Main Discussion Area > English Warbow

Differences in Bodkin points?

(1/7) > >>

D. Tiller:
I was wondering why all the differences in Bodkin points. Can anyone enlighten me on this subject? Seems like early ones were very long then got shorter and tudars look like dart points and then there is one called a heavy war bodkin with a lozeng cross section. What gives?

David T

Lloyd:
Sounds like someone has been looking at Hector Cole's site ;)
The longer more needle shaped points are better for maile. The shorter ones and the lozenge shaped ones are for plate.

For maile since all you are doing is spreading the links out the needle shaped point is more effective. Get the sharp point in the link and the shape of the bodkin will do the rest.
With plate you actually have to break through the armor so the shorter heavier points come into being. The lozenge shape is, I think, one of the later developments in this progression since it concentrates more weight at the very tip of the bodkin. The Tudor point I've never really understood myself. I suspect it's more of a galling point than an armor piercer but I'm not sure.
I always thought that the best maile piercers are the types 7 and 8b. The best for plate are probably the type 8,9 and 10 with the absolute best for plate being the type 9a. Types 10-12 I'm not sure about. I think, like the Tudor head, they are more harassing fire and not serious armor breakers. Maybe Jaro will weigh in since I think he knows this stuff better than I do.

The top point in the 1st pic is a 1/2" hand forged type 9a. The bottom 2 are commercial points that are kind of 9As and are available commercially in the States as crossbow quarrels.

heavybow:
Lloyd nice arrows marlon

Loki:
Hey Lloyd is the 9a the one John forged for you?
The swallowtail's just nasty,poor nags!
Nice arra's mate,are you still using peackock for fletchings?

D. Tiller:
Thanks Lloyd! That helps out a lot. I kind of like those Tudor points. Is anyone making those? If not how do you make them.  I think I saw something on Steve Stratton using those style of points to shoot through plate armor.

David T

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page