Wrought Iron Arrowheads
The BOAR FORGE offers several forms of draught irons from the medieval period.
All our tips are forged and are inspired by irons found on various excavation sites, in Europe and elsewhere, over periods going back to the 16th century.
Our research is based on several archaeological documents including
" The Devil's Weapons " (Valérie Serdon).
Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
Information
Dimensions and weights vary and can be made to order.
The classification and names used are chosen based on the results of my research as a blacksmith and archer, based on different sources and excavation sites as well as years of experimentation in a reconstruction process.
Socket or silk mounting?
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There are two main families in arrowhead assembly: sockets and bristles.
The socket tips will fit onto the end of a barrel that is cut.
Silk mounting involves inserting a long rod into the shaft and then tightening the assembly with a ligature.
Mounting on a socket is faster than mounting on a tang. Today, the points can be glued with archery resin, but this was rarely used at the time. This type of mounting is the one most commonly found in the West and most often in military contexts.
Silk mounting is a little more tedious but allows for a longer life for the arrow. This is the most common mounting on all continents, and is found in the West, among other places, as hunting equipment.
Le montage sur douille est plus rapide que le montage sur soie. Aujourd'hui les pointes peuvent être collées avec de la résin d'archerie mais cela était peu utilisé à l'époque. Ce type de montage est celui qu'on retrouve le plus en Occident et le plus souvent dans des contextes militaires.
Le montage sur soie est un peu plus fastidieux mais permet une plus longue durée de vie à la flèche. C'est le montage le plus courant sur tous les continents, on en retrouve entre autre en Occident pour l'équipement de chasse.
D'aprés A.Ruttkay(Slovenska Archeologia)(1975) p.327
https://cevnad.sav.sk/aktivita_1_1/slovenska_archeologia_1976_2.pdf
The different tips
The mesh piercer
A fine point for piercing through mesh and other padded (gamboized) protections. Widely used in the early Middle Ages, before the arrival of steel protections from the 14th century.
The willow leaf
This flat, triangular dart iron, often resembling a leaf, is a point used as much in hunting as in war.
Its sharp edges made it possible to cut through the thickest leathers of the soldier's equipment as well as that of the largest game.
Pointe de flèches forgés foliacées, ce modéle est déclinable en plusieurs dimensions différentes
Pointe de flèche en fer forgée ou fer de trait Pointe plate ou feuille de saule artisanat
Pointe de flèche en fer forgée ou fer de trait Pointe plate ou feuille de saule artisanat
Pointe de flèches forgés foliacées, ce modéle est déclinable en plusieurs dimensions différentes
This conical socket tip, simple to manufacture and inexpensive in raw material, is ideal for training. These draught irons have great penetrating power due to the pointed surface where all the kinetic energy is concentrated.
Socket tip
Pointes de flèches forgées
Pointe de flèche conique forgée
Pointes de flèches forgées
The Bodkin
A heavy, stocky arrowhead. Exclusively for military use, it is effective against armor. As bows become more and more powerful, arrows become heavier and larger, as do their points. The principle was to shoot in a bell-shaped pattern to achieve a more powerful and piercing impact.
Pointe flèche forgées dites "bodkins". Fer de traits lourd utillisé a la fin du moyen age
Pointes de flèches forgées Bodkins, plusieur variante sont existante et repertorié
Plusieurs type de pointe de dlèches bodkins il existe beaucoup de variante
Pointe flèche forgées dites "bodkins". Fer de traits lourd utillisé a la fin du moyen age
The barbed tip
Flèche médiéval à barbillons longs
Pointe de flèche à double ardillons
Pointe de flèche en fer forgée ou fer de trait Pointe à ardillons
Flèche médiéval à barbillons longs
Barbed arrowhead. Often used in warfare.
The barbs had a larger cutting and penetrating surface. A formidable impact on enemy lines, they could slow or even stop a cavalry charge.
This cutting-edge model was found in numerous archaeological sites at various times, from the 12th to the 15th century.
The Gudgeon
The characteristic of this draught iron is its ability to cut rather than strike or pierce. Used in hunting and war, a large number of forms are found in different regions and at different times.
The shank slice
A variation on the principle of the dowel point. Its crescent shape offers a greater reach. It would be more intended for hunting birds and small game.
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The incendiary cage tip
Fuel made from tow, pitch, or naphtha was inserted into the cage. Once lit, the speed and blast fanned the small fire as the arrow traveled, igniting a thatched roof, haystack, etc., upon impact.
The long incendiary tip
The principle for this tip was to wrap the soaked fabric around this long rod.
Three-sided tip
Heavy war point. Its three-sided pyramidal shape provides exceptional impact force. Almost exclusively used on crossbow bolts, this model is one of the heavy military points of the late Middle Ages.
The double-bladed tip
This point can take a multitude of shapes and sizes. This type of point was often used for its effectiveness against horses. In both war and hunting, these long edges cause devastating damage to leather and flesh.
The Matras point
Point also called a stunner or knocker. Used exclusively for hunting small game. The animal was broken by the violence of the impact, while sparing the fur and skin. This point, rarely made of steel, is more often listed as wooden in manuscripts.
Pointe de fléche assomoir ou matras à douille
Lot de pointe de flèche forgé type matras a douille et à soie
Pointe de fléche assomoir ou matras à douille
The three-bladed Roman point
Ancient Roman arrowhead, often made of bronze or iron. The arrangement of the blades allowed for good perforation of armor. Primarily for military use.
Méthode de fabrication de cette pointe ici !!
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Ram's head point
This tip is not a historical reconstruction, it is one of our creations .
The weight distribution and impact type is similar to a stun point.
