Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: bowtarist on July 14, 2011, 12:10:38 pm

Title: Phragmites Australis?
Post by: bowtarist on July 14, 2011, 12:10:38 pm

Anybody here ever use Phragmites Australis (common reed) as arrow material?  I have a friend who does native plant restoration here in S. Indiana and I let him borrow several PA issues.  After his next trip home from killing invasives, he brought me a bundle of (common reed) and told me that he had read in PA that this material was used widely for arrows.  I've made a few, but it seems like the wall thickness is a little thin.  I tried to heat treat the shafts and that seemed to work out ok, but I broke a lot of them while straightening them before I could get them heat treated. I'm far from being even familiar with this process though.  Anybody else use these kinda shafts?  I can post pics if anyone is interested. 

Title: Re: Phragmites Australis?
Post by: Keenan on July 14, 2011, 01:37:50 pm

Juniper Junky has been playing around with it some. I think some of the tribes up here in the NW used it allot.

Title: Re: Phragmites Australis?
Post by: bowtarist on July 15, 2011, 03:03:28 am

"Juniper Junky" didn't show up when I searched.  Is e' on PA.com?  There is a native variety, but what I got is an invasive European strain.

Title: Re: Phragmites Australis?
Post by: bubby on July 15, 2011, 08:37:39 pm

jackcrafty goes by allergic hobbit on you tube, works with phragmites on their, dont know what type, Bub

Title: Re: Phragmites Australis?
Post by: JackCrafty on July 16, 2011, 08:24:16 pm

The good stuff has thick walls.  Around here, in our dry climate, we have a type of phragmites that is excellent for arrows.  I don't know the scientific name for it, though.