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Simple question. Can an arrow shot from a bow carry a message? Like I guess rolled up paper around it.

I don't see why it wouldn't.

Sure. Just not very far.

I guess you might be able to tape or glue a messge to it

If you tie it really really really well I guess.

I suppose it could, if you wrapped it really tightly around the arrow. Probably create extra drag & mess up the balance or whatever.

Any experts on aerodynamics here? Come on, there must be.

PS: God, I'm bored.

Of course. But the aerodynamics would be shot to hell.
EDIT: not intentionally, Morrigan.

Darth Yoshi wrote:Of course. But the aerodynamics would be shot to hell.

Is that a pun?

It would have to be wrapped very tightly around the shaft. Any slack at all and it won't hold a straight course.

Would you really want to tie a message to an arrow in modern day?

You don't always have to write down a message. Two years ago someone tried to steal our truck and we used a crossbow on his worthless ass*. He got the message just fine.

Assuming we're discussing paper and pencil type messages, the better you wrap/tie/seal the message to the shaft the better the arrow will fly. Looseness with create drag, which will interfere with both the accuracy of the course and the duration of flight.

* I bought it just for target practice and amusement - honestly wasn't sure it would be powerful enough to do any good, but it was the first weapon at hand.

There are a huge number of specialty arrowheads out there, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone made a hollow one designed as a message tube, and also to maximize flight distance. However, it has relatively limited use to say the least; flag signals and trumpets are far more effective at that range.

Or even signal arrows...

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Or even signal arrows...

Forgot about that! Yes, signals by firing specific arrows, or a burning arrow, or whatnot, have indeed been used.

Didn't various Oriental powers (the Mongols come to mind) use whistling arrows?

Yeah, that's actually what I was refering to in particular. Arrows with reeds attached.

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Yeah, that's actually what I was refering to in particular. Arrows with reeds attached.

IIRC, and I might not, those arrows were used as a psychological warfare weapon, not for signaling.

Why not write the message ON the arrow?

And AFAIK hollow arrows actually existed for this purpose, can't remember where I read that or who used them.

Really? There's a scene in Princess Mononoke, which is set in medieval Japan, where a whistling arrow is used as a signal between troops.

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Really? There's a scene in Princess Mononoke, which is set in medieval Japan, where a whistling arrow is used as a signal between troops.

Hrmm. Apparently the Mongols used for them both (I just checked), and certainly Japan could have picked it up from the continent. Curious.

But then, a volley of arrows is very loud, and has an indescribable shriek. If we're talking about arrows specifically designed to make that louder, more unique, I could see how a few could be used to transmit a message over the din of battle, in retrospect.

Morrigan wrote:I suppose it could, if you wrapped it really tightly around the arrow. Probably create extra drag & mess up the balance or whatever.

Any experts on aerodynamics here? Come on, there must be.

PS: God, I'm bored.

There are a couple of us, yes.

Provided it is done well (taped/ strung closely, or preferably written on the arrow or in a purpose-made groove) there should be little in the way of aerodynamic inconvenience and next to no destabilising effect, even if it is on the tip. This is assuming, naturally, that it isn't a big flowery loose ribbon or something, which would cause all sorts of trouble.

The main factor would actually be it's interference with the structure of the bow. Depending on what you are using the arrow may rest on your fingers or in a purpose-build v-section, designed to provide minimal interference with the arrow as it is launched. The presence of a message, if not tightly-bound, could cause all sorts of problems if it snags.

The Duchess of Zeon wrote:

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Really? There's a scene in Princess Mononoke, which is set in medieval Japan, where a whistling arrow is used as a signal between troops.

Hrmm. Apparently the Mongols used for them both (I just checked), and certainly Japan could have picked it up from the continent. Curious.

But then, a volley of arrows is very loud, and has an indescribable shriek. If we're talking about arrows specifically designed to make that louder, more unique, I could see how a few could be used to transmit a message over the din of battle, in retrospect.

Not really. A bog-standard arrow is not a noisy thing. It certainly doesn't shriek. Even a large number of arrows fired simultaneously wouldn't make more than an indistinct 'woosh', and you would have to be rather close to hear that anyhow. My bow always made far more noise, even at a distance, than the arrow could possibly have managed.

And yes, whistling arrows do exist. Modern ones use a blunt metallic whistling section at the tip. These are the only ones that 'shriek'.

Just fired a note across a field with my compound bow makes a nice whistle too heh

Hrmm. Apparently the Mongols used for them both (I just checked), and certainly Japan could have picked it up from the continent. Curious.

If the Japanese did use them, I'm betting they picked them up during the Mongol invasions.

Yes, I've heard of message arrows.

Yes, I've heard an arrow 'whistle', several times, when a certain SCA gentle is shooting at targets. His long bow fires his goose-feather arrows with such power, the fletchings "whir" at it flies.

in theory, you can make an arrow whistle by adding a reed to the tip, cutting the head in a certain pattern, or by nipping the fletchings to change the pitch of the whir.