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Old 12-02-2009, 09:12 PM   #69
Icelander
 
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Iceland*
Default Re: Role of archers in low-tech parties?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Polydamas View Post
Historical quibble Icelander: as far as I know, late medieval longbows are an outlier in terms of the draw weight. Judging by the weight of arrows and design of the bow, Scythian-type bows used in war probably averaged around 50-60 lbs draw for example. I've read of a few examples of low-tech composite bows with draw weights over 100 lbs, but I don't know of any culture where they were standard.
Late medieval longbows also mark almost the sole point at which bows were more than ways to harry and inconvenience an armoured enemy.

I believe that those horsebows which were useful in war were also at 100 lbs. or so. I've at least seen several studies with reproductions of that weight.
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