SCA Dagorhir Arrow Construction Rules

Dagorhir was started in 1977, these rules were finalized sometime around 1980 and have not been changed since. They have proven to be quite adequate in the area of safety and playablity. Archery can be dangerous. Following these rules to the letter does not guarentee your safety. It is best to have someone who has aready made some Dagorhir arrows help you make your first ones. Always inspect every arrow before every time it is used.

General Dagorhir archery rules (a subset of the entire archery rules)

Bows must be of no more than 25# draw weight.
At close range, under 25 feet bows are only to be fired at half draw.
Cross bows are limited to 15# draw weight because they cannot be half drawn.
Bows weight will be measured at checkin with a fish scale.

Arrow rules:

Mended arrows may not be used.
All arrows must have at least two full fletchings (feathers).
All non-aluminum arrows must have their shafts wrapped completely in duct or strapping tape.
There may be no tape covering the striking surface of any arrow.
The Arrow head must not be able to pass through a hole which is 2.5 inches in diameter.
Arrows heads must be constructed according to instructions given below.
Bring extra arrows to check-in, the organizers have the right to select one of your arrows at random and cut it open to see that it was made properly.

Arrow construction rules for Dagorhir.

These rules are used by most of the Dagorhir groups. Many Dagorhir spin off groups also use these rules or some variation of them.

Remove the metal tip.

Roll a one inch width of duct tape around the end of the shaft until the shaft is at least the diameter of a penny.

       ======= -Penny 

          |
          V
        _____
       |#####|
       |#####|
       |#####|
       |#####|\
       |#####| \
         | |   Rolled duct tape
         | |
         | |
         | |
         | |
         | |
         | |

Place a penny on top and secure it well with duct tape. Use several layers.

             Run duct tape straps over top of penny (3 or 4)
            /
       .-###-.
       ||###||
       ||###||
       ||###||
       ||###||
       ||###||
        \###/
         |#|
         ###
         |#|\ 
         | | finish with a wrap around the base to hold the straps down.
         | |
         | |

Place a block of foam 3 inches square on top and compact it firmly. Make sure that this foam is not compacted so tightly that it looses all of it cushioning effect.

   __________________
  /                 /|
 /_________________/ |
 |                 | |
 |                 | |
 |                 | |
 |                 | |
 |                 | |
 |                 | |
 |                 |/
 |_________________/

   |   .-###-.   |
   |   ||###||   |
   V   ||###||   V
       ||###||
       ||###||
       ||###||
        \###/
         |#|
         ###
         |#|
         | |
         | |
         | |

      _________ 
     |%%|###|%%|
     |%%|###|%%|
     |---------|
     |#########|
     |#########|
     |---------|
     |%%|###|%%|
      \%|###|%/
       \|###|/
        \###/
         |#|
         ###
         |#|
         | |
         | |

% - Compacted foam
# - Duct tape

Lastly, fold a 2.5x2.5x8 inch piece of foam loosely over the top, taping the sides tightly, but not the top. Make certain that the head cannot be moved from side to side.

Cross sectional view of final product.

         ___
     _--'   `--_
    -           -
   /             \
  /               \
 /                 \
|                   |
|                   |
|     ____^____     |  ^ - fold point for outer layer
|    |%%%%%%%%%|    |
 |   |%%%%%%%%%|   |
 |   |%.=====.%|   |
  |  |%|#| |#|%|  |
  |  |%|#| |#|%|  |
   | |%|#| |#|%| |
    \|%|#| |#|%|/
     \\|#| |#|//
      \\-| |-//
       \\| |//
        \| |/
         | |
         | |
         | |
         | |

Outside view of final product.

         ___
     _--'   `--_
    -           -
   /             \ 
  /               \
 /                 \
|                   | - open cell, not compressed.
|                   |
|_________^_________|
|###################|
 |#################| - duct tape wrapped around, sides taped tightly.
 |#################|
  |"""----....____|
  |###############|
   |#############|
    \###########/
     \"""--..__/
      \#######/
       \#####/
        \"-_/
         ###
         ###
         ###
         | |

Dagorhir Battle Game Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 7162
Gaithersburg, MD, 20898
dagorhir@charm.net

Permission granted for republication in SCA-related publications, provided author is credited and receives a copy.

Go to index

Created Dec 8 1994 by Aaron Rice (jar22@email.byu.edu)
a Timpview High School student
in partnership with the
David O. McKay School of Education
Brigham Young University