Roman bow and arrow

[Aluscladiusmaximus]

Yes my arrows are based on the Dura Europos finds. Since I made mine I have been thinking about the shape of the fletchings and I now think the fletchings were made of half a complete feather ie not cut down from a larger one. I have had a quick look at the Dura Europos report and it looks like the Dura Europos arrows may have been made of reed with a wooden foot which is the part that has survived.

I was surprised that the fletchings weren't bound onto the shaft but I could see so sign of any binding on the drawings and I would Imagine if the feather survived the binding would have as well. Of course it doesn't mean that in the cold wet western empire they weren't bound on because the glues may not have been as reliable when they got damp.

They seem to fly well but I don't use them for displays as they take too long to make and I tend to lose between 3 and 7 arrows a weekend depending on the landscape around the targets. Plus if the catapulta manages to hit the targets then tend to fall over and if one of my arrows is stuck in the target they break.
What I haven't yet put on the website are my home cast Bronze triblade brordhead arrowheads and the iron bodkin points

Aulus Cladius maximus