Arrowheads
Arrowheads are among the oldest tools known to mankind – from the first flint points of the Stone Age, through Bronze Age barbed points, to the hand-forged bodkins of medieval warriors, their design has continually adapted to suit the task at hand. Here at Vehi Mercatus, you’ll find historical arrowheads for collectors, re-enactors and anyone interested in authentic archery accessories.
What are arrowheads – function and basic principle
An arrowhead is the front tip of an arrow and fulfils several tasks simultaneously. Its most obvious function is penetration – whether it be prey during the hunt, armour in war or a target in sport. In addition, the tip protects the shaft from impact: without metallic or stone reinforcement, the wood would splinter on impact and the arrow would become unusable after a short time.
Equally important is its influence on flight behaviour. The weight of the tip determines the arrow’s centre of gravity and thus its flight stability. A tip that is too light causes the arrow to become tail-heavy and wobble; one that is too heavy noticeably reduces the range. Historical archers knew this from long experience – modern re-enactors rely on the same basic principle.
In terms of construction, a distinction is made between attached tips (manufactured separately and fastened to the shaft) and one-piece arrowheads, where the shaft and tip are crafted from a single piece. The latter are found primarily in early history, for example in arrows sharpened from a single piece of wood. The attached variant became the norm because it allows a damaged tip to be replaced without having to discard the entire shaft.
Arrowheads in the Middle Ages – military use and hunting
In the Middle Ages, the arrowhead was a strategic tool. English longbowmen relied on the so-called bodkin at the Battle of Crécy (1346) and at Agincourt (1415) – a slender, needle-shaped tip made of hardened steel, designed to pry apart the rings of chainmail or pierce thinner plate armour. The key lay in the combination of the longbow’s high draw weight (up to 180 pounds) and the concentrated impact energy of the slender point.
For hunting, however, broadheads were preferred, as their cutting action caused rapid bleeding and quickly stopped the game. A blunt bodkin would be counterproductive here – it would wound the animal rather than kill it.
A practical rule of thumb for weight still applies today: approximately 100 grains of tip weight per 20 pounds of draw weight. For a 60-pound bow, that would be around 300 grains (approx. 19 grams). This balance ensures optimal flight stability and sufficient penetrating power. Historical sources and archaeological finds from England, France and the Ottoman Empire also demonstrate how strongly regional differences influenced the shape of the arrowhead: German and English bodkins differ in socket shape and blade geometry from Turkish war arrowheads, which were optimised for the composite bow.
An overview of historical arrowhead types
Bodkin
The bodkin is a slender, square or round needle-point tip made of hardened steel. In its narrowest form (needle bodkin), it concentrates the entire impact energy onto the smallest possible area and penetrates chain mail. The wider bodkin has a more pronounced shoulder and is particularly suitable for softer targets.
Broadhead / Cutting tip
Wide, often double-edged blade points with sharp edges. They cut through tissue rather than piercing it – ideal for hunting red deer, wild boar or in early medieval battles against unarmoured opponents. Historically documented in countless variants, from simple winged points to multi-sided wounding points.
Blunt & Stone Points
Blunt tips made of wood or bone were used for hunting birds and small game without damaging the fur. Flint and obsidian tips are the oldest known arrowheads of all – produced by chipping, sought-after collector’s items and props for Stone Age re-enactments. They were attached using a ferrule or pin-and-sock assembly, or by wrapping with sinew (sinew-binding).
There are two main attachment systems: the socketed tip has a hollow tube that is slid over the tapered end of the shaft and glued in place – robust and suitable for heavy tips. The pin-mounted tip has a pin that is glued into a hole at the end of the shaft. In modern archery, threaded tips are also used, which are screwed into an insert in the carbon or aluminium shaft.
Materials: stone, bronze, iron, steel
| Material | Period / Suitability | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| Flint | Stone Age | Shaped by chipping; conchoidal fracture produces extremely sharp edges; no melting required; a sought-after collector’s item today |
| Obsidian | Stone Age / Antiquity | Volcanic glass; even sharper than flint, but more brittle; rare in Europe, more common in the Mediterranean-Anatolian region |
| Bronze | Bronze Age | First metal used for arrowheads; softer than steel, but cast into malleable forms; socketed shape predominates; scarcely available commercially as a replica |
| Iron (unhardened) | Early Middle Ages | Forged, still relatively soft; sufficient for hunting and light military use; good for decoration and collectibles |
| Steel (hardened) | High Middle Ages | Significantly more durable due to hardening and tempering; historically used for bodkins against armour; replicas for actual shooting |
| Steel (unhardened, replica) | Collector / Decorative | Cheaper to produce; suitable for exhibitions, props and collections; not intended for high-performance shooting |
Arrowheads for re-enactment and collectors – what matters?
