Trying Cane Arrows

[Lee Vivian]

A good friend, Matt Gundock who posts on PA, has recently started working with bamboo/cane for arrows...and to my surprise he sent me one of his finished arrows to try out....while I am no expert...I think he got it figured out!







According to Matt, it is River Cane, weights 600+ grains, and he used sinew to wrap at the fletch and nock....

Once again, thanks Matt...it will get shot a little, then get a Zwickey glued on, and put away till hunting season when it will be the first arrow out of my quiver!

I am so starting to like cane and bamboo...my longbow made by Charlie Jefferson is bamboo backed osage....that my wife just picked up a Bamboo "starter kit" for me....



Looks like it will be a while before I get to harvest any of my own!


Lee

[stringstretcher]

You got a great start the Lee.  Glad for you.  And really nice looking cane arrow there.

[Mikeeeeeeeeee]

I just made 4 from switch cane. Love them.

[Matt G.]

Lee I messed up on the description. It's Hill Cane not River cane. A little more mojo for ya is the cane cane from our own Pat B.  still got a lot to learn on the cane. 

[Lee Vivian]

Thanks, Matt.  That makes it even more special knowing where it came from!

[Lee Vivian]

Well, shot the arrow from my longbow..and it flew well.....I think it complements the longbow quite well!

[aero86]

i love using cane myself. i started on bamboo stakes from home depot. but then i found a spot near me where river cane grows. so ive switched to that. not the best of the canes, but if i pick selectively, they work awesome. im very happy with it.

[Pat B]

Nice arrow Lee. You can't go wrong with arrows from Matt. He's a quick study on cane arrows. Its your turn next.  We gotta get you making bows and cane arrows.
 That cane plant your wife bought you probably won't make too good of arrows. We have some in out kitchen window and it is pretty fleshy...but it is cool stuff anyway. You can braid it as it grows.

[Lee Vivian]

Yeah, Pat. The plant was her little dig at me and my new found obsession.

Next step is to try my own. This is uncharted waters for me, though! 

[Pat B]

You have lots of good, willing navigators! 

[stickbender]

     Check your local nurseries, and tell them what you want.  Ask if they have any Japanese arrow bamboo, or Tonkin, etc.  They may not have those two types, but may have something similar, or may be able to tell you where you can get some plants.  Also if they do have some, ask if they prune them back, and if you can have the ones that were cut back, but be sure to get second year growth.  the ones with no culm sheaths, or dead sheaths. Cane is additive!

                                                    Wayne

[bhenders]

IF you can get and grow Japanese Arrow Bamboo, do so (It grows up to zone 5).  It will take a few years to get established and is a 'runner' so plant it somewhere it can run.  ( you can keep it under control by mowing around it).

It has long nodes and no branches and is thin walled.  Makes a light but strong arrow.  As above, use 2nd year clums.  There is a great youtube vid of a Japanese master making arrows, I'll see if I can find it and link it.  and here it is...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyejbipavWw&list=PL9907327A8447A869