Repairing Medieval Style Arrows | Now and in the Middle Ages
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ค. 2024
- Kevin Hicks offers a glimpse into the meticulous craftsmanship of arrow makers during medieval times, by explaining the methods and materials he employs to repair his own medieval style arrows today. Arrows, the ammunition of the medieval age was an expensive commodity, so after battles men would collect arrows from the battlefield and repair them. We can only guess, but it's interesting that not much has likely changed in the techniques used all those centuries ago.
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Handmade medieval arrows from Will Sherman at medievalarrows.co.uk
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
02:14 Cutting arrows down
04:20 Repairing a hairline fracture
05:40 Whistling arrows
07:25 Fixing a broken nock
14:34 How they repaired arrows in Medieval times
15:25 Whipping the fletchings
20:00 Refreshing the fletchings
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You and the Missus do a wonderful service by documenting these once-common skills for all to learn for themselves. There's a certain sort of therapy to be gained by doing these sorts of tasks. We LOVE The History Squad!
YAY! Thanks very much!
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AMEN! love me some History!
Kevin was definitely an Archer/Fletcher in a previous life.
So much passion for what he does, it's infectious, and good to see someone doing what they love.
True! He's an archer/fletcher in this life too
@micahlanboney7830 scroll back in the videos to see him shoot. Only person I've seen that confidently hits pears at around 70 yards!!
Just discovered this channel recently...Mr. Hicks, your knowledge, expertise, and your presentation skills are surpassed only by your enthusiasm. Thank you for the videos, and for sharing the sublime information! Nice work!
Thank you kindly
Kevin from the history squad is like the Bob Ross of archery. ☺️😅
I always like to imagine how archers did things back in the old days, I love to watch this kind of videos!
Blessings from Mexico.
Love the enthusiasm and knowledge you bring and display , never misses video. That being said as a rebellious Scot I wouldn't of hesitated on the battlefield if it had come to it. Awooh
Maybe not the wisest move, bro.
Have you seen Kevin speed shoot?
If I recall correctly, he can shoot 13 arrows a minute.
@@InOppositiontotheNewWorldOrder yeah I said I wouldn't have hesitate, I didn't say I'd win. However I do have the Highland charge in my arsenal so who knows , almost did it for the Jacobites 😂" His arrows will blot out the sun"....
"Then we will fight in the shade"
@@mrnice7570 Eh? The Highlanders were fighting for the Jacobites.
I just want to express how absolutely awesome it is that in this age of instant gratification and really bad story telling that someone like you exists! I love the way you tell a story! Especially European history. I got a thing for the Tudor age. Thank you so much.❤
Wow, thank you too!
@@thehistorysquad you are welcome 🤗
Thanks Kevin. Spending time with you in your shop was most relaxing. It was a surprise to see how you get the fletching feathers to lie back in place after replacing the whipping. Now you get to enjoy shooting them again. Cheers from Texas.
Cheers David, yes I have lots to shoot now 😜
It's funny when people try to tell someone who has been doing something successfuly their whole life, that they are doing it wrong.
Yes conorhudson,
I asked Kev to send me a list of all his supposid faults so I could shoot as well as he does!! 😂😂.
Dave.
@@davesheppard8797Kevin’s only fault is age catching up with him, and it’s only because he’s entertaining us in other ways 😎
@bostonrailfan2427 Yes, I'm 61 now and if I'm a bit tired my bows are a lot more difficult to draw! Kevin is just so good though!!
Dave.
@@davesheppard8797 and we can’t claim it as a fault as it’s an asset as his words are wisdom rather than as being a lecture
@@bostonrailfan2427 Very true!
Very interesting and informative video Kevin. My dad was Lancashire Archery Champion back in the 1960' so he used to construct and repair his own arrows. Some of the repairs you covered to the knocks bring back memories of watching my dad do this work but there are other jobs that you covered that I had no idea about so many thanks for sharing your experiences and knowledge. It all has some great living history value. 😊
I enjoyed this very much Kevin. I like seeing how folks do these basic chores for maintaining their equipment. Thank you!
My pleasure 👍🏻
Kevin could talk about the history of people leaving gum under seats, and I would still love it. Also, people need to leave you alone about your bow draw. You're not a giant barrel chested 25-year-old anymore, neither am I, so the ease of tearing something in your arm is more likely as you get older.
Absolutely, yes, thank you.
