12-08-2007, 09:17 PM
We had a somewhat similar discussion in another thread. I must say there is much to be said for Helge's arguments for the common miles trained to use the bow as an axillary weapon. Certainly Eastern archers only showed up way after second century along the Northern Limes and we know of earlier use of archery by the Romans (arrowhead finds). It is VERY difficult to make a smooth shooting self-bow way over 50 # drawweight, I am convinced most bows around at the time were self-bows (which may have had horn or sinew re-enforcement on the back facing the target, making them composite but not yet recurve).
The composite recurve > 80 # "war-bows" needed much care and were notoriously difficult to make, maintain, string and shoot. They are great for defense, long range sniping and the likes, but for a good barrage putting the fear of Zeus into your average Germanic or Calladonian rabble, lesser weights work just fine. A 50 # bow will, at moderate elevation, carry 150 meters any old day and still pack enough punch to truly ruin your day, as this is by no means a ballistic trajectory but still carries force from the shot itself. The point on it will do much for its penetrating capabilities on arrival, bodkins make short work of shields and mail.
On the thumbrings, there has been quite some discussion on the identification of the English find as a thumbring, it certainly does not resemble any of the implements shown in the pictures AFAIK.
The composite recurve > 80 # "war-bows" needed much care and were notoriously difficult to make, maintain, string and shoot. They are great for defense, long range sniping and the likes, but for a good barrage putting the fear of Zeus into your average Germanic or Calladonian rabble, lesser weights work just fine. A 50 # bow will, at moderate elevation, carry 150 meters any old day and still pack enough punch to truly ruin your day, as this is by no means a ballistic trajectory but still carries force from the shot itself. The point on it will do much for its penetrating capabilities on arrival, bodkins make short work of shields and mail.
On the thumbrings, there has been quite some discussion on the identification of the English find as a thumbring, it certainly does not resemble any of the implements shown in the pictures AFAIK.
