The Iron Arrowhead

[Deleted]

arrowheads0001.pdf (820.23 KB)

Not certain this will work - test
Best,
c.

[Deleted]

The Iron Arrowhead

Following a prairie fire in 1984 at the Little Bighorn Battlefield site, four basic metal arrowhead types were unearthed. The shapes were fashioned by the Western tribes using only a chisel and file. Additionally, a few were manufactured by cutlery firms or blacksmiths as barter in the fur trade.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition noted in 1804 that metal points were common. After this date, the chipping of arrowheads gradually became a lost art.

The four styles generally have slightly rounded heads. A sharp tip curls when hitting an obstacle, whereas the more curved tip has strength to resist bending.

The four types were designed for specific purposes. The long point (D) was for bison hunting. This is the main arrowhead found at buffalo kill sites. Type B has barbed shoulders for warfare. This point was virtually impossible to remove from a wound. Note that the tang base is smooth so that, when extracted, it might slide off the shaft. The other types have basal projections or serrations to maintain the arrowhead on the shaft during extraction. While points were fashioned for a particular use, the location of all four types on Battle Ridge shows that any type of arrowhead might be utilized when a need arose.

[deadwoodgultch]

Interesting stuff, Chris. I don't think head mattered to the participants. Quantity of arrows was far more important than proper tips. I for example would use fmj on prairie dogs as there are so many as opposed to ballistic tip or hpbt. My reasoning is financial, however, and the fmj is efficient for the task. I would bet that not one trooper thought damn he shot me with a hunting arrow.


Regards,
Tom

[Deleted]

Yes Tom, the type of head likely wasn't a concern to anyone taking an arrow. Chuck told me the same thing. What I thought was interesting is the 1804 date for the decline of the stone point - anyway, back to the grind.
Best,
c.

[yanmacca]

The stone age people over here used flint as a source for arrow heads, one was found in our area which dated from that period and is the oldest object ever found in Widnes.

Yan.

[quincannon]

Availability in time of need, beats a limited or non-existent supply of the ideal every time.