Absolutely, thanks 👍
Greetings once again from nova Scotia, thanks for A very enjoyable/informative video. I always wondered how this sort of maintenance was done, I figured with all the work gone into creating these tools, I knew they wouldn't just cast them away. Thanks again for another fun bit of education, my goodness Kevin, what a teacher you are. Be safe and be well, as always best regards, Arthur
Thanks Arthur, you too, and have a lovely weekend. 👍🏻
I only just discovered your channel, Mr. Hicks, and I've been watching all of your videos back-to-back since. You are a treasure, both for your knowledge and your personality, and it's truly a privilege to learn about your life and your skills. Thank you for sharing everything so kindly, humbly, and with a passion we all should aspire to.
Wow, thank you! Welcome to the channel
Wonderful tutorial Kevin!
The knot you use is one I learned as “a jewelers’ knot” used to secure leather ends into a seemly slip-knot for necklaces and bracelets.
Thanks for the info!
My goal in life to to be like Kevin. Have a ton of information I can share with people in a way that keeps peoples attention and is both serious and somehow comedic. Love this guy.
How lovely, thank you.
I absolutely love it when you share your wisdom about arrows and archery. People of today do not understand how important a bowmans bow and arrows truly are. And when you share these bits of wisdom, you are preserving the old ways godbless you Kevin and thank you for not only teaching me how to make arrows but also how to repair them words can not describe my gratitude.
I could watch Kevin being Kevin for Kevin hours! :)
Great video sir, I do miss the days when I made arrows. I may pick it up again, still have all the old equipment. Thank you.
If anyone doesn’t know, it’s very important to make sure your arrows are in good condition. An arrow with a crack in it that isn’t mended can end up shattering when loosed, giving you some nasty splinters.
You answered my question about whistling arrowheads. I have always wondered about it. Love the video. Thank you.
A question for you learned folks. With various draw weights amongst the archers,was there such a thing as spine matxhing the arrows to the draw weight? Or was it a case of shoot what you are given?
The only problem with your videos are that they are not long enough! Nice to see someone who is passionate about something other than money! Keep at it Kev. :-)
I appreciate that! Thanks 👍🏻
Another fantastic arrow vid, Kevin! Here's a tip: about 1" from the end of your arrow jig, cut a transverse slot with the saw, just to the bottom of the V groove. This serves as a little miter box when trimming the end off a shaft. But even better--it prevents the saw pressing down on the last few fibers in the cut and splitting the wood. Cheers!
Oh what a great tip! Thanks I’ll definitely do that 😃
Arrow bodging, many an hour spent fixing up arrows, great rainy day project. Thanks Kev.
fascinating as ever Kevin - it does seem likely to me that given that it takes even a skilled arrow-maker a while to make a decent one, they were probably collected, refurbished and re-used on the battlefield. Maybe there were Baldrick-type figures whose job it was to retrieve them from the ground or indeed from the deceased adversary! Maybe the same arrow could have killed a number of people?
Awesome video! Your archery videos are my favorite!
Great tutorial.
As always, a thrill to watch the process first hand, by a man of tremendous knowledge on the subject.
Many thanks!
Excellent Kevin! It was a visit to Warwick Castle many years ago that started me shooting longbow which has now extended to making my own arrows and fletchings
How lovely 👍🏻
Well done, Sir! Archery has always fascinated me.
Great video Kevin! Thanks for putting it together and sharing your interests with us.
Another great video Kev and useful to me for repairing my arrows. Being a joiner helps. For wood filler for gashes in my arrows, I saw timber over a newspaper with a hacksaw. This gives a very fine sawdust which I mix with PVA woodglue, apply, and leave to harden. This can then be sanded. I don't worry too much about my arrow length these days. I know they should be an inch longer than your draw plus pile. But the way I shoot (not mega accurate) it doesn't make much difference as long as my arrows aren't too short!! 😂😂. I haven't been able to shoot for a while so must try and get back to it. I have 8 Longbows sitting idle and the lay-off isn't helping my already poor accuracy!!
Best wishes to you and Julie,
Dave.
Oh bless, life does tend to get in the way of our hobbies doesn't it! Cheers Dave, have a good weekend 👍🏻
@thehistorysquad Thanks Kev! I will be back to shooting soon though I hope. I may try and do a bit tomorrow in work 🤞🤞.
Dave.
@@thehistorysquadWell........ I managed to get a short distance shoot in today using my 7 foot longbow and 60# arrows with the 3" needle point Bodkin piles. They were sinking into my heavily compressed rubber strip target to a depth of 8", almost coming through. It felt great to shoot again. Next week I will do the same with a different bow, probably my Ravenbeak Yew bow "Solent".
Best wishes,
Dave.
Sounds great. I'll be looking for some bodkins soon, where do you get yours from Dave?@@davesheppard8797
@@thehistorysquad Oh blimey! I can't remember now, I bought them a good few years ago. I think I just Googled Medieval field points and went from there! 😂😂. I will have a think though.
