Curiuosity: SCA arrow/quarrel retrieval?

Gerhard von Liebau · Post by **Gerhard von Liebau** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:41 am

Hello guys,

Just had a question pop into my head. Not significant to me, but something I wouldn't know where to look up to find out. During or after a battle, how do archers go about identifying their own arrows or quarrels and retrieving them? Does everyone put personal marks on their own? I couldn't think of another way... But I can't be sure until someone in the know lets me know!

Cheers!

-Gregory-

Christophe de Frisselle · Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:55 am

http://www.sca.org/officers/marshal/combat/archery/index.html

All arrows shall be clearly marked for identification with the name of the user. For interkingdom wars the name of the kingdom shall be included as well to make it easier to locate the maker/owner of the arrows.

Morgan · Post by **Morgan** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:52 am

The archers I know all put some odd color "thing" on their arrow. It may be a series of color stripes or whatever. They put the same color combo on all arrows, in addition to their names. it's easier to see your own color combo in the same place on every arrow as you go through the pile.

T. Finkas · Post by **T. Finkas** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:49 am

Hold on a sec......you are supposed to RETREIVE your bolts?
<slaps self on forehead>
DOH!!!

iaenmor · Post by **iaenmor** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 1:32 pm

Yes Tim you are. Not quite as expensive a hobby that way.

Like Sir Morgan said, most archers will color code their arrows/bolts to make it easier to find them in the pile. Mine have blue heads with a white and yellow band just below it so I know which are mine. All shafts are required to have the persons name and kingdom on them. In Ansteorra we also require the group or company you come from.

Cap'n Atli · Post by **Cap'n Atli** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:49 pm

At least in modern archery, the series or patern of colored rings around the arrow shaft used for identification are known as "cresting." If you make your own shafts, or buy plain shafts you use your unique pattern. (You can even add it to an already crested shaft.)

In Markland, personal identification not only allowed return of the projectile, but also made it easier to track down the owner when/if there was any construction or structural failure that might effect safety.

iaenmor · Post by **iaenmor** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:04 pm

Valid point Cap'n and one I forgot to add. Also one of the SCA's reasons for have the label on them.

Alecks · Post by **Alecks** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 6:33 pm

In the re-enactmentgroups I encounter all archers colour code their arrows, too. There are a lot of different ways to combine coloured feathers and coloured thread. Some paint coloured rings, too.

After the battle the archers collect all arrows and sort them out together. Even with dozens of archers it's fairly easy to pick out your own arrows. Mine are usually the broken ones, by the way... :roll:

Ah, well... it's ammo.