Primitive river cane arrows and trade point arrowheads

This week Clay Hayes is building primitive arrows and trade point arrowheads. This video will go through the entire arrow making process from harvesting and straightening the river cane to forging handmade trade point arrowheads and fletching with wild turkey feathers and sinew.
Clay starts by roughly straightening the primitive arrow shaft materials over a fire before bundling them together to dry. While the cane is drying he fires up the coal forge and builds several trade point style arrowheads with tangs to mount into the hollow cane shafts.
Once the cane is dry, another straightening pass will ensure they're straight. Then self nocks are cut and the shafts fletched with wild turkey feathers and sinew. Clay shows how to make primitive fletchings and fletch the arrows by hand.
In next weeks video we will be making a sinew bow string for the primitive bow we made in last weeks video. This will complete our primitive hunting gear in preparation for an upcoming wild hog hunt.
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[@laytonpratt]

I just convinced my mom to order your book. I really want to get into bow building and if it’s anything like your videos, then it is an amazing book.

[@hankczinaski915]

It's a great book. A lot of little tips and tricks in it. Get yourself a Traditional Bowyers Bible as well.

[@dkoriss1]

Hi Clay, nice job, I really enjoy your videos as I am fascinated of primitive archery and survival teckiniques and constructions. Unfortunately I come and live in a country (Greece) we do not hunt with bows and there is even legislation against it, or at least is not clear. I always been attracted of classic/primative archery, hunting in such way, survival skills, etc. Unfortunatelly my job keeps me inside an office, so my way out for many years now, is to watch videos like yours, that "travels" me in places with nature and primitive skills which creates a sense of self-sufficiency/realiance. Our ancient philosopher Aristotle wrote thousands of years ago that happy man is not the rich one, but the one who feels self-sufficient. I believe you are happy person in such way Clay. Many times, whenever I have some free time I am practising some primitive pathways inspired out of videos like yours. So I would like to ask is there a way that turns turkey feathers in such helical shape (which makes it more efficient hunting wise) or naturally gets this shape when attached on the arrow ?

[@vindictii]

Amazing. I wanted to make my own bow and turns out I have both red cedar and rivercane on my land. Thanks for the vids

[@rm8679]

I love your videos and watch them all. I love your audience (cows). They love watching you too. :)

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thank you very much!

[@angelus_solus]

Damn mate, put a logging chain around that anvil! The ring is ear-piercing.

[@hemidart7]

It's also bouncing around too much

[@cecilsowers8242]

That’s absolutely the coolest thing I’ve ever saw

[@RenescoRocketman]

so much work put in such simple and primitive things. i would never guess if i havent seen this.

[@clayhayeshunter]

It takes time for sure!

[@PatrickDustman]

What a great video, I really enjoyed watching. Really high quality mate. SurvivalAustria

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks

[@dariuswhite2543]

@@clayhayeshunter doesnt heavy arrow heads give the arrow flight more of a arc in its trajectory

[@tusharjamwal]

@@dariuswhite2543 yes but more penetration for hunting and better chance of the arrow surviving.

[@AFCAWorldBodybuildingArchive]

It's amazingly cute how interestef those cows are watching you work 😍😅

[@Rabbitears1]

I've made a couple of rivercane tradepoint arrows myself, I used the two- feather southeastern style since I live in the sandhill region of SC.

[@MultiSoulcollector]

I love your video's no filler just the information one needs. Thank you.

[@jolllyroger1]

I love how your are surrounded by streaks on the hoof

[@decab8292]

You sir are an artisan 👨‍🎨 Thank you for sharing your work.

[@theguywitheyebrows]

great point mount method man!! love that point. i might even be able to forge those kinda points myself! thanks for the vid sir!

[@clayhayeshunter]

They’re pretty easy!

[@larryreese6146]

Great video Clay. Always enjoy watching and seeing what you're going to come up with next. Seeing you making the primitive stuff and seeing your video on long distance shooting made me wonder if you'd ever spent any time around Northeastern Oklahoma and if you'd ever tried stalk shooting with the Cherokees. I've tried it once. Really enjoyed it and wish I had more time for the stuff I see you doing on your videos. Keep living the dream Clay. Good wishes to you.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks Larry

[@CrisAnderson27]

As you were forging the arrowheads I was going to comment that you should have made them single bevel...at which point you started filing and made them....single bevels lol. Nice choice! The benefits are substantial. I've made my own finished 250g broadheads for my compound bow (never made an entire arrow!) and chose single bevel without hesitation.

