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We nead a Chainmail penetration test!

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D. Tiller:
Interresting, how about at longer ranges. Can the lighter bows with lighter arrows still penetrate at the greater distances? I would think to put an arrow out to 200 or more yards with a 11/32 or 3/8" arrow would need at least 70#'s and maybe 80# weight of draw.  I think the Saxon erra and Norman erra's may be a bit early for the warbow. Seems like it was not untill a bit later when they started using them in massed ranks in battle.

I think if we can get ahold of some chain mail and padding we can mail arround to people with different weight warbow we can have each person test with their own bows at different ranges.

David T

Len:
The test we did was only at 20 metres but the ease of which it went through makes me think that if it had been hit by a plunging arrow at the bows max range it still would have gone through. I think the amount of padding is what will decide the arrow wieght and bow power needed to get decent penertration.In our test the the maille was drapped over some hession covered cardboard as we didn't have any akertons handy, however its worth noting that the wieght of maille (and its a lot heavier then plate armour) will compress the padding underneath to a certain degree lessening its effectiveness and padding over armour doesn't seem to have been common untill mid to late fourteenth C.

D. Tiller:
So if we can find a bow that shoots arround 200 - 240 yards with light arrows with points from that erra we should get a realistic test? Cant wait to try it. Now to put everything together!  ;D

Miles:
I'm posting this picture because it's neat looking target is repo 15th-century Jack with riveted chain mail but the test was performed with too light a bow 65 pounds and arrows were just 3/8" using needlepoint bodkins type 7 made by historic enterprise’s shooting from 40 yards this something one my friends was doing.

He has a Norman Kit and armor but I doubt to let us shoot at that.

The linen jack was 15 layers with wool padding it weighs about as much as a Vietnam era flak jacket the chain now I believe was 8mm riveted.

We've been talking about doing test with the heavier bows 90 plus pounds and bigger 1/2" wararrows but most of the stuff I'm testing is 15th-century but I'll ask the guys I know who studied the earlier time periods pre-12th-century what they used see what I can come up with.

Miles



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Len:
Great photo Miles, great stuff. Just bear in mind that jacks were usually a stand alone armour for lesser troops though I've no doubt those who could afford it would perhaps have worn plate or maille with it though it might be a bit heavy and cumbersome when worn wiyh other armours.

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