What Is a Fletcher? The Arrow Maker Explained

A fletcher is a skilled artisan who crafts arrows — from selecting the shaft wood to attaching the arrowhead, fletching, and nock. The word comes from the Old French flechier, meaning "arrow maker." Understanding what is a fletcher helps explain why arrow-making was once considered a highly specialized trade.

Why the Fletcher's Trade Mattered

In medieval times, knowing what a fletcher does was common knowledge — armies depended on them. Arrows were the primary projectile used in battles and hunting, and a skilled fletcher could produce hundreds in a single day. Their expertise was so valued that fletchers were often employed directly by kings and nobles, and granted exemptions from taxes and other obligations.

How a Medieval Fletcher Made an Arrow

Wood Selection and Shaft Preparation

The fletcher began by selecting straight-grained wood — commonly birch, ash, or hazel — then split it into strips using a froe. Each strip was planed and shaved to the correct thickness with a draw knife or spokeshave, and tapered to shape. Any knots or defects were removed before the shaft advanced to the next stage.

Attaching the Arrowhead

Stone and bone arrowheads were socketed over the shaft end and secured with a resin-based glue made from pine pitch, beeswax, and animal fat. Metal arrowheads used a tang — a thin metal extension inserted into the shaft and fixed with glue or binding cord, then hammered to form a retaining barb.

Fletching Attachment

What is a fletcher without feathers? The fletching on an arrow — traditionally bird feathers — was glued or bound to the rear of the shaft. The fletcher carefully sorted feathers for consistent size and trimmed them to length. The two outer feathers were angled slightly differently from the middle feather, creating a gentle spin that stabilized the arrow in flight.

Nock Cutting

Finally, the nock was cut into the shaft's end with a small saw or knife, sized precisely to seat on a bowstring without being too tight or too loose. The arrow crown at the tip completed the shaft at the opposite end.

The Fletcher's Role Beyond Arrows

A medieval arrow maker also repaired damaged arrows, produced crossbow bolts and quarrels, and sometimes crafted other wooden items such as tool handles. Today, the term fletcher still describes anyone who builds or reflethes arrows — whether by hand or with a modern fletching jig. The trade has changed in materials, but the core skill of what a fletcher does remains unchanged.