The 5 Parts Of An Arrow

Are you an archery enthusiast looking to take your skills to the next level? Do you know all the parts of an arrow that can impact your aim and accuracy? Let’s dive in and explore the anatomy of this ancient weapon!

Although the concept of using bows and arrows in warfare is now old, they haven’t lost their popularity for hunting, sports competitions, and even recreation. People are still looking for the best bows and arrows available in the market and online.

Bows and arrows can have different features depending on the model and company, but there are some basic components of every bow and arrow.

Parts of an arrow

The basic parts of an arrow include:

Arrow shaft
Nock
Fletching
Arrowhead/point
Crest

While the basic parts of a bow are:

Grip
Limbs
String groove

Although various types of arrows are made of different materials, including wood, aluminum, carbon, and fiberglass. People use them for different purposes, these components are the primary constituents of every type of arrow.

Besides, checking the quality of material used to manufacture the arrow ensures that each part’s design and quality is reliable for your type of archery before buying. You can read about these five parts of an arrow in the following article in detail.

1- Arrow Shaft

The shaft plays an important role in the performance of an arrow. Therefore, it is really important to look for the quality of the shaft. It is mostly made up of aluminum, carbon, fiberglass, or wood. These materials determine the stiffness of the shaft. Stiff shafts are better as they are more durable and let the arrow fly straight at your target.

Also, the weightage of an arrow depends on its shaft. A stiff shaft works well for shooting with power. While lightweight shafts are easier to draw and you can shoot with speed. Moreover, they are not useful if you need to shoot with a more powerful impact, like for hunting.

2- Nock

The part located at the lower end of an arrow is held at the string of a bow to draw the arrow and shoot it. This part is known as the nock of the arrow. To match the quality and size of strings of different types of bows, nocks come in different shapes and sizes and are made of different materials.

For reliance, a nock should be suitable for the size of the string of the bow so that it adjusts perfectly and shoots the arrow on target.

Shapes of the nock

Conventional nock
Press fit nock
Pinnock
Over nock

3- Arrow fletching

Arrow fletching is the feathers located at the end of the shaft. They are also known as vanes. Out of three vanes, two are of the same color, known as Hens, while one is different and named cock feather. They help the archer determine which way to draw the arrow. For drawing an arrow, the simple technique is to keep the different colored vane away from the bow.

Furthermore, there were only feather fletchings back then, but now companies use synthetic material to make vanes. However, feather fletchings have not vanished completely; most hunters still prefer to use these.

4- Arrowhead

Arrowhead or the point is the tip that is made of a blade. It has different parts, including the blade, body, base, and tip as the main components, with minor differences for different types of arrows.

These arrowheads are designed differently to be used specifically for a specific type of hunting. The common types of arrowheads are:

Broadhead points

Broadheads are specially for hunting purposes. Their blades and tips are designed in such a way for max penetration.

Blunt points

Besides broadhead arrows, blunt arrows are also used for hunting small targets such as rabbits. These are designed to kill such small targets on the spot and not for penetration.

Field points

The third type, field points, are not very much for hunting. They are designed for beginners to practice and remove from the target after shooting easily.

5- Crest

The crest is the marks on the shafts that symbolize the manufacturing company of that certain arrow. They also have model numbers and measurements written on them. They look like decent designs on the arrows.

FAQs

1- What is the tip of an arrow called?

The tip or point of the arrow is called an arrowhead. It is made up of numerous sorts of blades that are used for diverse purposes.

2- What are the parts of an arrow?

The five main parts of an arrow are:

Shaft
Nock
Crest
Fletching
arrowhead

3- What are the sides of an arrow called?

Fletchings or feathers are attached to the sides of the arrow. There are three of them in all, two of the same color and one of a different color. They allow the arrow to fly smoothly in the air

4- What part of an arrow does the tip screw into?

The tip screw into the shaft, or for some arrows, an insert is attached between the shaft and arrowhead for joining them.

Conclusion

While looking for a bow and arrow, keep in mind the purpose of your usage. The most important thing about a shaft is its stiffness, weight, and length. At the same time, other parts are mostly designed to be used with it competently. As a result, you won’t have to look far to discover them. However, if you like to utilize different parts, you can do so.

Additional Common Questions

What are the 4 parts of the arrow?

The four integral parts of an arrow are the **Point, Shaft, Fletching, and Nock**. Each of these parts plays a vital role in an arrow’s flight and accuracy. The point is the tip of the arrow which penetrates the target. The shaft is the spine of the arrow. It provides stability and weight to the arrow. The fletching, which often includes feathers or modern plastic vanes, is found near the tail end of the arrow and helps maintain a straight flight path. The nock is the slit at the end of the arrow, which holds on to the bowstring until the archer releases it. Knowing and understanding these four parts allows us to modify or repair an arrow if necessary and improve its overall performance.

What is the crest on an arrow?

The arrow’s crest, a term mostly used by archery aficionados, is marked with essential information such as the manufacturer’s name, the arrow’s model number, and sometimes the diameter and thickness of the arrow shaft. The **Crest** is a kind of identity proof for an arrow. Therefore, the next time you see inscriptions on an arrow, make sure to read them as it carries details about its make and specifications.

What are the parts of the arrow called?

In archery terms, an arrow comprises four crucial parts – the **Point, Shaft, Fletching, and Nock**. The point, also colloquially known as the head, is the sharp tip of the arrow designed to penetrate the target. The shaft is akin to the body of the arrow and provides the arrow its weight and balance. The Fletching, consisting of feathers at the end of the arrow, lends stability to the arrow’s flight. Finally, the nock is the small cut at the end of the arrow that grips the bowstring until it’s released. These parts come together uniquely to form an arrow, making it a simple and effective tool in the sport of archery.

What are the three parts of a bow and arrow?

A traditional archery bow is generally composed of three main parts: the **Riser (grip, sight window, and arrow rest)**, limbs, and string. The riser is the middle part where the archer holds the bow. The grip’s size varies by the riser’s length and should fit comfortably in your hand. The sight window is usually cut out from the riser and allows archers to aim accurately. The arrow rest offers a surface for the arrow to rest upon while aiming. The limbs are flexible parts attached to the riser, and the string connects both ends of the limbs. Let me share a personal anecdote here. When I first started my journey with archery, what fascinated me was how these separate pieces come together so beautifully to form the bow and how each part played a significant role in the aim and accuracy of the bow. Isn’t it amazing?