I don't know if you have paid attention to the remains of ancient Chinese arrows excavated by archaeologists, if you have paid attention, you will find that there are differences between Chinese arrows and many foreign arrows, such as the shape of the arrow part is quite different.
銎式
The shape of many arrows in foreign countries is quite large and stout, the front is the arrow and the back is the casing (set on the arrow shaft, which is the chisel type), while the arrows of many arrows in ancient China are quite strangely shaped, not only the shape of the arrow is relatively slender, and many arrows do not even have a casing, but a slender metal rod is connected to the tail of the arrow (common on the Qin crossbow arrow, which is a collar type), which makes people wonder how this kind of arrow is mounted on the arrow shaft.
In fact, this is a special design, this slender metal rod at the tail of the arrow is called the arrow collar, which is a very useful design, not only more common in China, but also in many places in the world and many ruins, is the embodiment of human ingenuity.
The collar behind the arrow has a great effect, and when it is installed, the arrow collar will be inserted into the arrow shaft (the arrow shaft is generally a hollow bamboo pipe, a reed pipe, or a drilled wooden pole) to fix the arrow, so that the long collar of the core can improve the deflection (rigidity) and strength of the arrow body, and the center of gravity can also be adjusted at will.
The quality of an arrow is largely determined by the distribution of its center of gravity, and the design of the arrow collar can make the arrow in the size of the arrow and the thickness of the arrow shaft unchanged, better adjust the center of gravity, so that the center of gravity of the arrow being shot out is basically kept at one-third, or in the middle of the position, which is more conducive to the balance of the arrow's flight, so that the arrow can fly farther and more lethal.
There are some special arrows, the arrow collar part is also specially strengthened, the length is amazing, and the function of this super long collar is to increase the overall weight of the arrow, increase its lethality, and play the role of a counterweight core. This "heavy arrow" has little advantage in shooting at long range, and can even be too heavy to accurately shoot at distant targets (the rate of fire decreases quickly), but at close range, this super-heavy arrow is incredibly lethal, piercing armor or slicing through human limbs.
This method of increasing the overall weight and lethality of the arrow by extending the arrow collar is very smart, because if you choose to increase the arrow or thicken the arrow shaft, add counterweight to the tail of the arrow, etc., it will increase the wind resistance and wind deviation, and seriously make the center of gravity of the arrow change, thereby affecting the flight attitude of the arrow, so the arrow collar can be said to have many benefits.
However, the arrow collar also has a disadvantage, that is, it is inconvenient to assemble, more troublesome, to drill the arrow shaft, and at the same time, it is not as convenient and fast as the casing arrow when making. Because the arrow collar is made of hard metal, and the arrow shaft must have a certain elasticity (deflection), the arrow collar made of metal will inevitably affect this elasticity, which is why the length of the arrow collar used in the bow and arrow is generally slightly shorter, and the long arrow collar is generally more common in crossbow arrows (the crossbow bolt does not need elasticity to be able to fire steadily and accelerate along the arrow groove).