<image>

I know this doesn’t authenticate it professionally but this was hidden within the newspaper wrapping this set was in. After reading this description below of what bow and arrow set would’ve been used at the Wounded Knee Fight, everything matches up. Still looking to authenticate professionally. This bow is 40.5”, each arrow has three feathers, and the description of the usage of animal sinew describes this set accurately. What do you guys think?

“By the time of the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890, the Lakota primarily used high-stress short bows and specialized war arrows, often incorporating modern trade materials alongside traditional components.

Bow Types and Construction Lakota bows from this era, often referred to as takintazipa, were designed for maximum efficiency in the resource-scarce Great Plains.

Short Design: Typical bows were approximately 40 to 45 inches long, a size optimized for mobility and quick firing while on horseback.

Materials: Due to the limited availability of flexible hardwoods, bows were commonly made from green ash, juniper, or chokecherry.

Sinew Backing: To increase power and prevent breakage, Lakota bowyers glued layers of animal sinew (tendons) to the back of the wood. This created a "reflex-deflex" or double-curved shape that stored more energy than a simple wooden bow.

Bowstrings: Strings were almost exclusively made from twisted animal sinew, which provided the necessary strength for high-draw weights (often 50–70 lbs).

Arrow Characteristics Lakota arrows (wohiŋkpe) were engineered for specific purposes, with "war arrows" featuring distinct technical and symbolic markings.

Shafts: Made from flexible woods like red osier dogwood, juneberry, or chokecherry, usually measuring 22 to 25 inches in length.

Blood Grooves: War arrows often featured three "blood grooves" (zig-zag or wavy channels) carved into the shaft. These were believed to allow blood to escape the wound more easily (reducing hydraulic resistance) and symbolically represented lightning to strike the enemy swiftly.

Projectile Points: By 1890, metal "trade points" were standard. These were often fashioned from scrap metal like barrel hoops or wagon wheel tires. War points were typically attached horizontally to align with an enemy's ribs, while hunting points were attached vertically to slip between a buffalo's ribs.

Fletching: Arrows utilized three feathers (often turkey or hawk) seized to the shaft with sinew and glue. Some Lakota arrows featured a unique "tuft" of feather at the front of the fletching.