[Ansteorra-archery] Arrow materials

[Eadric Anstapa]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bobby Hyscher" <bob at breezykilt.com>
>
> I have just a quick comment/question regarding the usage of certain
> materials in the arrows of combat archery.  If we are phasing out wood,
> can't use carbon because they shatter and can't use fiberglass for the
same
> reason, why are spears ok with fiberglass?

We can and do use fiberglass.  Fiberglass is currently the preferred and
most widely used solution in all but three kingdoms.  Good fiberglass
doesn't shatter, it can hardly be broken, and when it does break it
typically does so in a relatively safe manner.

>
> Again, this may be WAY off base,
> I am a relative newbie and I freely admit that I have much to learn.  The
> only thing I can think of, frankly, is that if the society is forcing the
> removal of, essentially, all materials for combat archery shafts, then
they
> must be trying to rid the known world of combat archery altogether?
>

The Society has not forced the removal of any shaft materials.  In fact in
the past year or so at least one new material has been added.  Since
fiberglass was allowed in 1998 it's use has grown steadily.  At this most
recent Gulf War better than 99% of the arrows were fiberglass.  Wood is now
arguably the least safe and most costly shaft material.  In the past few
years more and more kingdoms have opted to no-longer allow wood in favor of
the fiberglass which is believed to be much safer.  Still other kingdoms
have issued basically the same policy that I recently issued and have said
No NEW wooden shafts.

Regards,

Lord Eadric Anstapa
Kingdom Archery Marshal, Ansteorra
eadric at scabrewer.com