Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

katana · 27th August 2006, 04:00 PM

Hi Congoblades,
I think you are probably right that the bow and arrows are not African. The arrowheads are very interesting.... the forged heads seem a little unusual (for Africa, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are) in their design. The heads look to be to heavy for the length of arrow shaft and fletching. Because of the barbs are quite large and would affect the trajectory/path of the arrow, the fletchings (feathers) are usually larger to counteract this ...so as to help stabilise its (the arrows) flight. The size of heads and design suggests their use is to hunt larger animals.....or perhaps they are 'war' arrows.
Although bamboo is a good material to use for the bow, I feel that it is not thick enough to give enough power to send these arrows too far. This suggests that you could get close to your prey......so the type of terrain would probably be woodland, forest, jungle etc. .....if hunting.

Unfortunately, photos only tell part of the story........you really need to 'handle' these things to get a proper sense of a weight, power of the bow etc.

I really like these sort of items.......I especially like the arrowheads you posted.....Sorry I cant give you a 'proper' answer.......just a few observations which may or may not help.

Hi Flavio, what good information.......but notice the relative length of the arrows......Congoblades are much shorter, head design....very similar.

27th August 2006, 04:00 PM	#4
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Congoblades, I think you are probably right that the bow and arrows are not African. The arrowheads are very interesting.... the forged heads seem a little unusual (for Africa, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are) in their design. The heads look to be to heavy for the length of arrow shaft and fletching. Because of the barbs are quite large and would affect the trajectory/path of the arrow, the fletchings (feathers) are usually larger to counteract this ...so as to help stabilise its (the arrows) flight. The size of heads and design suggests their use is to hunt larger animals.....or perhaps they are 'war' arrows. Although bamboo is a good material to use for the bow, I feel that it is not thick enough to give enough power to send these arrows too far. This suggests that you could get close to your prey......so the type of terrain would probably be woodland, forest, jungle etc. .....if hunting. Unfortunately, photos only tell part of the story........you really need to 'handle' these things to get a proper sense of a weight, power of the bow etc. I really like these sort of items.......I especially like the arrowheads you posted.....Sorry I cant give you a 'proper' answer.......just a few observations which may or may not help. Hi Flavio, what good information.......but notice the relative length of the arrows......Congoblades are much shorter, head design....very similar.