Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: Robert Pougnier on December 21, 2025, 11:22:59 pm
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I finished a set of poplar arrows that I like. I had heard they were used extensively and had always wanted to make some. There was some really straight grained hobby board with lots of color variants at the hardware so I thought I would see how they work out. I used a skilsaw and a hand planer to make them. They shoot pretty sweet.
Specs are: Weight is 572gn average (560-585). FOC about 1 inch. Spine is unknown but i would guess 50-55#, I don't have a tester but they shot great out of a 45# flatbow and a 52# longbow neither of which are centershot. 28 inches long (with the brass tips). 5 inch turkey tail fletch. Horn nock reinforcements. Silk wrapping. Finish is tung oil, varnish, paste wax.
Thanks for looking!
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wrap closeup
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Nice poplar arrows Robert.
Poplar makes a very good arrow. A few years ago my friend and PA member, Charlie Jefferson(stringstretcher) started making poplar arrows. He was starting with full size trees, slabbing and cutting the slabs into billets to age. After 2 years he reduced it to 3/8" square shafts then made round dowels with a Veritas dowel makes. Charlie sent me a few dozen matched shafts for me to make arrows and try my best to break them. Poplar makes strong shafting. These shafts were made from sapwood and weighed about the same weight as POC of the same size.
He sent me a few heartwood poplar shafts that made good shafting but was more brittle than the sapwood so not as tough.
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Thanks Pat!
I take it you did not break any? Was there much color variation in the ones you had?
I am used to poplar being cream/yellow ish so it was interesting to run into the black stuff. I'd seen blotches on some boards but found one solid 36" 1/2" by 3" piece that was all black. I really like them so far. I'd like to cut them out raw from a tree at some point, on my to do list.