Spear Making

Spear making is the bushcraft skill of turning a straight stick into a spear, one of the oldest tools people ever made. You pick a good length of wood, strip off the bark and carefully carve a point with a knife. It's a hands-on way for families to discover how our ancestors hunted, fished and survived in the wild.

The very first spears were simply straight wooden sticks with a sharpened tip. Some early people hardened the point by warming it over the embers of a fire, which dries the wood and makes it tougher.

Later, people tied sharp stone points, often made of flint, onto the end of the shaft. They bound them on with cord made from plant fibres or animal sinew, then used sticky tree resin to help hold everything in place. Joining a point to a handle like this is called hafting.

Some spears were made for throwing and some for thrusting. Fishing spears sometimes had several prongs, which made slippery fish easier to catch.

It starts with choosing the right stick: straight, strong and a good length for you. Hazel and ash are traditional favourites of bushcrafters, as they grow long and straight. Next, you peel or shave off the bark. Then comes the carving. Your Activity Leader shows you how to hold the knife safely and always cut away from your body, taking off thin slivers of wood to shape a long, even taper towards the tip. Slow and steady wins here. Finally, you smooth away any rough bits so the spear feels good in your hand.

Yes. It's a brilliant introduction to knife skills and woodcraft, as long as everyone follows the safety rules. Children learn to take their time, concentrate and respect their tools, and there's a real sense of pride in making something with their own hands. Grown-ups can carve alongside them and swap tips. It sparks lots of questions about how people lived long ago too, which makes it a lovely one for curious minds.

Comfortable outdoor clothes you don't mind covering in wood shavings, plus closed-toe shoes. Long trousers are a good idea, as you'll often sit on the ground or a log while you carve. Tie back long hair so it stays out of your eyes.

You might also like Wood Whittling, Survival Skills and Axe Skills.

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