Last time, we discussed historic examples of arrows vs. armor. It is important to remember that both armor and arrowheads underwent continual improvement and innovation over time in a kind of arms race. As one improved, the other had to…
Last time, we discussed the effectiveness of armor and the efforts of weapons makers to overcome the advantages armor provided. However, we need to guard against assuming universal effectiveness. Just because a point could penetrate an inch or two past…
If you search for the subject of arrows versus armor online or in books, you will find considerable controversy. Some tests seem to suggest that arrows were useless at penetrating mail and plate armor. Others suggest that arrows could penetrate,…
I recently had a reviewer complain that I made my female characters in my Archer of the Heathland series too strong, that women couldn’t possibly compete with men physically on the battlefield. The historical record proves this notion to be…
Mounted Archery Last time we discussed the age of the great warbow. As important as the warbow was to late medieval warfare in Western Europe, the bow really achieved its most brilliant deployment as a military technology among the horseback…