[@bonesstones6584]

Excellent video, I like your method of winding all three fletchings together then positioning them.

[@jesuspaz795]

you are my number one show i like to watch. i wish i know how to make a selfbow.

[@Telmo-x7i]

Exelente. Muy clara la explicación del proceso.

[@VHARDRADA]

Should you varnish your river cane shafts or its great without it?

[@team-jl9uq]

Glad you put these videos out I have learned a lot from them

[@MrLuiswalker]

True art

[@waynepatton689]

Impressive to say the least.

[@draven3838]

I have river cane arrows that I've been shooting for 11 years and they are fantastic, I've made some a little heavier than I'd use for a 60# long bow and shot them thru my compound bow and they are super fast and tuff

[@clayhayeshunter]

Cool! Yea, river cane is super tough stuff.

[@jacobdad2742]

I love you're audience. I'm surprised by how curious they are.

[@clayhayeshunter]

🐮 mooo

[@jacobdad2742]

Hahaha

[@jesuspaz795]

i like your home made bows.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Wonderful video! Was looking forward to this so much! Really haven't shot cedar and bamboo shafts in a long time.. But I'll try bamboo again... Just because! Thank you!

[@clayhayeshunter]

It’s a great material.

[@chadlykins2265]

Great video very informative

[@shanek6582]

I like your cabin

[@curtisloud1027]

Those cattle are as interested as me on making arrows nice to have company! Curt

[@clayhayeshunter]

They are!

[@draven3838]

Don't get me wrong ,I really enjoy.your videos they are top notch and instructive

[@RedmanOutdoors366]

Clay that cow is your Best friend next time give him some attention he's interested in you 😉

[@clayhayeshunter]

Ok 😁

[@georgyekimov9727]

Clay, thank you so much!!!

[@wesleytyl8594]

I hope you dont mind but l would like to make a suggestion on something that you might want to try with this style of arrows. I have been making traditional bow and arrows for 6 years now and when I make my river or tonkin cane arrows I use a hardwood insert for both the nock and point end. For the nock l get a hardwood dowel rod that is is the same diameter as the cane shaft shave down the last half inch until it fits into the hole that cane shafts have naturally. Once the it fits I glue it into place, after the glue has dried you can cut the wood dowel rod to any size you want, l usually cut it at 1/2 inch. For the point end it's pretty much process but the wood shaft insert part is longer. I usually use a 6 inch long wooden dowel rod. I shave down the last 2 inches until it fits into the cane arrow shaft and that leaves me with 4 inches of the dowel rod coming out of the cane shaft. I also do not glue in the wood foreshaft on the point end, it is just held in place by friction, by doing this it allows you to swap out you points if need be. These wood inserts/foreshafts prevent the cane from slitting when fired and impacting targets because the wood can sustain more force and you dont self nock either end of the shaft. If you need a visual reference there are plenty of images and videos on the internet on this. As l said in the beginning this is just a suggestion for something to look into and try. I dont want this to be seen or taken in a negative manner. I love watching your videos. You are excellent at explaining and representing everything that you do in your videos. l cant wait to see your next video keep up the good work

[@arrowflinger3798]

That's awesome... I've seen people do arrows like that online... the only thing I'm confused about is how you guys spine the arrows... it seems like it would be inconsistent and hard to determine

[@wesleytyl8594]

@@arrowflinger3798 To determine the spine on arrows done in the way I described is really no different than finding the spine of a normal wood arrows. All you have to do is put it on a spine tester.

[@arrowflinger3798]

@@wesleytyl8594 oh okay... seems simple enough... just asking cause it seems that to weaken the spine you have to shave it down and cane is already pretty thin walled... would break more easily? Also what aboit the primitive way of spine testing... did native americans just use trial and error or a more complicated technique?

[@wesleytyl8594]

@@arrowflinger3798 Native Americans had no way to test the spine of their arrows that I know of. What they did was make a batch of arrows, shoot them from their bow, and then group the arrows that flew the best from that bow together.

[@stefanvanvuuren3931]

Thanks Clay!! Good luck with your hog hunt, the photos looked great today!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks

[@inthemountainswithmeachum3256]

I was really hoping you were going to make a single bevel BH, awesome

[@austin2245psn]

Very cool forge machine

[@slingshotwarrrior8105]

Fine craftsmanship

[@Makete100]

Do you also make your own charcoal? Another great video. Thanks for all you do to give us this teachings.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I do.

