Making stone arrow heads

[Sharp Things]

I was asked by a friend to make a replica arrow for is den. When I was at the WI deer and turkey expo last year I picked up some chert stone flakes that will work great for this project.

I used a nice, thin, white piece for the arrowhead.

I made some wood and cooper tools and an antler brow tine to flake away the stone. The leather is to protect my hand as I press the coper tool against the chert. The flakes are sharp.

I started by squaring off the bottom of the flake and then chipped the head to shape.

Lastly I added the grooves to each side that will be used to tie the head to the shaft. This is where I make the most mistakes and break the head.

Next, I used a knife to cut a groove in the end of a wood shaft to accept the stone head.

 

[Sharp Things]

I will trim away the extra wood after I tie the head on.

To tie the head to the shaft, I use the sinew I save from the loins/backstraps from my deer.

It separates into nice thin threads.

I soaked the sinew threads in cold water to soften and stretch them. While waiting, I stained the wood shaft. The sinew does not really get tied onto the shaft. It is more like wrapping a wet noodle around the shaft. After I put on a few layers, I dried it with a blow dryer (just like I'm sure the early people did). This makes it shrink tight. I then rub the sinew with a block of bees wax to waterproof it so it won't get wet and loosen up.

For the fletching, I went back to the turkey feathers and tied them on.

 

[Sharp Things]

While stone is fun to work with, I still like the old school metal trade points from the Pope and Young days. I made these using harvested turkey feathers and band saw blade points. All is lashed together with sinew.

 

[Downeaster]

Very nicely done. Thanks for sharing

 

[Superkodiak38]

Looks good, I've done the band saw blades and they work well. I have also knapped a few points. I have a couple old toilet tanks in the basement just waiting for me. I really like rivercane, that stuff is like the original carbon arrow !