Arrowhead is the tip or a point of an arrow, or a shape that resembles a point. According to the archeological artifacts, the arrowheads are a subclass of projectile points. Arrowheads are available everywhere. They are usually made out of stones like cherts, flint or obsidian. However, arrowheads were also made of metal, bone and wood.
The arrowheads are fixed on the arrow shafts and are fired from a bow. One can also attach similar projectile points to the spear and it is thrown by the means of Atlatl also known as a spear thrower.
Arrowheads are usually separated according to their functions. There are seven types of arrowheads.
- Bodkin Points: these arrowheads are small, with firm points and small cross-sections. Bodkin Point arrowhead is made out of unhardened iron. It is a cheaper alternative to Broadhead arrow points.
- Blunts: these arrowheads are not sharp and are used occasionally for target shooting, or is used for hunting a game when the main goal is to stun the target without penetrating it. Blunts are made out of hard rubber or metal.
- Judo Points: these arrowheads have spring wires on the sideways, which extends towards the tips. These points are helpful to catch debris and grass, and they also prevent the arrow from getting lost in the vegetation.
- Broadheads: these arrows are used mostly for war, and many still use it for hunting. The broadheads are made out of steel. These arrowheads have two to four sharp blades attached to it. The function of this arrow is to give a deep cutting edge to kill the enemy.
- Target Points: these are bullet shaped with a very sharp point. It is designed to hit the target instantly, without causing much damage.
- Field Tips: they are very similar to target points. Hunters mainly use them for practice sessions. When these arrowheads are removed from the target, it causes heavy damage to the target.
- Safety Arrows: they are specifically designed to cause minimal damage to the target.
Here are some simple steps on how to make arrowheads.
Steps:
- First, you will require a rock, which is uniform in texture and structure, and is fragile. Pick a rock, which does not have frost fractures, inclusions and any other defect. Try to get a fine-grained rock or a rock with no grains.
- If you are planning to do flint napping then take rocks like jasper, flint, quartzite, obsidioan and chalcedony. The rock will fracture in a particular way when it is hit with an antler, bone or any other rock. Use the striking method to remove flakes by hitting the edge of the raw material with a forceful yet sharp blow.
- Now choose a soft or hard hammer. Use controlled strikes with the hard hammer. Chip away large chunks of rock with the help of the hammer. To flake a brittle rock like obsidian, use a soft hammer.
- Take a soft limestone or sandstone to smoothen out the edges of the rock.
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nice post. thanks.