STL All Sports

The classification of materials used in making bows applies to arrows also: arrows are made from both wood and steel, with the wood much in predominance. wooden arrows are a little cheaper, answer the purpose of all-round shooting, and perhaps possess a better shooting quality. The most commonly used woods for arrows are birch, Port Orford cedar, and Norwegian pine.

Birch arrows are the cheapest and are probably the best for beginners. The main disadvantage of arrows made from this wood is that they have a tendency to warp. A good arrow should be straight, stiff, light, tough, and properly nocked and footed. It is only in the better woods, such as Port Orford cedar and Norwegian pine, that these qualifications can be obtained. Arrows from these two latter woods are considered the best for all-round shooting, the Norwegian pine being a little better because it is not so brittle and is equally as light and tough.

Arrows are further classified as "self" or "footed." Self arrows are made from one single shaft of wood, usually Douglas fir, Norwegian pine, or Port Orford cedar. Arrows of this type are not as accurate and durable as the footed ones because they are not as strong and well-balanced.

Footed arrows are made by tipping the shaft with a hard-wood foot joined by a single fish-tail joint. This reinforcement gives the arrow greater strength, durability, and balance. This type of construction increases the distance that an arrow will travel. All of the better archers use this type of arrow.