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Arrows vs. Mail -- was Re: Chainmail on a peasant's budget

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Sir Ulrich:
Well the longbow was also recurved to some degree during the 15th century to increase its power. And their skeletons were deformed to the point where the arm joints were bigger than average. Longbows could go through almost anything at close range except specially tempered armor if it can go through plate it can go through maille probably even easier. I DO know maille (even the round ring indian made stuff as seen in this video) is good against both cut and thrust as seen in this video:

Against bows maille is less effective especially bodkins, but against broadheads and barbed arrows it's quite effective. Thing is wounds from bodkins heal easier than broadhead and barbed arrows as it's less of a large wound and can be pulled out quite easier so maille was effective anyway, but a few layers of linen can mean the difference between life and death.

Sir Edward:
A good thing to google for when looking up info about English longbows is the "Mary Rose", which is a ship that sank and took a whole bunch of archers with it.

Based on excavations, the longbows that were recovered averaged about 6'6" in length and 150 to 160 lbs draw weight, but ranged from 100 to over 180 lbs.

Bodkin arrow heads were extremely common for military use. There's conflicting anecdotal evidence that these may have sometimes pierced plate armor, but they definitely could pierce mail. It's doesn't take much to push something long and thin right between some links. On the other hand, linen gambesons/jacks/aketons can be surprisingly effective against arrows.

What's worth noting though is that arrows usually weren't immediately fatal, unless they hit something critical (heart, brain, major artery). Otherwise the wounds were often recoverable, assuming you weren't killed by something else while fighting injured, or struck someplace where it's unlikely to heal properly, at least not without infection. Fatalities frequently were much later, due to infection, and thus wouldn't necessarily remove someone from the fight, but rather limit their usefulness.

Sir William:
I have read anecdotes of shafts smeared in 'nightsoil' - you could think of it as a medieval force multiplier as now not only did you have to worry about piercing wounds alone, but infection as well.

Sir Wolf:
and remember in England during the war of the roses period (15th century) is is LAW for any man aged 6 to 60 to practice the bow after church. so yes everyman should be able to pull any bow.

SirNathanQ:
Ahhh, the old Longbow vs Maille. debate. This will spill over like crazy. I'd suggest we start a new thread for this big one.  ;)

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