« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2

Author Topic: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching  (Read 7255 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline docmann

  • Member
  • Posts: 56
  • Proud Member Oklahoma Selfbow Society
Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« on: June 06, 2014, 03:42:10 am »
Hello All,
I'm new to the site.
I'm sure many of you have noticed that at the front of many of the fletching on Plains Indian arrows is situated several long fibers. These are sometimes long pieces of the feather that have been purposely left long, and sometimes this is added material. It is situated just behind the forward- most sinew attachment of the fletching. I've not heard of a good explanation as to their purpose. Any ideas?
Logged

Offline autologus

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,092
Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #1 on: June 06, 2014, 09:32:33 am »
If they were white it might have made it easier to track the arrow during flight so that it would be easier to recover the arrow if it missed the target.  It could just be for identification or looks.

Grady
Logged
Proud Hillbilly from Arkansas.

Offline Pat B

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 37,633
Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #2 on: June 06, 2014, 09:44:04 am »
What Grady said.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Don Case

  • Guest
Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #3 on: June 06, 2014, 11:59:58 am »
Would it make the arrow quieter? Just a guess :-\
Logged

Offline JW_Halverson

  • Member
  • Posts: 11,923
Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #4 on: June 06, 2014, 04:47:11 pm »
Quote from: Don C on June 06, 2014, 11:59:58 am
Would it make the arrow quieter? Just a guess :-\

Possibly, but of all the originals I have ever seen in museums or in private collections they all had very low fletching.  They tend to be quiet anyway.  When I have  left long barbs on the front of the fletch, they were still pretty quiet. 
Logged
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline autologus

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,092
Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #5 on: June 06, 2014, 06:25:45 pm »
My guess since most of the plains arrows had very low fletchings it was use to track the flight path of the arrow after loosing it.

Grady
Logged
Proud Hillbilly from Arkansas.

Offline mullet

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 22,911
  • Eddie Parker
Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #6 on: June 06, 2014, 08:12:45 pm »
They look different then the one his buddy is shooting. ??? ::)
Logged
Lakeland, Florida
 If you have to pull the trigger, is it really archery?

Offline tallpine

  • Member
  • Posts: 183
  • East Texas
Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #7 on: June 07, 2014, 12:35:16 am »
Probably the same reason I did, it just looks cool.
Logged

Offline JackCrafty

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 5,628
  • Sorry Officer, I was just gathering "materials".
Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #8 on: June 07, 2014, 01:30:16 am »
Looks cool.  That's the reason.  Well, the reason that makes sense anyway.  ;)
Logged
Any critter tastes good with enough butter on it.

Patrick Blank
Midland, Texas
Youtube: JackCrafty, Allergic Hobbit, Patrick Blank

Where's Rock? Public Waterways, Road Cuts, Landscape Supply, Knap-Ins.
How to Cook It?  200° for 24hrs then 275° to 500° for 4hrs (depending on type), Cool for 12hr

Offline docmann

  • Member
  • Posts: 56
  • Proud Member Oklahoma Selfbow Society
Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #9 on: June 07, 2014, 02:05:32 am »
Thanks for the input gang.
Indeed. Their fletching was typically long (6 1/4" common) and cropped very close to the shaft, many 1/2" or less.  It would no-doubt make the arrow more visible. I'm doing an arrow construction demo this weekend, so I suppose I'll put together a few like this and give them a ride. Thanks for the input and I'll keep you posted of my observations.
Logged

Offline Oglala Bowyer

  • Member
  • Posts: 175
Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #10 on: July 18, 2014, 10:31:04 am »
I'd like to chime in if I may. For the lakota the long tufts at the front of the fletching were actually plumes from the eagle. The eagle plume represented the power of movement. Now combine that with the lightning groove and you have a deadly arrow.
Logged

Offline JW_Halverson

  • Member
  • Posts: 11,923
Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #11 on: July 18, 2014, 01:40:21 pm »
Anything on the fletching where a few barbs at the very front of the feather were left long and untrimmed?
Logged
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline Oglala Bowyer

  • Member
  • Posts: 175
Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #12 on: July 19, 2014, 01:34:46 am »
From what I'm told those were more ornamental than anything.
Logged

Offline docmann

  • Member
  • Posts: 56
  • Proud Member Oklahoma Selfbow Society
Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #13 on: July 19, 2014, 08:26:06 am »
Oglala,
The more I research, the more I'm thinking you're right.
Thanks for all the comments. Good site!
Logged

Offline JW_Halverson

  • Member
  • Posts: 11,923
Re: Long fibers at front of fletching of Plains Indian fletching
« Reply #14 on: July 19, 2014, 01:19:51 pm »
They do look pretty cool, don't they?
Logged
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.
Pages: [1] 2
« previous next »