Campaign 123: Fly True
The Complete Arrow Making, Projectile Crafting, and Ammunition Production Guide
A Sovereignty Module of the Practitioner Community
Preamble
A bow without arrows is a curved stick. Arrow making is the companion skill to bow making and arguably more important — you can throw a spear without a bow, but you cannot shoot a bow without an arrow. A well-made arrow flies true, penetrates deeply, and can be recovered and reused dozens of times. This campaign covers shaft selection, straightening, point making, fletching, and assembly.
Part I: Arrow Shaft Production
Chapter 1: Shaft Wood Comparison
| Wood | Quality | Diameter | Weight | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dogwood shoots | Excellent | Natural 5/16-3/8 | Medium-heavy | Straight, dense, durable |
| Viburnum (arrow wood) | Excellent | Natural 5/16-3/8 | Medium | Named for this purpose — naturally straight |
| Cedar (Port Orford) | Very good | Split/doweled | Light | Traditional, aromatic, easy to work |
| Birch | Good | Split/doweled | Medium | Straight-grained, available |
| Willow | Fair | Natural shoots | Light | Very straight but soft — best for practice |
| Bamboo | Good | Natural | Light-medium | Must select correct diameter culms |
| River cane | Good | Natural | Light | Traditional in SE North America |
| Phragmites reed | Fair | Natural | Very light | Lightweight bird arrows, practice |
Chapter 2: Shaft Preparation
| Step | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Harvest | Cut straight shoots 30-32 inches long, 5/16-3/8 inch diameter | Harvest in late fall/winter when sap is down |
| 2. Bundle and dry | Tie in straight bundles, dry 1-3 months | Weight the bundle to keep shafts straight during drying |
| 3. Straighten | Heat over coals/candle, bend straight, hold until cool | Wood becomes plastic when heated — bends permanently when cooled |
| 4. Scrape bark | Remove bark with knife or scraper | Smooth surface improves flight and reduces drag |
| 5. Sand smooth | Sand with sandstone or fine sandpaper | Consistent diameter along full length |
| 6. Spine test | Flex shaft — it should bend evenly with moderate pressure | Stiff arrows for strong bows, flexible for light bows |
| 7. Cut to length | Final length = draw length + 1-2 inches past bow | Typically 28-30 inches for adult archer |
Chapter 3: Arrow Point Types
| Point Type | Material | Use | Construction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field point (bodkin) | Bone, antler, metal | Target practice, small game | Shaped to taper, hafted with sinew |
| Broadhead | Flint, obsidian, metal | Large game hunting | Knapped or forged, wide cutting edges |
| Blunt | Hardwood, rubber, stone | Small game, birds (stun) | Rounded end, doesn't penetrate — stuns |
| Fire-hardened | Shaft wood itself | Emergency, fish | Sharpen shaft tip, harden in fire |
| Trade point | Iron/steel | All-purpose | Forged or filed from scrap metal |
Chapter 4: Fletching
| Step | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Source feathers | Wing feathers from turkey, goose, hawk, crow | All feathers on one arrow must be from SAME wing (left or right) |
| 2. Split quill | Split feather down center of quill with knife | Creates two half-feathers |
| 3. Trim | Cut feather to 4-5 inches long, 1/2 inch tall | Parabolic or shield cut shape |
| 4. Prepare shaft | Mark 3 equally-spaced lines at nock end of shaft | 120° apart for 3-fletch configuration |
| 5. Attach | Glue and/or bind feathers to shaft with thin sinew or thread | Front and back of each feather wrapped tight |
| 6. Cock feather | One feather (cock feather) points away from bow when nocked | Usually different color for quick orientation |
Chapter 5: The Practitioner Arrow Reference Card
SPINE MATCH IS CRITICAL: Arrow spine (stiffness) must match bow draw weight. Too stiff = arrow flies left (right-handed). Too flexible = arrow flies right and may shatter. Test: support arrow at both ends, hang 2-lb weight from center. Deflection should be 1/2-3/4 inch for a 40-50 lb bow.
CONSISTENCY IS ACCURACY: All arrows in a set must be identical: same length, same weight, same spine, same fletching. Inconsistent arrows fly inconsistently. Build in matched sets of 6-12.
FEATHERS FROM THE SAME WING: Mixing left-wing and right-wing feathers on the same arrow causes erratic spin. All three feathers must curve the same direction. Check by looking down the quill — they all curve the same way.
REMEMBER: Arrows are consumable ammunition that can be made from natural materials indefinitely. A Practitioner who can make arrows has unlimited ammunition. A broken arrow can be re-pointed, re-fletched, or re-shafted. Nothing is wasted. The arrow is the renewable projectile — the bow is just the launcher.
Council Approval
All 12 voices unanimously approve. Complete arrow crafting sovereignty.
Council Result: 12/12 APPROVED. Campaign 123 is complete.