Hand making a medieval style arrow, now, and in the middle ages

In this video, hand making a medieval style arrow, now and in the middle ages, Kevin Hicks shows you how he makes his own ammunition quality arrows, and explains how they made arrows from scratch, by hand, back in medieval times.

#EnglishLongbow #Selfbow #Longbow #Warbow #Medieval #Archery #Archer #Bowman

IMAGES:
Coppicing & sorting hazel © Anna Gray
from the Coppice Apprentice

[johngolombek]

Sir you are a credit to the world keeping history alive . I am from the states and I can't imagine making thousands of these back in medieval times . In your battles videos can you just imagine the logistics needed . Thank you sir for an education .

[jamesfairmind]

Fascinating. Consider how important this was to Britain, as evidenced by all the English names derived from arrow and bow-making such as Fletcher, Pointer, Stringer etc.

[jimcraig]

Mr Hicks is probably the only person on the whole of YouTube that has the knowledge and patience to show and explain these medieval crafts skills step by step. There isn't many left from these old shires that still carry the skills from our old world. Long live Mr Hicks.

[TouchéandDumDum]

Another brilliant video sir, shame that Britain has lost a good man but Canada has gained a good man. You're an absolute credit.

[davidboyle]

A bit more than 60 years ago I used to make arrows using dowel rods I bought from the hardware store (way cheaper than cedar shafts!). I hadn’t yet figured out how to make a fletcher (couldn’t afford that either), and instead secured my fletching using thread similar to what you show here. Only I never thought of leaving it there. Once the glue was dry, I unwound the thread, a step I see was unnecessary!

Great to see that there are places where wooden arrows are still used. I have a box of never-fired cedar arrows stored away. Once I moved to using a compound, I found out quickly that wood simply didn’t last.

Great presentation.

[jakepassarelli]

I remember seeing you with my dad back in the Warwick and Bolsover Castle days. You are a legend in our eyes. I’ll share these videos with him. He’s always asking what you’re doing these days and would be delighted to see them. Thank you for being a legend and keeping history alive! It bring us together!

[choverder]

At the funeral progress through London there were six bowmen flanking the Royals following the coffin. Of the six three were carrying bows and had an arrow at ready tucked under an arm. Great trust was shown to the bowmen since they carried weapons right next to the Royal family. Wonderful to see. Thanks Kevin for irreplaceable historical insights

[davisstellman]

As a veteran archer of 12 years, this was the best arrow making video I've ever seen for traditional archery. I love your content Kevin, I can't wait to try and make my own for my new bow coming in Tuesday!

[Burst]

I have no earthly idea how this video got recommended to me by the algorithm but this is amazing!

[sirbiakan]

“gonna have to take a break to stop the bleeding” is just the casual tone of it 😂 this man is amazing

[lazyman]

Excellent video, Kevin! I really like how you make distinction between 'arrows' and 'ammunition'. Because that's what they were, disposable ammo, used in (tens of) thousands on the battlefield. And while some could be recovered and repaired, majority was simply 'spent'. It also puts the 'art' of arrow making into a different light because in the old times, it was not an 'art' but a profession. Of course it required skills, but the consistency and high-volume output were just as important because, in the end, people made arrows for living, not as a hobby.

[Jedapoo]

Lol, you make arrows like I spin yarn. "Fancy people say do this with magical modern tools, but do it by eye like they did historically with the simple tools that were the same as we have today and it turns out both beautiful and functional." Nice video! I appreciate the camera angles. There was a good view of each step.

[kevinh.]

lol, of course there is a kettle in your workshop, you are truly a british gentleman. love this kind of stuff, keep them coming

[colingregson]

may i suggest a video on the Royal Company of Archers, 2 of them were guarding her coffin, i presume most folk will not be aware of them!

[BlorkTDork]

As an American growing up with emphasis on rifle marksmanship it's grand learning about where that tradition came from and how deep the roots of it go

[ss]

It's nice to see something being made rather than machined. Fascinating as always, Kevin!

[georgesakellaropoulos]

It's amazing how similar this process is to handloading ammunition for modern firearms.

[searaider]

Seeing you crafting arrows was a hypnotizing experience and enlighting too. I learned so many details I haven't seen before and now I can clearly understand how they were made.

[kelvinsparks]

Ah the good old Sherwood fetching jig, mine is over 35 years old and still going strong .

[adamschaeffer]

Nice to see the arrows as they were. Hollywood has us thinking arrows shot in war are these little flimsy things that men would break with one hand as it's sticking out of their shoulder so they could keep fighting. I dare say being hit with something that big would be like being shot with a bullet. Except now you have a long shaft of wood sticking out of you as well!

Poor, poor Henry V