Main Discussion Area > English Warbow
Norse Shooting Technique
JackCrafty:
Your argument is loosing steam....too early for you? ;)
The Ballinderry bow argument is actually more compelling than your criticism of my latest comments. ;D
My view of a what a longbow is rests on the characteristics and performance of the weapon. Yes, the warbow is what I consider a longbow. It is, after all, called a warbow....a bow of war.....no? And what Viking would say...."No, I do not wish to use a bow that will fire heavy arrows at a great distance! A soldier does not need such a bow! Give me that farmer's bow!!!"?
And those archers in your picture are Normans. The Bretons are facing the other way......maybe you missed your morning coffee?
Actually, I'm being argumentative and unreasonable on purpose. I wish to bring out compelling arguments supporting the use of archery by Vikings....because I'm very interested in the subject. In a lame sort of way. ;D
JackCrafty:
Bueskytter, I went back and read your original post....let me see if I understand: You are basically saying that the Norse favored a "target archery" approach, using bows of long length, and drawing to the face with and anchor point below the eye?
I agree that bows of long length were used in this way during the Viking era....I cannot dispute that. My dispute is with the idea that Vikings (or Norse soldiers in general) used this style of archery during combat.
Bueskytter:
No, I'm saying that in a skirmish where one isn't blindly firing in the enemies general direction but instead picking a target (as can be read in Gunnar's defense of Hlidarendi in Njal's Saga) a chest draw doesn't seem as accurate as a modern target archery draw. I'm not saying they used a modern draw but instead am questioning why they used a chest draw.
JackCrafty:
Well, I've thought about this for a while (and looked at several ancient paintings, sculptures, and statues) and the simple answer is that I do not know why a Norse archer would use a chest draw.
From the limited information we have, there are two things that might be reasons:
1. The Norman archers using a chest draw seem to be in motion. I have personally fired a bow while running and it's difficult to fire the bow using an anchor point on the face....but easily drawn to the chest. The "always in motion" style of fighting fits with the Viking concept of war.
2. To avoid entanglement of equipment...like chin straps, etc.
In any case, it is most likely that the shooting technique (and the type of bow) varied with the situation. ;D
bow-toxo:
Rather than trying to decypher Jackcrafty's fantasy definitions, let's use the definitions as used in the Middle Ages or Renaissance
A bow other than a crossbow is a handbow.
A longbow is a handbow other than a flatbow that can take a draw to the ear or longer. It may have a D, an oval, a lenticular.a trapezoidal, or a rounded rectangular section.
A warbow is an especially strong longbow.
A smallbow is a handbow shorter than a longbow. It may have heatbending.
Both longbows and smallbows have been in use since the stone age. Otzi garried a longbow, and the Danish bog finds had lots of longbows. The big advantage of a longbow is that it has the mass to cast a heavier arriow and weight=penetration.
Surprise ! { mine at least] A point for jackcrafty ! I also find that the Bayeux Tapestry shows smallbows. My longbows, made to mediaeval standards for my size, are 5'11" between nocks. My smallbow, also by mediaeval standards, is 4'8" between nocks. With my height of 5'8" it fits the figures in the tapestry middle if not the margins.
That being said, I am losing interest in what jackcrafty considers a "true" longbow. The"anchor point below the eye" comment makes it clear that teaching him the basics would take more time than I can afford to waste. Btw "Breton' means a person from Brittany, not Britain.
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