Yeah, you have to figure that they had thousands of years to experiment, and reshape broken points, and so forth. As for the names, some are the same point, with different names, from different regions. I am with you on that, so I just say that they are my version of a paleo point and let go at that. If it will penetrate, hide, muscle, bone and such, it is a good point. Eddie and I were talking yesterday, about point thickness, I like them sort of thin, and tapering thicker at the base, and a thinner area for the arrow shaft, or foreshaft. My theory is that the somewhat thin point, (with a ridge in the center, I can't think of the term for it), and tapering thicker towards the butt end, will give it strength, from the energy of the shaft slamming into it, and the force on the front is spread out from the back towards the thicker parts, down to the thinner parts, keep it from breaking. Sort of like the wedge shape of a knife, or axe. The thicker part is the back. Eddie's is that the thick point will help bust through ribs. Take your pick. I have seen originals, of both kind, and some with a big ridge running the whole length. Don't know if it was finished or not, or if it was intentionally made that way. My Dad had some from Ga. that were thick, and looked finished. If I were going to try to whack one of those big armored water buffalo, I would use a thicker one. Maybe one of Claude Van Order's triangular spike type of blades. So like I said, I doubt you can make an original arrow head. As the saying goes, there's nothing new under the sun! You will see different types of arrow heads, and such, from different regions, and some will be extremely thin, like the hillsboroughs, here in Florida, and some thicker, wider, narrower, longer, shorter, triangular, rounded, long ovoid shapes, wasp waist, etc. It was whatever suited their particular purpose. But just enjoy making them, and then, once you get the display pieces out of the way, start making utilitarian points, for hunting, not for the display case. Or as i do, it it doesn't look pretty, but is sharp, and and will be fine for hunting, then that is what it is, a hunting point
Eddie said that that's what he is going to do now, just make hunting points. Said he has enough in cases, but always needs some for hunting, and I would guess trading.
Wayne
