Main Discussion Area > English Warbow
Warbow myth?
Kegan:
I doubt it's a complete myth. I've seen what heavy arrows do mean things form strong bows- most of which aren't nearly as big and strong as what they used for war.
Loki:
But 4 finger's of Solid Oak may be stretching it a bit ;D,Some old Oak you cant even hammer nail's into it's so hard!
There's also one what say's the arrow penetrated the rider's thigh armour went through his saddle and killed his horse! Pinning him to the beast ;D.
Is anyone making Bow's out of Wych Elm? (Ulmus glabra) There's not many of them about around here anymore due to dutch Elm Disease,does it grow in America?
markinengland:
I would say that the tale is based upon the fact that the arrows penetrated a suprisingly thick door. If it hadn't been a real feet that was hard to believe it wouldn't have been rememberd and reported.
I think I have some Wych Elm, cut here in Kent. It split a lot easier than other Elm I have cut in the past, which i think is one of Wych Elms characteristics. I am making a flatbow with an axe and it cuts easier than english elm as well. I have some other staves of this "elm" drying so will try a longbow one of these days.
The being pinned through the legs and killing the horse is possible. The North American plains indians could apparently ride alongside a buffalo and shoot it, the arrow going through and killing the calf running beside it.
Mark in England
adb:
All sorts of wonderful stories exist. Hard to know what is true. I'm sure most of them are, but some embellishment must be expected.
sumpitan:
Lots of wych elm here. I've made two narrow, bend-through-the-handle flatbows out of the wood, and now have a 72" trunk seasoning I'm trying to coax 70#@30" out of, more or less in ELB style. A very bendy wood, not too strong in either compression or tension it seems (seen lots of mysterious breaks in clean wych limbs) and a real bitch to try to line up the tips and string of a long, narrow bow out of a smallish tree. Wych elm likes to bend every wych way!
Tuukka
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