Blackberry natural shafts?

[eastcreekarchery]

Anyone have experience with em?

[Pat B]

Blackberry canes might make an arrow but I think you would have a better option. Where do you live?

[eastcreekarchery]

im in NY. Was asking because we have some monstrous blackberry bushes that need pruning.

[Hawkdancer]

Wear very heavy gloves! . Regardless!  If I remember correctly, blackberry is very pithy.
Hawkdancer

[Pat B]

You could cut them, scrape the thorns off, split into narrow strips, soak in water and weave them into a quiver.
 If you don't already know blackberries are biennial, meaning they grow vegetatively the first year and flower and fruit the second so if you cut them all down you won't have blackberries next year. Only cut the canes that fruited this year.
 I'd bet you could find red osier dogwood somewhere near you and it makes great arrow shafting. Maybe one of the viburnums too.

[TimBo]

Blackberry is going to be too light and pithy.  I cut some once thinking it was wild rose, and was very disappointed!

[Digital Caveman]

The one upside is that the shafts have preinstalled points .  Their bad enough when harvesting the fruit; I don't relish harvesting them for the sticks.

[Hawkdancer]

Not only too pithy, the darned seeds stick in my teeth!  But they do make good pie - the berries, that is, especially with heated with ice cream on top!  However, I prefer blueberries for pie and red osier for shafts!
Hawkdancer

[GlisGlis]

they make good hand friction fire spindles (take off thorns first  )