ARROWS vs ARMOUR – Medieval Myth Busting
160lbs ENGLISH WARBOW shoots FULL WEIGHT MEDIEVAL ARROWS at reproduced MEDIEVAL ARMOUR. Find out what happens!
The English longbow is laden with myth; of its origins, its power, its achievements. The centuries that have passed since it was used in earnest, means that the knowledge of what the bow was actually capable of doing, has also passed. The captains and commanders that once knew its’ true power in physical and in military terms, are long dead. The knowledge is lost and it is time to rediscover what it can and cannot do.
Longbow 160lbs (73Kg) mountain yew English Longbow based on those found on The Mary Rose (sank 1545). Bow was shooting 80g (2.8oz) arrows at 55ms (180fps) at 10m, giving 123J and 52ms (170fps) 109J at 25m Distance 10m 25m 11yds 27yds Speed 55ms 52ms 181fps 170fps Energy 123J 109J 91ftlbs 80ftlbs
Arrows The first arrow type we used was MR80A764/158. The diameter at the shoulder was 12.7mm (1/2”) tapering to a nock of 8.5mm. Total length was 30.5” The second arrow type was MR82A1892/9. The diameter at the shoulder was 12.9mm (1/2”) and the nock was 7.5mm. Same total length. The shafts were black poplar (Populus Nigra) and ash (Fraxinus Excelsior). Fletchings were swan, bound with silk into a beeswax, kidney fat and copper verdigris compound. Heads were wrought iron, copied from MoL Type 9 7568 Arrows weighed 80g (2.8oz)
Breastplate Based on the Churburg 14 piece. The reproduction is made from 0.5% carbon steel and air cooled and is of variable thickness. The front and centre is 2.5mm (3/32”) thick and it tapers down to 1.5mm (1/16”) at the sides and edges.
Fast forward as Tod continues his research…