Main Discussion Area > English Warbow
Medival iron point question (Re post)
WillS:
Del, I don't think hunting stories would tell us anything unless they're hunting with warbows. The power and impact is vastly different. I really do think a horse is going to "hit the deck" if it gets shot with a warbow. I'm not suggesting it will fly backwards in some ludicrous Hollywood style cartwheel, or miraculously crumple either but it's not going to carry on without noticing, which is what I've heard happens when something like a deer is shot with a knitting needle arrow from a compound bow.
I reckon if you punch a big enough hole through a horse it's going to bleed out pretty damn fast, or panic and cause complete mayhem around it before dropping somewhere. I suggest we try a few experiments - there are plenty of riding schools where I live, I'll see if they have any suitable horses for shooting at.
son of massey:
To be fair, killing the horse isn't probably necessary. As was mentioned, if they get hit they will know it. And a horse, after getting hit and noticing it, is not going to be the best behaved animal and the rider, even if uninjured, is probably going to have a difficult time actually directing the animal. For all intents and purposes, at that point the horse is out of the fight and killing it is, literally, overkill.
I agree that specialized arrow types is unlikely, especially as the archers were likely asked to shoot when the enemy was at their maximum range but not necessarily at a range where the archers would be accurate enough to target individual soldiers or limbs or the rider atop the horse...
SOM
Del the cat:
Yup +1
I'll go along with that... I was just objecting to the phrase "drop a horse"
Del
meanewood:
One point I'd like to make is, a lot of the topics we discuss concerning medieval archery are based on little or no evidence.
That's fine , we all come up with our own theories and ideas in order to fill in the blanks.
Many of us conduct experimental archaeology without even realising it.
When, however, we have contemporary paintings that show a certain arrowhead, a type of nock or even apparent reflex in bows, we should not dismiss it easily as artistic licence.
Why ignore what is starring us in the face, unless there was proof otherwise.
Pat B:
There is a difference in hunting broadheads and warfare broadheads. IMO For a hunting head you want a well placed shot with an extremely sharp broadhead for fast, humane kill. In warfare a serious wound usually requires one or two healthy folks to care for the wounded soldier, taking them out of the fight. Back in medieval times I doubt that a humane kill mattered.
I've seen pics of these crescent heads, both in medieval European and ancient Asian arrow and wondered what they were used for.
Just seeing one in use would scare the heck out of me, but I'm a chicken when it comes to warfare. ;D
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