http://archeryreport.com/2011/07/helical-straight-fletch-accuracy-repeatability/ explores the accuracy of
curved vs straight fletching.
Sue
--Sue Millard
Daw Bank, Greenholme, Tebay, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 3TA. 01539 624636.
http://www.dawbank.co.uk/
Attached PM$, MIME and other non-readable files contain information necessary for your e-mail application to read
this message. They are not viruses and can be ignored.
On 19 Dec 2016 at 13:08, Torstein Sjövold wrote:
> Edouard Masson-MacLean,
>
> Although not related to Arctic/Sub-Arctic cultures, during my youth
> more than 50 years ago, it was said that for making the best
> feather-balls when playing badminton only three particular feathers
> from the left wing of gees should be used, otherwise the feather-ball
> would not get the optimum spin when playing, which also made them
> expensive.
>
> On the other hand, as I have been affiliated with the research on the
> Iceman Ötzi, in his quiver there were two fletched arrows. It was soon
> realized that the feathers were not aligned along the shaft, but
> follwed the natural curvature of the feathers in order to make the
> arrow spin to approve the accuracy when shooting. Apparently, in
> modern archery the same principle is used. Since using natural
> resources in this way goes more that 5000 years back in time it was
> certainly known when fletching arrows was a profession. Although the
> arrow tend to curve and wobble for a while when leaving the bowstring
> and pass the right side of the bow when the archer is right-handed, it
> might make a difference whether the arrow spins to the left or to the
> right. As I am personally not an expert in archery, when producing
> modern arrows with curved fletching to make the arrow spin I would
> assume that the direction of the spin is not at random. This should be
> easy for you to check at a store purchasing archery equipment or to
> contact a club dealing with traditional, or perhaps even modern,
> competiton, archery
>
> Torstein Sjøvold
> Professor emeritus in Historical osteology,
> Stockholm university
>
> ________________________________________
> Från: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites
> <[log in to unmask]> för Serjeantson D.
> <[log in to unmask]> Skickat: den 19 december 2016 12:07 Till:
> [log in to unmask] Ämne: Re: predominance of left wing in avian
> remains?
>
> Dear Edouard,
> It does not sound as if your assemblage is from a literate culture but
> this is the only practical use of feathers from the left wing that I
> can think of. This is (more or less) what I said in Birds: "Quill pen,
> which were used as writing implements, were made from the primary
> feathers. Those of geese and swans are among the sturdiest, though
> feathers of other species can be used. The second and third primaries
> are best, with those from the left wing being the ideal fit for
> right-handed writers, and those from the right wing for left-handers.
> The feathers of older birds are of better quality than those of
> juveniles, and plucked feathers are better than those from slaughtered
> birds". See also Serjeantson, D. 2002. Goose husbandry in medieval
> England, and the problem of ageing goose bones. Acta Zoologica
> Cracoviensia. Proceedings of the 4th meeting of the ICAZ Bird Working
> Group, Krakow, Poland, 11-15 September, 2001. , 45, 39-54.
>
> Best, Dale
>
>
> Dale Serjeantson
> Visiting Fellow
> Archaeology
> University of Southampton
> SO17 1BF
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> www.southampton.ac.uk/archaeology/about/staff/dale.page
>
> http://pathbrite.com/BOS
>
>
>
>
>
> From: zooarch <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> on behalf of Edouard Masson-MacLean
> <[log in to unmask]<mailto:00000a34ad7572ec
> [log in to unmask]>> Reply-To: Edouard Masson-MacLean
> <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Date:
> Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 15:55 To: zooarch
> <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Subject:
> [ZOOARCH] predominance of left wing in avian remains?
>
> Dear Zooarchs,
>
> I was wondering if anyone knew of the possible cultural value or
> technical benefits (feathers?) of the left wing in birds and gulls in
> particular among Arctic/Sub-Arctic cultures.
>
> Many thanks
>
> Edouard
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------
> Edouard Masson-MacLean
> PhD Candidate
> AHRC/LaBex Research Assistant (York Archaeological Trust / Northlight
> Heritage) Room 208 Department of Archaeology School of Geosciences
> University of Aberdeen St. Mary's, Elphinstone Road Aberdeen, AB24 3UF
> Scotland, UK
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2016.0.7924 / Virus Database: 4739/13613 - Release Date:
> 12/19/16
>
>
|