araldite fills in the gaps but I do wish I had a 2.5 thickness hacksaw blade

Try using a rodsaw blade in the hacksaw frame. Works a treat.

Wayne

[Dennis La Varenne]

Gavin,

I have my Yew bow from Len. Now I just need my set of arrows. Can you order me some please, and I will fix you/him up whenever you like? Same as yours please, but my Yew bow is a mere 60lbs at 28".