Dave.
I was dazzled by how long the fletchings were on Will Sherman's arrow.
Do you know something Kevin, Sir, it really gets my back up, when people try Telling you, who has dedicated most of your life to your Passion, you are a Wealth of knowledge Kev, and what you do not know about Archery probably isn't worth knowing, Good Stuff Mr Hicks, you really are a CREDIT MATE. THANKS, WILL AND ELAINE. 🇮🇲👍🇮🇲
Ah, thanks guys.
How about this for a mean comment..... "I only shoot a 30# longbow using 3/8" arrows because everything I do is false and an illusion." The person who said this obviously knows nothing about shooting a longbow, but hey, we've learned to ignore them. So thank you both so much for your comment and support.
Best, Kevin 👍🏻
@@thehistorysquad IGNORE the Ignorance of these Jealous People, we Know THE SCORE SIR, WE ALL THINK YOU ARE GREAT, AND PURE OF HEART, GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS KEV MATE. 🇮🇲👍🇮🇲
😃@@williamjohnbedford5776
This man is so fascinating to watch and hear that I'm watching how to make arrows totally enthralled.
That was amazing! I always wondered how the flights were attached.
Thank you for this program your shoulders I never realize how much is involved in making our Olsen repairing him and fixing them and all the things that they have to go through. It’s amazing what artist must have gone through back in those days. Thank you again. Hope you are doing well, God bless and protect, God bless England and her people in the royal house of England as well. God bless you and yours
Nothing says Friday morning like Kevin Hicks
😜 Cheers John
Thankyou for sharing your experience.
When you picked up a flame thrower without eye protection or gloves, I took a deep breath! LOL Great video as usual Sir!
😜
Your geraniums are doing great. The jigs are handy, and arrow perfect again👍
Thanks for this intimate and informal film Kev, its like spending an afternoon in the shed with you!
😂 my pleasure
As always great video. Truly hand crafted. Beautiful
Cheers Michael 👍🏻
I kept saying “so that’s how you do that” thanks for the history lesson..old and new!👍👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks for the mention Kev! Another fantastic video!
My pleasure buddy, thanks as ever for your support 👍🏻
Another intriguing Hickstory Squad presentation. Reality is always most interesting. Thanks as ever
My pleasure! Cheers.
I love the living history parts of your history teachings. Thanks. Please, keep them coming.
That was fascinating. Thank you Kevin.
Kevin I throughly enjoy these types of videos. Thanks so much for sharing your expertise. God bless, Rob
A pleasure Rob, thanks 👍🏻
This was so cool to watch! Thanks for sharing!
Great Video Kevin, and excellent camera work Julie. The practical hands on approach and explanation is such a great way of educating. Thank you.
Cheers Daryl, glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻
A nice whipping demo.
I like to seal any whipping that I do on my boat or rigging with a bit of superglue and then if I am varnishing something later (theres always some varnishing to be done at some stage) I give it a quick coat to keep the UV in sunlight from damaging the glue.
I cant wait to try and make my own arrows. Still working on building my workshop, but it will be a fun project!
Very interesting. Thank you. So nice to see this sort of thing.
Watching the blowtorch trick was totally mind blowing.
Great video once again Kevin. Brilliantly put together.
Many thanks!
I keep my arrows full length as I break the heads off sometimes in the backstop. When I cut them down I use a Dremel tool with a saw blade 2 inch diameter.
A great video.
great video Kev
Still have the arrow with the broken knock you gave us years ago. Hangs on the arch in the lounge. Happy days.
Haha, how lovely Kim 👍🏻
Great video. That arrow heads popped up so easily with heating.
Great video, very interesting and informative, i bet they did a lot of similar things back in the day, keep up the great work 👍
Sir , thank you so much for this video . My grandfather thought me how to make arrows but i never knew that they could be fixed. Your videos are amazing
Thank you very much!
Ive really enjoyed watching your videos lately! You do an awesome job and are very involved in the comments! Thank you for the great content!
My pleasure, thanks for watching Joshua 👍🏻
@@thehistorysquad I have never been a Patreon member to any channel, I've never even considered it. However, i want to support this! I swear by my word, i will become a knight soon!
How lovely of you, thanks 👍🏻
Hugely informative sir thanks.
Really really interesting! I love history documentaries, but they don’t often go into the details of everyday life and the skills that almost everyone must’ve had. It’s lovely to have you filling in the gaps and allowing us a glimpse into the real day to day that people were living. I think there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding the intelligence and skill of past cultures. “They lived 500 yrs ago…they must’ve been really ignorant!” So far from the truth, as you’ve been good enough to show us time and time again!
