Topic: Traditional Korean Arrowheads

Thomas and other experts,

Do you know a blacksmith or a manufacturer of traditional Korean arrowheads?  I am looking for something like these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK_Q96BKsdA to make my own bamboo arrows.

Thanks!

WB

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Re: Traditional Korean Arrowheads

WB,

The Korean fletchers I know make their own trad arrowheads for displays.


T

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3 (edited by Trident 2011-09-19 17:21:38)

Re: Traditional Korean Arrowheads

Bluelake, why do the korean archers frown upon hunting? How did they survive in the past? Who provided wild meat? I know they farmed, but it seems like it was a lost art... I know the butcher at the slaugherhouse is considered a "dirty job", so maybe it has something to do with that, the killing of animals is against buddhist beliefs, (even though every buddhist I personally know eats meat, etc..
Was the bow a primarily military weapon?

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Re: Traditional Korean Arrowheads

Trident,

Prior to the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945), Korea had a long history of bowhunting.  After WWII, when Korean trad archery became popular again, there was a notion that killing a living being with a bow would, somehow, create an "imbalance".  I had long tried to find out when that thought began, but found no definite source.  However, some Korean archers have suggested it might have been a Buddhist idea, while others believe the Japanese started it. 


T

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5 (edited by Trident 2011-09-02 05:30:20)

Re: Traditional Korean Arrowheads

I thought they must have had a long tradition of hunting... I don't think the Japanese are against the hunting, although it may be possible, but I know hunting is not big in japan because they are busy stealing fish from our waters and international waters as well. And the only reason it's not big in Korea is because of strict laws with guns and such, since the war is not over with the north and they are at a constant state of being on guard... I think it may be a modern idea, the Buddhist thing... I say leave it to the monks to find balance, bow hunting is archery at one of it's purest forms.... It runs in our blood, all of us as a human species hunted or fished and farmed for our food and survival, it is the basis for the bow. If a cave man wanted to kill another cave man a club or rock would have been sufficient, but in order to hunt animals effectively, they made spears and that eventually turned into bows to launch spears from a distance and with more accuracy. I Also read about the ban of buffalo horn and sinew. It is the most idiotic thing I have ever heard, or it's time to start a buffalo horn farm, and make some money since there is a ban on importation... Why would they not want to preserve their culture over an outbreak that has been contained? It's just like cutting the balls off of their culthistory. Banning buffalo horn and sinew is going to make a difference in what?? Politicians have forgotten...

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Re: Traditional Korean Arrowheads

Trident,

Yes, there are strict gun control laws in Korea, but, ironically, there are many gun hunters, while the bow has no such restrictions, but no bowhunters, to speak of.  Then, again, there isn't much to hunt in Korea, aside from a few wild boar, deer the size of medium-sized dogs, along with some small game and fowl.

The horn and sinew is another matter.  I doubt waterbuffalo would do well in Korea, considering the winters would not be very agreeable.  Also, the current cattle situation in Korea makes the situation difficult; for backstrap sinew from domestic oxen, the bowyer needs to get slaughterhouses to specially cut it out in full lengths.  It's a difficult and time-consuming process, so most places won't do it; the ones who will charge a premium price for it.  You are right that things need to change in Korea to protect two traditional arts: horn bow and bamboo arrow making.

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I know they designate certain artists as national treasures, amd ive read articles about the korean government assigning titles to certain artists, for korean pottery. I dont know why they dont have a bamboo arrow maker or two as such? I think i read that one bowyer was... Its sad to me.. They have preserved tae kwon do and made it a world wide sport, archery (modern) is dominated by koreans, but their traditional archery is not well protected... Maybe because of the thought of trying to hit a 150 yard target turns people off, lolol... Ok so if water buffalo is not a native animal then how did the ancient korean peoples make their nocks? Or did they use another material? Howdid they acquire horn for hornbows? I have seen noru (deer) and pheasants aplenty on the island of jejudo, but no animals in around seoul...  I know airgun hunting is big there, another of my hobbies... But you are right there arent much species to hunt... I hear about the wild boar outbreak and considering how much damage they do, maybe korea should open a traditional bow only season to help the farmers out.

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Re: Traditional Korean Arrowheads

Trident wrote:

I know they designate certain artists as national treasures, amd ive read articles about the korean government assigning titles to certain artists, for korean pottery. I dont know why they dont have a bamboo arrow maker or two as such? I think i read that one bowyer was... Its sad to me.. They have preserved tae kwon do and made it a world wide sport, archery (modern) is dominated by koreans, but their traditional archery is not well protected... Maybe because of the thought of trying to hit a 150 yard target turns people off, lolol... Ok so if water buffalo is not a native animal then how did the ancient korean peoples make their nocks? Or did they use another material? Howdid they acquire horn for hornbows? I have seen noru (deer) and pheasants aplenty on the island of jejudo, but no animals in around seoul...  I know airgun hunting is big there, another of my hobbies... But you are right there arent much species to hunt... I hear about the wild boar outbreak and considering how much damage they do, maybe korea should open a traditional bow only season to help the farmers out.

Actually, there are a few (bowyers, fletchers, etc.) who have the designation of "Human Treasure"; I'm happy to know some of them.

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Re: Traditional Korean Arrowheads

What I heard from my friends is that korean gov decided that food industry is much much more $important$ than bow things.
Back in my place, Thailand, we have plenty of buffalo horns and butcher who happy to get full size back sinew for you but we have ZERO horn bow maker here.  sad
It 's not against the law to import bowyer from korea but it 's another story.  hmm 
http://www.market2easy.com/adpics/4eeecb844768c4f85cc27fe74.jpg

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Re: Traditional Korean Arrowheads

Instead of starting a new thread, I will continue here.  3Rivers is selling tanged arrowheads now!  As you would expect, the price is way up there: http://search.3riversarchery.com/nav/ca … typoints/0

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Re: Traditional Korean Arrowheads

check here for arrowheads.  there is many.    wink
http://www.bowart.com/

Re: Traditional Korean Arrowheads

Well, they can't be exported out of South Korea  tongue

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Re: Traditional Korean Arrowheads

WarBow wrote:

Well, they can't be exported out of South Korea  tongue

it can be export with arrow shafts  big_smile

Re: Traditional Korean Arrowheads

Thanks to Master Mechwar providing the link, we can see the forked arrowheads in action: http://tvpot.daum.net/clip/ClipView.do? … ce=message

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15 (edited by WarBow 2012-04-24 03:57:08)

Re: Traditional Korean Arrowheads

We can now get stainless steel bodkins for carbon or aluminum arrows!!!  https://ssl.kundenserver.de/www.ot-boge … 74x498.jpg

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Re: Traditional Korean Arrowheads

Not sure if Mr. Poletti's arrowheads are hand forged only, or drop forged and machined, or casted and machined:

http://www.polettiarchery.com/Bamboo/bam22.htm
http://www.polettiarchery.com/Freccia/fre26.htm
http://www.polettiarchery.com/Freccia/fre02.htm
http://www.polettiarchery.com/Freccia/fre06.htm

How about this vendor from Mainland China? http://www.chinabambooarrow.com/product … uctid=1314

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