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Author Topic: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching  (Read 7193 times)

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Offline docmann

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Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« on: June 06, 2014, 03:42:10 am »
Hello All,
I'm new to the site.
I'm sure many of you have noticed that at the front of many of the fletching on Plains Indian arrows is situated several long fibers. These are sometimes long pieces of the feather that have been purposely left long, and sometimes this is added material. It is situated just behind the forward- most sinew attachment of the fletching. I've not heard of a good explanation as to their purpose. Any ideas?
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Offline autologus

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Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #1 on: June 06, 2014, 09:32:33 am »
If they were white it might have made it easier to track the arrow during flight so that it would be easier to recover the arrow if it missed the target.  It could just be for identification or looks.

Grady
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #2 on: June 06, 2014, 09:44:04 am »
What Grady said.
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Don Case

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Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #3 on: June 06, 2014, 11:59:58 am »
Would it make the arrow quieter? Just a guess :-\
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Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #4 on: June 06, 2014, 04:47:11 pm »
Quote from: Don C on June 06, 2014, 11:59:58 am
Would it make the arrow quieter? Just a guess :-\

Possibly, but of all the originals I have ever seen in museums or in private collections they all had very low fletching.  They tend to be quiet anyway.  When I have  left long barbs on the front of the fletch, they were still pretty quiet. 
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Offline autologus

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Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #5 on: June 06, 2014, 06:25:45 pm »
My guess since most of the plains arrows had very low fletchings it was use to track the flight path of the arrow after loosing it.

Grady
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Offline mullet

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Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #6 on: June 06, 2014, 08:12:45 pm »
They look different then the one his buddy is shooting. ??? ::)
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Offline tallpine

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Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #7 on: June 07, 2014, 12:35:16 am »
Probably the same reason I did, it just looks cool.
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Offline JackCrafty

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Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #8 on: June 07, 2014, 01:30:16 am »
Looks cool.  That's the reason.  Well, the reason that makes sense anyway.  ;)
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Offline docmann

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Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #9 on: June 07, 2014, 02:05:32 am »
Thanks for the input gang.
Indeed. Their fletching was typically long (6 1/4" common) and cropped very close to the shaft, many 1/2" or less.  It would no-doubt make the arrow more visible. I'm doing an arrow construction demo this weekend, so I suppose I'll put together a few like this and give them a ride. Thanks for the input and I'll keep you posted of my observations.
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Offline Oglala Bowyer

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Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #10 on: July 18, 2014, 10:31:04 am »
I'd like to chime in if I may. For the lakota the long tufts at the front of the fletching were actually plumes from the eagle. The eagle plume represented the power of movement. Now combine that with the lightning groove and you have a deadly arrow.
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Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #11 on: July 18, 2014, 01:40:21 pm »
Anything on the fletching where a few barbs at the very front of the feather were left long and untrimmed?
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Offline Oglala Bowyer

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Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #12 on: July 19, 2014, 01:34:46 am »
From what I'm told those were more ornamental than anything.
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Offline docmann

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Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #13 on: July 19, 2014, 08:26:06 am »
Oglala,
The more I research, the more I'm thinking you're right.
Thanks for all the comments. Good site!
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Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #14 on: July 19, 2014, 01:19:51 pm »
They do look pretty cool, don't they?
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