Ranting and Raving

[stevesjem]

Hi everyone,

First of all i must apologise for all my ranting on some of these threads, i just get a bit tired of people saying stuff they have no idea about, people seem to use these forums as a way of living out there archery fantasies and trying to get others to believe their own agendas and unfounded ideas about what is probably the only weopon to have actually changed our English history.

If you don't know ask, don't guess, if you answer, answer with proof, not with gueswork. There is a lot we can learn from intelligent debate, but please stop with the guess work.

Again I apologise.

Nice one Steve, guessing is not much good to anyone. Answers based on evidence and real experience in the best ay to go.

With regards to the longbow being the only wepon to change the course of English History, hmmmm I think there may be a few more to add to the list of blood and guts.

[clickerati]

Can I make a suggestion that you create an introduction thread in Intro Forum. That will give you the opportunity to give everyone your background.

Cheers

[gino]

Hi Steve,

It's always good to know that someone is offering advice or knowledge, especially if you ask as many questions as I do. (To the annoyance of many)

But here's a question for you. I recently made these arrows:



And I'm quite sure I know the purpose for each of the arrowheads, but would you be willing to describe what you believe they're for and I can compare to what I've been told/read.

Cheers,

Gino.

[stevesjem]

Hi Gino,

My Definitions for these arrow heads are:
1) Long Bodkin.... Used against Mail and Padded Jacket, this is not armour pearcing.
2) Birding Head or Gauling/Fowling head.... The best information i have had regarding this head came from Hungary where this shape head was used for Poaching...The Reason, if you hit your quarry it will cause massive damage, If you miss your arrow will not get lost in the undergrowth as the shape will not allow it to slide under the ground cover.
3) This is a Small replica of a Type 10 Bodkin... this would penetrate light weight armour, you would need something bigger and Lozenge shape to penetrate heavier armour.
4) Is a Hunting Head.
5) Fire Cage, stuff it with some material (Linen for example) soaked in oil with a small burning ember in it, this will ignite as it is loosed from the bow and burn for a long time.
6) This one, i'm not sure, i have not seen any originals of these so i would not like to speculate.

Hope this is helpfull.

These all look like small replicas, are the sockets on these 1/2"?

[gino]

That's pretty much the same as what I thought before. I've also read mention of the 2nd one being used to stop cavalry. The arrowhead causing a lot of pain and stopping the horse. (Not cutting tendons, that's too unlikely)
The last one has been debated and my personal opinion is that it's taken the properties of the first and third one. It's got piercing ability but also has some weight behind it to give it a bit of a punch like a bodkin.

[Matt Easton]

Isn't the last one an earlier type? I have seen examples like that associated with 6th-11th century finds. I thought that it was just an earlier form of military head. Does anyone know of that last (on the right) type from 14th-15th century contexts?

Cheers,
Matt

[Furface]

Originally Posted by stevesjem

... probably the only weopon to have actually changed our English history....

I think the odd Roman Legionary may have some thoughts on that:

[TJ Mason]

Originally Posted by stevesjem

...probably the only weopon to have actually changed our English history.

I think you'll find most weapons changed English history at some point. The British Empire was built on firearms and cannons, not bows and arrows. And the possession of nuclear weapons has been a key influence on our history for the last 50 years or so.

[Matt Easton]

Originally Posted by Furface

I think the odd Roman Legionary may have some thoughts on that:

Actually, no.. because the English were Angles and Saxons living in northern Germany and Denmark at that time.

Matt