Thursday, January 24, 2013

Recursive resourcing

I noticed a spike in traffic here from Fémkeresők Fóruma, a Hungarian-language forum.  This appears to be because forum member guny made use of my April 2012 article I'll show you where you can stick your bow when illustrating a point about the gorytos belt attachment in Re: Múzeumokkal, régészekkel való együttműködés.

First of all, thank you, guny, for the traffic boost.

Moreover, I'd like readers coming here from elsewhere to check out the post because the third link shows another possible type of belt attachment.  This one is a separate (metal?) piece with loops on the back for the thong to go through.  While I'm not familiar with the source and can't say whether this is the definitive method we should use, it is definitely on the table.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Made of string and sticks and bamboo

Reed arrow shafts have a reputation for breaking with repeated use (or sometimes even when you release the string).  Therefore, while reeds are ideal for the most authentic "show and tell" pieces, prospective Classical archery reenactors should consider using bamboo shafts in arrows they intend to actually shoot.  Bamboo looks somewhat like reed (far and away better than wood, at least) and has an excellent reputation for strength.  Amphictyonia poster Nadeem Ahmad informs us that it's also authentic for Indians and some other Achaemenid allies/subjects.  On top of that, they're also widely available and fairly inexpensive, in the form of garden stakes.

Without further ado, Home Depot Garden Stake Bamboo Arrow Build-a-Long, courtesy of the Primitive Archer forums.

I haven't yet tried the process myself, and will refrain from adding my own commentary.  If you're willing to pay quite a bit more, you can get bamboo shafts partly- or fully-prepared from various vendors like The Bamboo Arrow Company or 3Rivers Archery.