Brainiac - Archery Myths

[Furface]

A couple of folk have mentioned to me that there was a recent programme in this series that "debunked" archery stories (such as William Tell). Of particular interest to me was a bit on Odysseus and the axe test, which, if I have been told aright, they missed the point of (IMHO). Anyone know any details?

[Tarkwin]

I saw this one a while back

If I recall they tried several myths

the 'robin hood' - they failed to reproduce this one, only occasionally being able to even hit another shaft. Though I can't recall if they used a field point or a broadhead.

the william tell, they proved that it would be possible to do this

the axes stuck in wood to produce a tunnel and then loosing an arrow through the tunnel, they failed to do this....the arrow would impact one or more of the axe handles.

'Mythbusters' also tried to replicate the arrow split from nock to pile Robin Hood, with no success, they used a compound securely mounted and a remote mechanical release. They made many attempts loosing at individual and groups of shafts. They were unable to fully replicate the nock-pile split as the shaft impacted would flex and then only a chunk would be cut out.

I wonder if this is partially down to the production methods of modern dowel as much as anything else.

T.

[h20vrrq]

the axes stuck in wood to produce a tunnel and then loosing an arrow through the tunnel, they failed to do this....the arrow would impact one or more of the axe handles.

I'm sure I remember this being done successfully on TV quite a few years ago, on a game show or something similar.

[Marcus26]

The problem with many of these tests is that they don't use top class archers with experience.
William Tell is of course possible.
Shooting through a tunnel is also possible
Splitting down teh length of the shaft would be dependent on pile, nock and shaft construction. But I would say it is possible, but would be difficult to replicate. Also high poundage would be required.

[Windknot]

The arrow that was split on "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (the one starring Errol Flynn) was done the old fashioned way- by shooting real arrows. The archer was one Howard Hill- apparently an above average archer ;-) It took a few days of shooting, but he finally got a split that pleased the director. And a few that didn't.

Marcus, you don't need tons of power to split an arrow- what's more important is good arrow flight.

The grain runout that is so prevalent in POC now shafts pretty much precludes a good Robin Hood, but I'd like to see what can be done with something like Scots Pine, self nocks and a decent broadhead. Care to send us some Ribteks?

[Marcus26]

No I m thinking to split one from pile to point would require a fair bit of power due to the resistance from the wood.

[Tarkwin]

Originally Posted by Marcus26

No I m thinking to split one from pile to point would require a fair bit of power due to the resistance from the wood.

unless you had one where the head hit the grain in just the right spot, just like splitting logs or slate, one tap and it's gone.

T.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Marcus26

The problem with many of these tests is that they don't use top class archers with experience.

IIRC, Marcus, it was AIUK member English Bowmen who was the archer on the Brainiac tests and I wouldn't say he was inexperienced

[Marcus26]

Hey that's cool, I'll have to see if I can watch it now.

Originally Posted by Dave

IIRC, Marcus, it was AIUK member English Bowmen who was the archer on the Brainiac tests and I wouldn't say he was inexperienced

[Cimbian]

Originally Posted by tarkwin

the axes stuck in wood to produce a tunnel and then loosing an arrow through the tunnel, they failed to do this....the arrow would impact one or more of the axe handles.

I thought is was the 'sockets' of the axe-heads. If this is the case then there would be no handles.