Historical evidence for "splitcane" flight arrows?
What is the historical evidence for the use of so called splitcane flight arrows?
Some years ago I read here on the forum that the Turks used them for flight shooting, and there was even mention of using up to 12 laminates in one arrow. - that is, if I remember correctly. In any case, I have not come across the source of this information yet.
Some years ago I read here on the forum that the Turks used them for flight shooting, and there was even mention of using up to 12 laminates in one arrow. - that is, if I remember correctly. In any case, I have not come across the source of this information yet.
There are surviving arrows in the Topkapi Serai collections and they are described in the old Turkish literature. They were also used for war arrows surprisingly. They were no longer used for flight arrows by the nineteenth century, but Mustafa Kani knew all about them so they had not been forgotten.
Their advantages in flight shooting were in their reduced diameter and the strength and uniformity that could be attained in their manufacture. Their main disadvantage was the cost of production in wages and time. The glue could fail with age too as moisture seeped through the surface coating.
Their advantages in flight shooting were in their reduced diameter and the strength and uniformity that could be attained in their manufacture. Their main disadvantage was the cost of production in wages and time. The glue could fail with age too as moisture seeped through the surface coating.
Ah, I did not realize that some exists still. That's very cool to hear. Do you know of any documentation on these arrows?
I was reading a translation of Kanis text on these (article by T.M. Hamilton in the 1970 edition of the Journal of The Society of Archer Antiquaries), and it seems they were mostly popular before 1500. Kani referred to Abdullah Efendi, stating that they were made from a species of bamboo which had space inbetween the nodes that were as long as the arrows themselves. Have anyone seen bamboo with 25 inches span between the nodes?
Also, he mentions that they were glued together from 6, 12 or as much as 18 strips!
Interestingly, at Kanis time, the arrows made from fir would outshoot the bamboo arrows by 100 gez.
I was reading a translation of Kanis text on these (article by T.M. Hamilton in the 1970 edition of the Journal of The Society of Archer Antiquaries), and it seems they were mostly popular before 1500. Kani referred to Abdullah Efendi, stating that they were made from a species of bamboo which had space inbetween the nodes that were as long as the arrows themselves. Have anyone seen bamboo with 25 inches span between the nodes?
Also, he mentions that they were glued together from 6, 12 or as much as 18 strips!
Interestingly, at Kanis time, the arrows made from fir would outshoot the bamboo arrows by 100 gez.
In the book, T?rk ok?uluğu, ?nsal, Y?cel; Edited Dursun Ayan Ankara: AYK Atat?rk K?lt?r Merkezi Başkanlığı, 1999 Birinci baskı, there are photographs of the arrows. In one case the glue had failed and the arrow looked like an egg whisk.
Alan Case in the USA makes these arrows in six segments. The resulting arrow is very stiff and of small diameter. It is possible that the full length composite arrows were out shot by shorter arrows shot with a guide. The other possibility is that the composite structure was heavier the high grade arrows of the time of Kani.
The word used in Turkish for these arrows means either reed or bamboo. In early times, there was no bamboo available so reed was meant, but bamboo was eventually introduced and was used for all manner of objects formerly made from reed. However, there was a variety of giant reed (Arundo donax) growing around the Mediterranean which was used for spear shafts and other purposes. In some plants the nodes are up to 60 cm apart, which would make them suitable for flight arrows. The problem with this plant is that is usually more flexible than bamboo, but if is it is like common reed, Phragmites australis, it may vary in hardness due to the harshness of the climate where it grows. Their large diameter would make them unsuitable for self arrows, but composite arrows are usually made from larger plants than would be used for shafts by themselves.
Alan Case in the USA makes these arrows in six segments. The resulting arrow is very stiff and of small diameter. It is possible that the full length composite arrows were out shot by shorter arrows shot with a guide. The other possibility is that the composite structure was heavier the high grade arrows of the time of Kani.
The word used in Turkish for these arrows means either reed or bamboo. In early times, there was no bamboo available so reed was meant, but bamboo was eventually introduced and was used for all manner of objects formerly made from reed. However, there was a variety of giant reed (Arundo donax) growing around the Mediterranean which was used for spear shafts and other purposes. In some plants the nodes are up to 60 cm apart, which would make them suitable for flight arrows. The problem with this plant is that is usually more flexible than bamboo, but if is it is like common reed, Phragmites australis, it may vary in hardness due to the harshness of the climate where it grows. Their large diameter would make them unsuitable for self arrows, but composite arrows are usually made from larger plants than would be used for shafts by themselves.