[@keymaster2108]

very well done although I know nothing about it until now

[@John-gp9qf]

The cows are happy

[@VHARDRADA]

I am living in Ukraine and I've never seen a green river cane like this in video. Here all our river cane is like white oak in color and has a couple of leaves at the end. So can I make a good arrow out of that?

[@Lesr8]

Always work with what you got. It’s very much possible

[@wolfcreekoutdoors765]

I know you’ve made more arrows than me but if you don’t mind a suggestion on the nock end of the arrow take a piece of sandstone and flatten both sides at an angle toward each other then it will make it easier and quicker to cut in the nock

[@clayhayeshunter]

So you’re using it like a triangle shaped file?

[@wolfcreekoutdoors765]

Yes you file it to almost a triangle then cutting the nock a lot easier I’m used to using all stone tools to make my river cane arrow

[@UkiDLucas]

I appreciate your work, love the rustic settings and admire the very patient camera crew! :)

[@terrysmith8714]

Another great video. Cheers

[@donwaldroopoutdoors3665]

Dude your born 1000 yr too late lol , your beast caveman , love the vids

[@darrellbowen1582]

Very cool brother ! Great job

[@hectortoullier2266]

La verdad por ser una flecha Survivol está . Pero deja mucho que desear la firma de la punta y las plumas😏

[@ChanceSanders]

Cool vid! Put some gear oil in that blower lol.

[@jerryshort2021]

Great video

[@londiniumarmoury7037]

Great stuff.

[@garrettmize6128]

Awesome video !! From Oklahoma

[@joeytheetge9268]

Looks like an old turbo on your forge.

[@johnkeck1025]

How do you like your benchmade bugout? Is it as good as they say? Love your videos by the way man

[@clayhayeshunter]

If you’re talking about the pocketknife, I like it. It’s super lite weight and will make a good second blade for carrying while hunting.

[@jamescraven480]

I am an old fart I can't hear very well, what kind of glue are you using? This series is very interesting. Thank you Clay.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Hide glue

[@jamescraven480]

@@clayhayeshunter thank you

[@dennislock3415]

Thought to lay in a small supply of rebar for arrow heads,is there any reason this would not work?

[@robertross3358]

Which end of the cane goes forward , large or small ? Would the larger diameter end forward improve the weight FOC ?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Larger

[@zaratekarate2037]

How long have you been hunting? What advice would you give on people who want to learn?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Grab a set of regulations, get a license, and start with small game. You’ll learn a ton. I’ve been hunting since I was a child.

[@outdoorsman9384]

Hay Clay great stuff,,who taught you all this ?

[@pauldavis9561]

How you going Clay great vids mate learning alot really appreciate it....just wondering how u make homemade field points for your bamboo arrows?...i havent got a forge just wondering if u have any simple ideas for field tips cherz

[@clayhayeshunter]

Duplex nails aka double headed nails work great.

[@pauldavis9561]

@@clayhayeshunterthanks will give them a go cherz

[@Uncle_Chuck]

Cows are mosey neighbours of the animal world lol

[@adamthomas8010]

Hey man do you boil that gelatin or just heat it up?

[@rdh2059]

What do you use when in Idaho? There is no river cane there... Oceanspray?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Ocean spray makes a good shaft. No cane here.

[@jcorrealuna]

Hi Clay. How much time you'll leave cane for dry? Thanks and regards. Julio

[@clayhayeshunter]

I dried these in just a few days by putting them in a PVC pipe and letting a hair dryer blow on them for about 48 hours.

[@jackdowdy]

What is the best time of year to harvest rivercane?

[@Soviless99]

lol the cows just watching him

[@jarridcarter5001]

I saw you dried your stave in a heat box then checked the moisture...2 questions. Can you dry Osage in this manner and if so how long? And what did you use to check the moisture? That's actually 3 questions lol.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’ve never dried Osage that way but I’ve heard of others doing it. It would take much longer than the cedar though. I used a cheap moisture meter you can pick up at most hardware stores. For checking moisture content in lumber.

[@jarridcarter5001]

@@clayhayeshunter awesome thanks! I didn't even know a moisture meter was a thing! What lvl of moisture would you be looking for in an Osage stave?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Under 10%. 5 is about as low as I’d want to go. Dryer wood makes a quicker bow but it’s more prone to breaking.

[@jarridcarter5001]

@@clayhayeshunter 10-4 I appreciate it!

[@isaactheising9276]

Is there a material like this in Indiana I can use? Maybe canary grass?

