Plains arrow

This gorgeous arrow is a museum-quality replica of an actual Cheyenne/Arapaho arrow housed in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. that was collected in the 1870’s. I had the privilege to examine numerous authentic Plains arrows several years ago, and this arrow is a copy of on one of them. This replica copies the original arrow in every respect, including dimensions, construction, paint design, point shape, and nock shape. Give this arrow 100 years and you wouldn’t be able to distinguish it from the original arrows I examined.

The shaft is made from a beautifully straight hardwood shoot. The fletching consists of two turkey wing feathers and one turkey tail feather (Plains warriors often mixed different feathers on their arrows). The feathers are tied down front and back with deer sinew, then they were also glued to the shaft with hide glue, as was the original. The front portion of the feathers were not trimmed away where the sinew wrappings went, instead the sinew was wrapped over the long web of the feather, folding it down. This is exactly how they were done on the original arrow, so I followed suit. The metal point is made from an old barrel hoop, as were many original Plains Indian arrow points. The shaft has 3 straight shaft grooves that begin at the front of the feathers and extend to the point. The sinew wraps on the front of the feathers and those that secure the point are painted orange, and the shaft between those sinew wraps was painted yellow, so I did the same. And finally two bands of orange were painted under the feathers to complete this arrow. This gorgeous replica arrow is shipped to you in a sturdy PVC pipe to ensure safe delivery to your door.

Most Plains warriors carried at least 20 arrows just like this one in their quivers when out on campaign, and that’s what made them such fearsome adversaries. Their incredible horsemanship, short, powerful bows, iron tipped arrows, and guerilla-style tactics made them a force to be reckoned with. These arrows might seem primitive today, but the Indians’ rapid fire bows and arrows were actually superior to the single-shot muzzleloaders of the early settlers.  It was the introduction of repeating rifles and multi-shot revolvers that eventually turned the tide of firepower against the Indians.

Even still, many trespassers were victims to the Indian’s wrath. Check out the old photo of US cavalryman Fredrick Wyllyams, who was killed in a battle with Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. The warriors stripped him naked, slashed his throat, abdomen, and both thighs. Warriors would often mutilate a slain enemy believing that’s how he would enter the afterlife and would be unable to harm them again. Without clothes he couldn’t fight in cold weather, and his hobbling injuries meant he couldn’t run or chase after them. And finally, they left 5 arrows impaling in his body…arrows identical to the one offered here. How’s that for owning a piece of history?

Arrow specs:  Hardwood shoot, turkey wing and tail feather fletch, yellow and orange paint.  27″ long.  Shipped in a sturdy PVC pipe to ensure safe delivery to your door.  Free shipping to all US customers.