Main Discussion Area > English Warbow

New Article on Blunts and their use in medieval archery

<< < (5/9) > >>

Yeomanbowman:
I think people are mixing up 2 issues here.  Will is not saying that the idea of making blunts like this is anything ground breaking or that they fly well.  We made one as a prize arrow based on the Luttrell Psalter illustration for a prize arrow in 2012 and it shot well.
http://warbowwales.com/#/wye-valley-historical-2012/4568060192
 
I think the innovative idea here is the theory about why there are very few arrowheads found and how widespread blunts were in medieval times.  That's very interesting and something I'd never really thought about.  I wonder, as metal became cheaper, are more arrowheads are found?

(edit due to poor spelling!)

mikekeswick:
Will - You came across as though this is something new - it isn't. I've made loads of blunts and shot them out of lots of different bows. Blunts fly well. If the shaft is right they will fly right. As for 'construction' the strongest way is to use split timber shafting - as you round the shaft from square just leave the end big and then carve it to whatever shape you want. Or make the shaft then get a small block of wood and drill a shaft sized hole in it.
Just about every bow wielding culture in the history of the world has used blunts. Once you can't just buy fancy broadheads you start to realise they take effort to make and are easy to break.
As for blunts not being deadly....I wouldn't like to get shot in the head with one ;D

Del the cat:

--- Quote from: Yeomanbowman on January 21, 2015, 09:18:55 am ---I think people are mixing up 2 issues here.  Will is not saying that the idea of making blunts like this is anything ground breaking or that they fly well.  We made one as a prize arrow based on the Luttrell Psalter illustration for aprize arrow in 2012 and it shoot well.
http://warbowwales.com/#/wye-valley-historical-2012/4568060192
 
I think the innovative idea here is the theory about why there are very few arrowheads found and how widespread blunts were in medieval times.  That's very interesting and something I'd never really thought about.  I wonder, as metal became cheaper, are more arrow heads are found?

--- End quote ---
Oh, dear.
I did post earlier but deleted as it was rather negative.
BUT
The Idea that blunts being used for practice is in some way an explanation for the lack of steel heads found at battle sites is nonsensical.
Del

WillS:

--- Quote from: mikekeswick on January 22, 2015, 03:42:15 am ---Will - You came across as though this is something new - it isn't. I've made loads of blunts and shot them out of lots of different bows. Blunts fly well. If the shaft is right they will fly right. As for 'construction' the strongest way is to use split timber shafting - as you round the shaft from square just leave the end big and then carve it to whatever shape you want. Or make the shaft then get a small block of wood and drill a shaft sized hole in it.
Just about every bow wielding culture in the history of the world has used blunts. Once you can't just buy fancy broadheads you start to realise they take effort to make and are easy to break.
As for blunts not being deadly....I wouldn't like to get shot in the head with one ;D

--- End quote ---

Did you read Jeremy's comment, above yours?

By the way, it's the natural fibre binding that you see on originals I'm most interested in. 

Del, you appear to have misunderstood the entire focus of the article - arrow heads are found all over battle sites - there are hundreds of them - but never found in places where archery would have been practiced.  Towns, villages, open areas not associated with military conflict.  That's where Mark is saying blunts would have been used, because steel heads aren't found there.  It's got nothing to do with battle grounds.

Del the cat:
Oh, right my bad :-[...
But... all I can say then is the article is poorly (over wordy) written as it gives the wrong impression.
I quote the following two complete sentences from early in the article.

"Still metal detecting, he began to search for metal arrow heads, which is fairly logical, being that they are the only metallic component of the weapon and projectile. Mark had previously noted that such finds were reasonably rare given their widespread use in a military context during the medieval period. "

People don't seem to know how to write a clear concise report these days :(.
Brief abstract giving the main points.
Body of the report.
Conclusion.

Will...
You managed to sum it up in one short sentence  :)...
" arrow heads are found all over battle sites - there are hundreds of them - but never found in places where archery would have been practiced."
It's a shame the article couldn't have said that in the intro!

Maybe it would have read better in hard copy, and I do have a propensity for speed reading.
Del

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page