gar scale tip arrows

[thomas h]

found some gar scales and  made three arrows the fly good out to about 15 yards or so then  sort of lose  interest  i think the scale is too light  may  have to add a  nail shaft on the next ones i think these would  make good rabbit  stabbers--

[fishfinder401]

try making the fletching smaller by trimming a little of the height, they look a little big for the weight of the tips, other than that they look good.
noel

[mullet]

 Or try a hardwood shoot with some more weight. It was my understanding they were used to stick people.

[thomas h]

they are sharp

[JW_Halverson]

I think with lighter points you need more fletching to counteract the tendency to tumble.  With a heavy point, it naturally drags the tail along behind. 

Using your finger for a fulcrum, balance the arrow to see where the center of balance might lie.  When the center of balances shifts further foward the arrows tend to recover faster off the string and fly straighter as it slows. 

[ken75]

thomas you could wrap behind the scale with copper hobby wire , its thin and cheap at wally world . that would add weight to the tip without hurting the penetration

[bowtarist]

I was thinking copper wire.  You can get it at any hardware store, look in the picture hanging area if you're having trouble finding it.  My wife uses it for projects fairly regular.  All the advice above should be considered.  Are they tough?...like bone or what?

[thomas h]

they are very tough  seem to be  like enamel covered bone

[GaryR]

Thomas, are they as is, meaning you didn't sharpen? How long do you expect them to hold up? Very cool, I'd heard of them being used but never saw it.
Gary

[thomas h]

the shape is as they come from the gar and they are harder than a bone point would be.

[Gus]

Cool Thread...

-gus

[mullet]

 You should give Tarpon scales a try also. They are really big and thick. I've found some as big as a silver dollar buried 3' deep mixed in with artifacts on a lakeshore here in town. This lake is the headwaters of the Peace River which empties in the Gulf of Mexico 65 miles away.

[Keenan]

If you have any cane for shafts you can use welding rod for tip inserts and adjust the weight to get them flying good. I had the same problems with some Great White shark tooth arrows that I made.

[thomas h]

thanks i have a few i can do that to.