- Unhardened steel or stone is sufficient
- Visual authenticity is the priority
- Flint stone tips are ideal as historical props
- No safety requirements for events
- Adhesive mounting or loose attachment is sufficient
- Hardened steel required for penetration power
- Check for a precise fit with the shaft size (5/16", 11/32" etc.)
- Match the fastening type (sleeve, pin, thread) to the shaft
- Many re-enactment events prohibit sharp points in the group area – check with the organiser in advance
- Match the weight to the bow’s draw weight (100 grains / 20 pounds)
Safety note: Arrowheads for actual shooting are not toys. Please observe the applicable legal regulations as well as the house rules of events and shooting ranges. At many medieval camps and re-enactment events, the use of sharp arrowheads outside designated shooting areas is prohibited.
From the Stone Age to the Middle Ages – the history of the arrowhead
Oldest known arrowheads
Finds have been made in the Sibudu Cave in South Africa that are considered to be the oldest known arrowheads in human history. Chipped from quartzite and attached to the shaft with bitumen, they already demonstrate an astonishing technical understanding. We do not know the terms used at the time – archaeologists refer to them neutrally as ‘microliths’ or ‘flint arrowheads’.
Neolithic and Copper Age
Flint and obsidian dominated. The technique of pressure retouching produced thinner, more precise points. The first fastenings were made using birch pitch and sinew. Ancient arrowheads from this era are highly prized in museums and among collectors – finds from the bogs of Northern Europe are particularly well-preserved.
Bronze Age and Early Iron Age
Cast bronze arrowheads gradually replaced stone arrowheads. Casting allowed for more uniform shapes and higher production volumes. In Central Europe and the Middle East, characteristic leaf-shaped arrowheads with a pronounced central rib emerged. The transition to iron began between 1200 and 800 BC, depending on the region.
Antiquity and the Migration Period
Iron points in a wide variety of shapes: Scythian three-bladed points, Roman pilum points, Germanic tulle points. The term ‘bodkin’ has not yet appeared, but the concept of the slender armour-piercing point already exists in various cultures. Ancient armour and weaponry from this era are among the most fascinating areas of weapon history.
Middle Ages – Bodkin, Broadhead, Blunt
The three classic English terms became established: bodkin (from Old English ‘bodkin’ = small dagger/needle) for the slender warhead; broadhead (wide head) for the hunting arrowhead with a cutting edge; blunt (blunt) for the bird arrowhead made of wood or horn. With the spread of bows and crossbows as weapons of mass use, the industrial production of arrowheads in specialised smithies became the norm.
Whether you’re looking for an authentic flint arrowhead for your Stone Age re-enactment or a hand-forged bodkin for your medieval archery project – browse through our range and feel free to call us for advice if you have any questions.
Frequently asked questions
Three types are particularly relevant for re-enactment: the bodkin (a slender needle-point for medieval war re-enactments), the broadhead (a wide cutting point for hunting scenarios) and flint arrowheads for Stone Age or early history re-enactments. It is important that arrowheads are made of hardened steel and are compatible with the shaft size and the draw weight of the bow. For purely decorative and collector’s purposes, unhardened variants are sufficient.
A historically proven rule of thumb is: approximately 100 grains of tip weight per 20 pounds of bow draw weight. For a 60-pound bow, this would be around 300 grains (approx. 19 grams). A tip that is too light destabilises the arrow’s flight, whilst one that is too heavy reduces range and the flatness of the trajectory. For collector’s items, weight plays no practical role.
This depends heavily on the specific organiser and the intended use. Many re-enactment events and medieval markets only permit bows in designated shooting areas, and sharp arrowheads are generally prohibited outside these areas. Before the event, you should always check directly with the organiser to find out which types of arrowheads are permitted.
The oldest archaeologically confirmed arrowheads were found in the Sibudu Cave in South Africa and are around 64,000 years old. They are made of quartzite and were shaped by chipping. In Europe, flint arrowheads from the Upper Palaeolithic period (around 30,000 years ago) are known. These artefacts are regarded as evidence of complex craftsmanship long before the invention of metal.
Stone Age arrowheads are referred to in archaeology as microliths, flint arrowheads or – depending on the material – as flint tips or obsidian tips. Authentic archaeological finds are protected by law in many countries and may not be traded. Modern flint replicas, such as those available from Vehi Mercatus, are, however, ideal as collectables, props or for historical re-enactment.