Thank you very much, I'm glad you've enjoyed the videos 👍🏻
Cornwell has a scene in his Agincourt novel where we visit with the company fletcher who has to make the best of the old, poorly made arrows they've been supplied with.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Cheers 👍🏻
A fly-making bobbin with tensioner is handy for whipping and other tying while keeping the thread less fiddly.
This is brilliant Kevin 👍
Interesting, thanks!😊
Good video!
Thank you very much for sharing, your Chanel is real treasure trove of great content.
Wow, I appreciate that 👍🏻
Al very interesting & informative 👌🏻
More equipment maintenance vids, please. this was interesting
Great video on how to repair your arrows!!!!
I watched a video on TH-cam from the Discoverize channel that had you on it dealing with old cross bows. You were heaps younger then!
Thank You very much for this new video ! 😊
My pleasure 😊
Gday from Australia again Kev, nice drills mate and love your work always. Cheers Gerard
Thanks 👍
He was hitting that Target. Bang bang bang pretty good.
Great video Kevin. I never knew about steaming the fletchings to reform them. Thank you
Any time 👍🏻
Enjoyed watching that
A treat to watch a true craftsman at work! Thank you so much! I was just wondering if anyone knows if the whistling arrows were used in the Medieval world?
I'm sure that with the cost Nd time to create arrows that they did the same and reused and refurbished them many times!! Thank you for always sharing these interesting topics!!🙏💖🪶💞
Hi!
It was real magic above boiled kettle. I had never saw of them.
Thanks a million
For steaming fletching they'd likely use the glue pot they were using to glue tips and fletching on. A hide glue was usually used. As far as I know from all the research I have done!
That would make sense to use the steam from the glue pot, I don't think the cook would appreciate having loads of fletcher crowding his cauldron and dropping bits of feather and string into the casserole
Another fantastic video, as always. I love watching your videos and your passion for history and knowledge. I do have a question for you. I have been using cedar arrows with my longbow, and over the years, some have warped. Does this happen to you, and how do you fix it? I absolutely love your videos. Thanks a million!
Occasionally I'll have a warped arrow and I would gently try to steam it and bend it back. You can get it to work but you have to steam gently 👍🏻
I wonder if their were any Shady , Used Arrow Salesman back in the Day ..?
😂❤
If fletchers put their own marks on the arrows they made, there were probably counterfeit arrows
For whipping are you just using common sewing thread? Love these archery videos. Keep them coming. I have shot traditional archery for a long time but with modern components. Like the idea of trying something more historic. Very educational!
I use a linen thread that I bought years ago from a cobbler shop. So any kind of strong linen thread should work. 👍🏻
lovely video kev., :) i done me some nice bolts, the other week, with flint
Ooh, sounds great, nice one 👍🏻
Thanks for sharing.👍🏻🇺🇸
Very cool project…
Yeah you sound a bit like me I been making arrows since I was 10 years old 1970 Made 1000's since then.You are doing a great job.I actually like a couple of things you are doing.I also have other methods of arrow repair you have not covered .I may have to do a video to show other good folk my way too.These videos you do are some of the better ones on you tube.Keep up the good work.
Old school Richie
Cheers Ritchie
We are not just learning history here...we are stopping by to visit our friend Kevin Hicks.
Haha, how lovely Nancy, thanks. Stop by any time 👍🏻
Morning Kevin. Nice shop.
Those whistling arrows would add to the fear of troops facing the Bowmen.
The Germans must’ve liked the idea enough to apply the practice to their stuka bomber.
Morning! Yes for sure 👍
Kevin I only very recently found your channel maybe a week or two ago and I find it fascinating! How did they make the Arrows so straight out of wood back in the Medieval times? I can't wrap my mind around it without a modern Lathe or something similar.😲🤷♂
It was an industry and they were very practiced at it. Did you see my video on making the arrows yet? I show there how the shafts were made. 👍🏻
🦃🦃🦃🦃
Happy Thanksgiving Kevin, to you and your Family.
🍁🍁🍁🍁
Thank you!
Love the arrow building/repairing videos!!
About when did archers/bowyers/arrow builders start to understand arrow spine and to use it? Do we know?
Great Vid Kev. Just watched you on Instruments of Death - Battle of Towton. Dodgy moustache but great show!!
🤣 nice one
I appreciate your workshop videos so much.
How many of the arrows are you keeping original?
Thanks. I'm just making a new batch of 48 and they'll all be to an original spec. Plus I'll have all these old ones.
Always good to see you upload Kev! Hope you’re doing well, may the gods bless you my friend.
Thanks 👍