What about historical archery?

[Jonathan Scott]

I have some questions: I haven't seen anything on this site yet that covers medieval/renaissance archery. I know ARMA focuses more on the use of the sword, but all I know about when I hear of medieval archery is english longbows (hundred years war, agincourt, etc), robin hood (legends of good archers), and crossbows. (with some misconceptions or questions in between, like could someone split an arrow from nock to tip (busted on a mythbusters episode cause the arrow kept bouncing out even when fired at point blank, if it hit at all), and what were longbows really capable of?) Are there any articles on archery on this site? (or on a few other good sites that you could give me a link to?)
I think archery shouldn't be overlooked when looking at the realities of medieval combat, with arrows, quarrels, and such zipping around the place. I think a knowledge of how to use bow and arrow (probably not too different from archery today, only longbow was much harder to use cause it required so many pounds of pressure, and I'm wondering what other training techniques did they do other than fire at stationary targets like you see today) and what damages an arrow or other such projectile can do at various ranges could improve our knowledge about (development of etc)certain armors and medieval or renaissance tactics.
So what are your thoughts on this?
Where can I go to find out more about this?
do any ARMA members practice archery as well?

[Shane Smith]

I'm a big fan of archery.There are a few good threads on this forum on the subject. Use the search function. <img src="/forum/images/icons/cool.gif" alt="" />

[ChrisThies]

"Arms &amp; Armor of the Medieval Knight" by David Edge &amp; John Paddock, from the ARMA recommended reading list:
http://www.thearma.org/RecommendedList.htm
is an excellent comprehensive work. It also addresses some of your basic archery inquiries (specifically in Chapter 4). I've inadvertantly encountered alot of crossbow info recently, if you had specific ?'s there.

[John_Clements]

We focus on close combat fighting arts and the source material on them.
There are plenty of efforts already dedicated to historical archery and for mounted combat.

[Jonathan Scott]

oh ok! <img src="/forum/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" />
thanks for clearing that up John!
(oh and I found a few old threads with some archery info, thanks for directing me to the search function <img src="/forum/images/icons/tongue.gif" alt="" /> )

[Chris Moritz]

Robin Hood (May 14, 2010)

http://www.robinhoodthemovie.com/

Some hints of the weapons and armour in the trailer, including, of course, long bows, bodkins.

At sea, it showed an 12th Century cog, but did I also see some type of wooden landing craft with oars and a gated bow? (Edit a bit)

[nathan featherstone]

hi i have been an archer now since i was twelve and have never shot anything else than longbow and my 16th century flat bow.
it was what got me onto the world of wma
i could do my best to answer all i can i have a good knowledge of the crossbow too not much hands on sadly due to the laws over here they are not legal really but hopefully one day. as for books on it the book of the crossbow was amazing its about 100 years old and a lil dated but it had about everything you could imagine on the crossbow east west and in between.
as for the longbow i would be glad to help i only shoot a 60 pounder but have done a few tests with it was hoping to move up and double it but due to lack of time i cant train with it as much as i would like so cant be done just yet.
i do have i think a tudor manual on English archery on my pc somewhere if your interested i could try find it.
and dont forget the sling its always forgotten but its great and never tested or talked about.

[Jaron Bernstein]

I have some questions: I haven't seen anything on this site yet that covers medieval/renaissance archery. I know ARMA focuses more on the use of the sword, but all I know about when I hear of medieval archery is english longbows (hundred years war, agincourt, etc), robin hood (legends of good archers), and crossbows. (with some misconceptions or questions in between, like could someone split an arrow from nock to tip (busted on a mythbusters episode cause the arrow kept bouncing out even when fired at point blank, if it hit at all), and what were longbows really capable of?) Are there any articles on archery on this site? (or on a few other good sites that you could give me a link to?)
I think archery shouldn't be overlooked when looking at the realities of medieval combat, with arrows, quarrels, and such zipping around the place. I think a knowledge of how to use bow and arrow (probably not too different from archery today, only longbow was much harder to use cause it required so many pounds of pressure, and I'm wondering what other training techniques did they do other than fire at stationary targets like you see today) and what damages an arrow or other such projectile can do at various ranges could improve our knowledge about (development of etc)certain armors and medieval or renaissance tactics.
So what are your thoughts on this?
Where can I go to find out more about this?
do any ARMA members practice archery as well?

These folks appear to take an ARMA approach to the bow.

http://www.englishwarbowsociety.com/

They might be able to answer your questions

[Matt Bryant]

i do have i think a tudor manual on English archery on my pc somewhere if your interested i could try find it.

That would be great!

[Nicholas Moore]

I think the study of all renaissance weapons, close combat or not, are important to historical reconstruction of martial arts and tactics. I would love to see that Tudor manual, I've been practicing archery since I was 8. Archery was what got me interested in RMA originally as well.

[nathan featherstone]

hey guys glad to say found the manual lost it off my laptop but found it and another one here under archery http://www.middleages.hu/english/martia ... apon_27=ON
have not looked at it to well but plan to tell me what you guys think. as for archery there are still orders in England such as the fraternity of saint George actively training and so on what would you like to see from this though as im an archer myself and love all things to do with it.

[Keith Culbertson]

well thank you Nathan for finding that; even without images, it is an interesting look at an English POV on the history and use of the bow; I have a reproduction yew Norse hunting longbow and some Czech-made arrows and have been slowly getting into putting into more action

[nathan featherstone]

no problem it is good to see how the English viewed it at the peak of its use. im a big fan of archery myself would love to have a nice yew longbow myself have all the specks laid out. hope everyone enjoys the manual.