How to Test A Scutum

[Robert]

Hib, you can rig a testbench for a bow as well. All you really need is a good griprelease and the means of mounting the bow. I recall a similar setup in Archers Bible a lot of years ago. So an airgun is not realy essential for that kind of test. For javelins and spears, perhaps a small cart on rails, propeled by compressed air or even bicycle inner tubes as springs. You can add more to get the right speed, mounting the spear non-ridgid to cancel out the momentum of the cart, it's just the spear when it hits.