medieval arrows vs armor - cool test video
 

OK, I'm sure no one is going to be surprised by the results, but this is still really cool.
They use authentic (as far as they can tell) reproductions (using period correct materials and methods) of the bow, arrows, arrow heads, and armor. They then shoot the arrows at the armor complete with under garments and ballistic gel.

I thought the whole thing was very interesting.


<iframe width="720" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DBxdTkddHaE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

160 lb draw on a long bow? That takes some serious strength.

I went to a medieval weapons museum in Dresden long ago. Geezus, those were hard men and hard times. I'd rather die by any modern weapons than some of those devices.

^^^Similar story Rick. I went to a museum at Gettysburg as a kid. I just remember all of the bone saws. Shiver...

That's what I was thinking. "I can shoot 160# all day." And he can shoot 200#, but after a few shots he's knackered and can't do anything else.

90# on a compound nearly made me poo myself back when I was young and strong!

I always get a kick out of the old long-bows, really an impressive feat to use one and you can understand why a good bowman took a long time to train up.

Amazing how that simple "V" had so much effect on the debris.

Thanks for sharing that video.
I did some archery shooting in my teens and twenties and the long bow versus compound shooting was very different. 180 fps is a modern arrow speed. The compound draw weight was less to start with and would lighten up by about 50% so you could hold at your consistent nock point, line up your sight, and release when you’re ready. The long bow draw weight increased until it was at its heaviest at full draw and there was virtually no hold… you drew and released the moment you anchored, aiming instinctively. That guy in the video was a very good shot.

One thing I’d mention that they didn’t- armor varied significantly. Richer soldiers would have had better armor and chain mail than your average soldier, who might not have had any. So volleys of arrows into the enemy might not have pierced the best armor (like here) but was certainly effective against lighter, less comprehensively covered, or zero armored soldiers. I’d also wager the bow was around for quite a bit longer than before armor became widely available, so if that was the case it would have been a fearsome weapon to contend with for centuries before it was countered to some degree with armor.

I bet getting hit dead on, with those arrows even with the armor and surviving was like getting hit by a baseball thrown by a professional pitcher. Not deadly, but ouch.

Very cool video. Thanks for posting it.

Yep, I've always thought that being able to shoot old fashioned bows would be much cooler than a modern box (which is still cool).
Yes, when I first saw it, I thought "huh, what a weird item, certainly it's not just decoration." but I couldn't figure out what function it performed. Now I know.
Absolutely, relatively big, heavy arrow moving fast smacking you, would certainly rock your world and interrupt your concentration. And I can't even imagine having one bounce off of your helmet.

It was interesting to see the French fashion which was to have the heavily padded "clothes" over the top of the armor and the difference that made to the arrow impacts.

Most interesting video, thanks for posting.