Persian archer equipment

[daryush]

Dan: It's entirely possible that they were similar or the same (just guessing, haven't read any ancient texts about this) as Persia and Assyria are quite close together.

I've got enough materials to build you a gorytos if you like (I ordered them for a quiver but this is more exciting). I've taken measurements and it would fit the Grozer Scythian base well. It would be a western style, with just a big pocket for arrows instead of flutings (the leather is not flexible enough to make into flutings easily), the entire thing would be dark blue and lined with brown lambskin, but I can put embroidered linen over it. Should hold > 25 arrows, although this will depend on the size of arrow and fletching you use. I've got a mix of different arrows and managed to fit 31 into the folded up sheepskin. Let me know if you're interested.

Alanus: I'm not a huge fan of the biocomposites. I'm not sure if he'd be able to get the ridged kasan because of using pressed sinew plate instead of fibres. His biocomposite Turkish and Crimean-Tatar models don't show a ridged kasan, but they do show a thickening of the sal in the location the kasan would normally be.

I'm sure you could request him to make an Extra 3 with modern glues?

In any case, from what I've read it's the sinew that's partly the problem as well. Fish bladder glue is waterproof (hide glue not so much) but the entire bow still needs covering and probably a heavy coat of varnish for our British weather.