And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
English Longbow, in response to a commenter on the Japanese bow posted below. Which is longer?
I wonder what the difference in pull weight is between the English & Japanese bows? Is the length of the traditional bows something to do with the type of wood used?
I have wondered the same. Can’t find the answer. English longbows had draw weights of over 100lbs; some recovered from the Mary Rose were 185lb draw! They shot very thick long arrows, which thus were quite heavy. The double curved compound bows of the Mongolian / Turkish style were around 40lb draw. They used very high tech arrows which were hollow, built from slivers of wood like a bamboo fly rod. They were also tapered front and rear to be highly aerodynamic. I would think they would also be much stiffer than single piece arrows, which would minimize oscillating, which would increase range and accuracy.
All of these bows were good for 400 meters, but the Turkish ones could shoot 594 meters with accuracy. AFAIK they were the only culture that used thumb rings to draw and release. English war bows could pierce armor at 250 yards.
The Japanese used their ears for anchoring instead of the lip for Englishmen and drew long arrows for efficiency. I've read that modern Japan archers can't draw the bows from the 16-1700's. When they became a sport the draw weights went way down. Their bamboo arrows were nearly as light as modern carbon.
I read that the mediaeval longbow had a draw weight of 120lb. That's why archers' remains are easiiy identifiable: they have deformities due to years of stress. I've pulled a 40lb - that was enough!
The wood used is critical for a bow. The shorter the bow generally the weaker the arrow. English Yew wood grows long enough with a straight grain for a long bow. Asian horse bows were short both because of available wood and use on horseback BUT was built Recurve with animal snews for extra pull weight.
Asian horse bows were recurved composite bows, usually made of wood, horn and sinew, so comparing them with English longbows is comparing apples and oranges...
Thanks Larry, One of the commenters who signs him/her/itself Anonymous is after my bum - must've disagreed with/annoyed him/her/it sometime in the past Anyone who follows my comments knows I'm well to the other side of the aisle
When people reply to someone else's comment and don't own it by giving their handle, ignore them. They aren't worth engaging in any meaningful exchange.
I wonder what the difference in pull weight is between the English & Japanese bows?
ReplyDeleteIs the length of the traditional bows something to do with the type of wood used?
I have wondered the same. Can’t find the answer. English longbows had draw weights of over 100lbs; some recovered from the Mary Rose were 185lb draw! They shot very thick long arrows, which thus were quite heavy. The double curved compound bows of the Mongolian / Turkish style were around 40lb draw. They used very high tech arrows which were hollow, built from slivers of wood like a bamboo fly rod. They were also tapered front and rear to be highly aerodynamic. I would think they would also be much stiffer than single piece arrows, which would minimize oscillating, which would increase range and accuracy.
DeleteAll of these bows were good for 400 meters, but the Turkish ones could shoot 594 meters with accuracy. AFAIK they were the only culture that used thumb rings to draw and release. English war bows could pierce armor at 250 yards.
Drew458
The Japanese used their ears for anchoring instead of the lip for Englishmen and drew long arrows for efficiency. I've read that modern Japan archers can't draw the bows from the 16-1700's. When they became a sport the draw weights went way down. Their bamboo arrows were nearly as light as modern carbon.
DeleteI don't know but it's an awful way to die.
ReplyDeleteI read that the mediaeval longbow had a draw weight of 120lb. That's why archers' remains are easiiy identifiable: they have deformities due to years of stress. I've pulled a 40lb - that was enough!
ReplyDeleteThe wood used is critical for a bow. The shorter the bow generally the weaker the arrow. English Yew wood grows long enough with a straight grain for a long bow. Asian horse bows were short both because of available wood and use on horseback BUT was built Recurve with animal snews for extra pull weight.
ReplyDeleteModern materials allow shorter powerful bows.
Michael
Michael
Asian horse bows were recurved composite bows, usually made of wood, horn and sinew, so comparing them with English longbows is comparing apples and oranges...
DeleteAon friend did you even read my comment? Every point you made was "in there".
DeleteLOL wiki is not a reliable source, unless you are liberal
ReplyDeleteAnon, wiki is a decent place to start on non-political topis. Last time I looked, bows and the rest of archery aren't political.
ReplyDeleteI shot an arrow into the air,
ReplyDeleteIt fell to earth, I knew not where;
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
Could not follow it in its flight.
The longest bow I ever saw was one made by a Karankawa Indian
ReplyDeleteExcellent book on the longbow: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/409429.Longbow
ReplyDeleteThanks Larry,
ReplyDeleteOne of the commenters who signs him/her/itself Anonymous is after my bum - must've disagreed with/annoyed him/her/it sometime in the past
Anyone who follows my comments knows I'm well to the other side of the aisle
When people reply to someone else's comment and don't own it by giving their handle, ignore them. They aren't worth engaging in any meaningful exchange.
ReplyDeleteNemo