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>Medieval English longbow archers only used such high draw weights because their arrows had to penetrate thick steel plate armor Experimental archeology shows
by mrob 3y ago
>Medieval English longbow archers only used such high draw weights because their arrows had to penetrate thick steel plate armor
Experimental archeology shows that this was not the case. Arrows could not penetrate thick plate, and could only defeat plate armor by shooting a large number of arrows and hoping to hit a weak point. The Youtube channel "Tod's Workshop" has done many tests with reproduction bows/arrows/armor, designed to replicate typical equipment and technique (featuring archer Joe Gibbs shooting an impressive 160lb draw weight) from the Battle of Agincourt era. Medieval plate armor was highly effective.
Good introduction video is "MEDIEVAL ARMOUR TESTED! - Arrows vs Amour 2":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds-Ev5msyzo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds-Ev5msyzo
- bell-cot 3y agoFirst thought: Arrows that can't quite penetrate the other side's thick steel armor are still a smart strategy - because it's relatively easy to up-muscle your archers and up-draw your bows, to achieve that. Vs. the huge expense and encumbrance of the all the heavy steel armor that the other side has to wear, as protection from your arrows...
- mrob 3y ago160lbs is about the limit for what humans can manage in real battle conditions. Joe Gibbs can shoot heavier than that, but not repeatedly and rapidly for minutes on end.