Leather Armor? (NO HOLDS BARRED!!)

[Dan Howard]

There are plenty of secondary sources that claim the bodkin was an armour piercer. When you look at the evidence it is apparent that it is pure speculation. Armour-piercing arrows certainly existed (though only mail piercers, not plate). However, there is very little to suggest that the bodkin's primary purpose was as an armour piercer. I can put together a very convincing case that its primary intent was to increase range.