Arrows of Viking Age Scandinavia -- myArmoury.com

Tim Jorgensen · Posted: Fri 30 Dec, 2011 8:36 am Post subject: Arrows of Viking Age Scandinavia

I'm trying to find information about arrows used in Viking Age Scandinavia.

It looks like there's some good info out there about arrowheads, but I'm more interested in the other end of the arrow right now.

Is there any evidence to support 3 vs. 4-fletched arrows?

What kind of feathers would have been used?

Would linen or sinew have been the more likely wrap for the feathers?

What would the nocks be like?

Thanks to you all for your help!

Tim Jorgensen · Posted: Sat 31 Dec, 2011 6:27 am Post subject:

I've been hearing crickets over that last 24 hours. Maybe a photo will stir some comments. This is a goose-feathered arrow with sinew wrap. It is, with severely limited resources, the nearest I can imagine a Viking arrow to be. Comments or thoughts?

Tjarand Matre · Posted: Sat 31 Dec, 2011 10:53 am Post subject:

Both 3 and 4 feather arrows have been documented in glacier finds in Norway. From what I have read only one feather has ever been found and documented. It was white ;-) The conclusion however is that 3 feathers generally gives best results and that the feathers would probably have come from any local bird as long as the feather was long enough. The 4 feather versions could have been made for arrows that were very heavy, short and had a large head. Hard to tell as most finds are fragmented.

If you can read or translate Scandinavian you can PM me for links to some Norwegian online resources.