[@justabill5780]

What diameter cane should be used?

[@BEARivrman81356]

Great! Do you match the weight of the broad heads?

[@clayhayeshunter]

As best I can.

[@randyscott9034]

I’ve made decent broad heads out of two inch steel banding you can find it lying anywhere they are unloading steel or other long heavy freight if your lucky you can pick up enough of it to last a lifetime . Just cut it 3 inches long or however you wish then cut them out with a hacksaw or grinder or whatever you have%

[@desertlifeoutdoors2186]

Clay! I live in southeast Idaho are there any rivercane like plants around where I am?

[@clayhayeshunter]

There’s no cane. But things like redosier dogwood and oceanspray shoots work well for primitive shafts.

[@devindobson8281]

Wow

[@kyletango]

How much are you charging those cows to attend your arrow making class? Looks like the class is full. lol

[@clayhayeshunter]

😆freeloading

[@samuelstephens273]

It is an interesting anvil pattern. Does anyone know what kind it is?

[@matthewprestine1974]

Spending more time in Florida now? Did you move back home?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Just for the winter!

[@itsreallyhairy]

That's fkin awesome bud. Thank you

[@GunsmithRyther]

Can arrows be made from tamarisk/salt cedar?

[@aluptown]

damn i’d like to spend a couple weeks with you to learn

[@jcorrealuna]

The hot glue is commercial or you did it your self? If you did it, can you tell me the components? Thanks again and regards. Julio

[@clayhayeshunter]

It's knox gellitin from the grocery store. It's the same stuff as hide glue. Made from animal skins.

[@jcorrealuna]

Clay, you are saying that if i buy edible gelatine and i heat it, i obtain glue? This blow my mind.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Exactly! Just mix it with warm water and desolve the granuals and you have hide glue. ch

[@allendeanhuscusson459]

What kind of sinew are you use?

[@clayhayeshunter]

This is deer back sinew.

[@bidenisdog8294]

That anvil will be far more enjoyable if you get that clamped down better and will take away alot of the ring out of it.

[@WaschyNumber1]

A shame I can't get river cane in the UK 😔 or grow it.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Might be able to order some

[@MrRextech76]

I have a question for you. I am attempting a osage short bow, has a few knots, I volcanoed the knots onn the back, how about the belly? Should in also leave the knots on the belly volcanoes, or can i get away with shaving them down?.

[@clayhayeshunter]

You can rasp and scrape right over them on the belly.

[@MrRextech76]

@@clayhayeshunter so I can shave them flush on the belly then?

[@MrRextech76]

Thanks for the information clay!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yes

[@MrRextech76]

@@clayhayeshunter thank you again clay!

[@karlwellendorf763]

Great video! I've made cane arrows before but never removed the outer later. Was that to help it dry faster?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yes. It dries much faster.

[@donjackson8816]

A lot is said by your Cows. Don Jackson Remington Magnum

[@WaschyNumber1]

🖖 👍

[@ronpettit7996]

Have you gone hunting with that bow

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’ve taken it a few time but it’s been too wet.

[@dariuswhite2543]

@@clayhayeshunter what do u charge for a real sinew bow string

[@robsarchery9679]

I find it is hard to straighten 100%

[@jeffmichel4312]

how did you learn all this stuff?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Just doing things. And lots of years.

[@gabdion2767]

get a, Morakniv bro..

[@JohnWhite-qk9fm]

What state are you in Clay?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Florida

[@LawnMowerProductions]

Dude got on crocs

[@clayhayeshunter]

Damn scrait!

[@LawnMowerProductions]

@@clayhayeshunter I mean they is pretty cozy, just surprised.

[@bryonguenther6199]

👍

[@gamefactory6227]

hello can you make some arrow heads to me

[@draven3838]

Why didn't you forge the shape you wanted ? Then finish it with a file

[@clayhayeshunter]

Because I’m not that good at the forge!

[@draven3838]

Tha that's ok ,I wasn't with till I decided it would be good to know ,arrowheads are getting expensive

[@team-jl9uq]

Do you sell any of your bows?

[@clayhayeshunter]

No. I give classes though.

[@team-jl9uq]

Wish I could take one of those classes. I am going to order your book. I made the switch from compound bow to traditional this year

[@firstnamelastname8865]

Hey, do you take critique?

[@clayhayeshunter]

What do you mean?

[@fordman7479]

You got an impeach trump add on this video

[@capybara_100]

river cane breaks easily