Scythian Arrows

[Greenman]

Scythian arrows were apparently 17"-!9" long, they shot them with a 2 fingered release, but how do you shoot an arrow that short? The Scythians obviously did quite well with them, and didn't come unstuck till they met the Samations and Pathians who shot 30" arrows. Just curious how you could shoot consistantly without anchoring the shot. Their war arrowheads had a single tang/barb, whether that could act as a draw stop, or not is a thought, unlikely probably.

[schatzperson]

Interesting fact Greenman.....have just posted a few questions about Scythian bow dynamics, because it seemed to my untrained eye that this bow bends "too much" near the grip if one goes by pictures that show an anchor point and a longer arrow.
If the design really catered only for 17 to 19" arrows, then things are really different after all.
However other short horsebows look like they work in a similar fashion (limbs work near grip area) but with longer arrows !

[yoda]

Merlin Archery; Grozer Old Scythian - Primitive Bow

the pic bottom right looks like a longer arrow and tbh i don't think it looks like the bow is overly stressed around the grip, looks to me that there is enough "spring"(for want of better word) left around the grip area.

i have no experience of these bows but was thinking about getting one to shoot alongside my compound so the more q & a's the better.

cheers

shaun

[schatzperson]

I suppose my saying "overstressed" is a bit too emphatic; I was also considering the "unstrung to fulldraw" angular movement of the lower part of the limbs. Or perhaps its just my inexperience showing!
Are most Scythians you find on sale for 200 Euro odd, of modern composite construction? (glass, carbon etc).

[Quadratus]

If the Scythian arrows really were that short it could be that the bow was only drawn to the chest. Various Greek vase paintings and other artifacts seem to show this, but they are unreliable when it comes to the details of how weapons etc were used.

It might be relevant that most modern horse archers only draw to the chest, but I don't know what their typical arrow length is.

Conversions from ancient measuring systems are notoriously unreliable, and in general ancient arrows don't survive in the archaeology. Where did the figures come from?

[Tael]

Read only the other day a report about a Scythian burial found in the frozen steppes on the China/Russian border area where the grave goods were exceptionally well preserved, that stated the arrows found in the gorytos with the bow were all 34" or longer. Interesting article i'll post a link if I can find it again

[Quadratus]

Originally Posted by Tael

arrows found in the gorytos with the bow were all 34" or longer. Interesting article i'll post a link if I can find it again

That sounds more likely! A link would be great.

[N.Vodden]

Originally Posted by schatzperson

Interesting fact Greenman.....have just posted a few questions about Scythian bow dynamics, because it seemed to my untrained eye that this bow bends "too much" near the grip if one goes by pictures that show an anchor point and a longer arrow.

i know what you mean, ive got 2 horsebows. a Kassai Hun bow and a Grozer Old Scythin. at full draw the Scythian has a really severe limb angle and looks lik its about to snap! but it can easily handle it, its rated to draw another 2 inches more than mine and its nice and comfortable.

and yep i know, arrow is too high on the grip in this shot

[yoda]

Good pic m8, i'm waiting for my kassai wolf III to turn up at the moment. have you got any pics of your kassai at full draw and what weight have you got on both your bows?

cheers

shaun

[N.Vodden]

thats the Kassai Hun. The Scythian is 44lb, the hun is 50lb. The Scythian seems to be faster, but the Hun is a much nicer shot. It feels smoother and not so vicious propelling the arrow!

My wife shoots a Kassai Wolf II @ 30lb, and she loves it. turned her back on recurves after trying my horsebow and shoots entirely trad now.