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Medieval archery today & in Larp

Everyone who has watched Robin Hood movies knows the medieval longbow. Arrow rains are one of the most impressive effects when battles are staged in the cinema. Arrow and bow have an extremely long tradition and not only since the Middle Ages. Bows are one of the oldest weapons of mankind. In the course of human history, bows and arrows have been improved again and again to be more deadly and effective. In the beginning bows and the first arrows were made of wood, but later the arrows were updated with metal tips. The bow has undergone an incredible development from the Stone Age to the present day.

From Wooden bow to high tec!

A wooden bow made of one piece is the simplest bow form there is. Nowadays the used sport bows are a technical masterpiece and cannot be compared with the wooden bow of the stone age and antiquity. Very early on animals were hunted by humans with wooden bows and arrows. The long-distance combat method was usually safer, as there was a greater distance between humans and their prey. Because hunting was not always only for small and defenseless animals. With time it became apparent that some woods or other materials, such as animal tendons, could increase the tractive force and thus the range of bows immensely. This constant new development and optimisation continues to this day.

Archer in the Middle Ages & Larp – tool and weapon with a long tradition

In the Middle Ages, archers were one of the most vicious units in battles and combats. Nowadays archery has become a recognized sport. But archery in a battle and from a tactical point of view can only be exercised in Larp or Arrow Tag. Although archery from back then and archery in Larp differ mainly in padded arrows and bows with less traction, the feeling of archery is the same. In Larp archery the arrow tips are replaced by a soft foam head, so there is no direct risk of injury.
Important for successful archery is a lot of practice. Only with some practice you can successfully do archery despite adverse circumstances. Larp bows, arrows and much more can be found with us, under: Larp Weapons.

Here you can find some typical traditional wooden bows available at Andracor. The short bow, long bow, recurve bow and the horse bow.

Combat with bows of the Middle Ages

The bows of the Middle Ages were efficient weapons. In those days the penetrating power and range of the bow depended on the construction of the weapon and the strength of the shooter. Their power could pierce through armour and devastate whole rows of fighters in a rain of arrows.

Long bows were widespread in Europe in the High Middle Ages, but short bows were also used in battles or as hunting instruments. Archers were a dreaded unit in the Middle Ages, as they were able to decimate the enemy even before close combat began.

There were archers in the various cultural circles. From the English longbowers to the Japanese Samurai archers to the Natives of America. Equestrian peoples like the Mongolians relied on recurve and riding bows to be able to shoot from horseback in an artistic and agile way. They were literally Masters of archery.

Archery as a sport today

Archery is one of the oldest hunting methods of mankind. But in the modern world, hunting is no longer essential for survival. Archery is only practiced from a sporting point of view and as a hobby. The sport of archery has gained much recognition over the last decades and became Olympic again in 1972. Thereby also the bows have changed accordingly with the time. The technical progress has also made the bow sport a high-tech sport.

In modern archery many things are optimized by technical refinements. Nowadays, composite bows, i.e. bows that are made of more than one material, are mainly used.

Compound bows are often used as hunting sport equipment. They are technically equipped with the latest developments such as pulleys and are designed to meet the needs of the hunter.

Special forms of archery today

    • Arrow tag

A special form of archery is Arrow Tag, where arrows similar to those used in larp are used to compete on a playing field. It is similar to sports like paintball or laser tag, only that it is performed with sports bows.

    • Kyudo Archery

Kyudo is the old traditional archery art of Japan. Kyudo is over 500 years old and is performed in traditional clothing. The special thing about Kyudo are the slow movements. Even if Kyudo as a combat tactic fell into oblivion due to the advent of firearms, this art is enjoying more popularity again. A Kyudo bow is a composite bow that is made of bamboo and other materials. However, the bow is asymmetrically shaped so that the upper arm is longer than the lower arm, which greatly reduces the hand shock.

    • Archery at a Larp

In the Larp there are certainly also representatives from the bow sport. However, archery here is only a representation of the old art of war and hunting and has little to do with today’s bow sport.  But it`s the only way to use medieval archery in a combat situation today.

Larp archery, how does it work?

A bow as known from the Middle Ages can still be found in Larping today. Unlike the bows in the Middle Ages, Larp bows are of course less dangerous. They are much less strong in draw and the arrows for the bows have a special foam head.
The so-called padded weapons, which include Larp bows, are not dangerous and can also be used by amateurs to participate in the game. The fight with bows offers a special kind of fighting. It often takes place behind the first line of battle and the shooter, unlike the fighter in the line of battle, is free and mobile. There are Larp characters for whom archery is a typical form of combat, like elves for example.

Arrows in Larp

The arrow in live role play is not provided with a sharp tip, but with a secured foam head. This means that shooting the arrow does not cause injury. Larp is about the playful representation of the Middle Ages paired with fantastic elements. Larp arrows have a smaller range due to the padded head and are also more susceptible to wind. Even though ranged combat is limited in Larp, you still realize the effectiveness of a ranged weapon in a combat unit.

Building a bow for yourself or buying a bow?

It is actually not quite easy to build a good bow, or at least one that works efficiently. The best way to build a bow is to get a building instruction first. You can find these instructions either in books about bow making or on the internet. Important when building a bow is the choice of the right wood. Before you start building a bow you should also ask yourself how strong the traction of the bow should be. After this requirement one can finally decide on the construction method. So you can build good bows with flexible woods like yew, ash and elm. Also the string can be made by yourself. It can be either of animal or plant origin.
After building the bow, you can decide whether you want to make your own arrows or buy them.

Building a good bow requires a lot of craftsmanship and time. Especially if you want to have more complex bows like a reflex bow or recurve bow, it is probably better to give your money to a professional bow maker.

Where can I buy medieval bows?

An archery shop is an ideal place to buy bow equipment or to complete it. Because especially in the archery shop you get a comprehensive and good advice, especially as a beginner and newcomer, not only regarding the equipment, but also regarding clubs for archery in your area. Thereby, a shop for archery can be a walk-in store, where you can try out and test, or also an online shop, which mostly scores with a big choice and low prices.

In a good archery shop a consultation is very important to decide for a bow or appropriate archery equipment. So you should not be afraid to make a call to an online shop and get more detailed information. In the bow shop you can also get professional advice if you have difficulties or problems with your own equipment. Often the employees in bow shops are longtime archers.

An achery shop can either specialize in one type of bow or simply offer a very large selection. The bows for live role-playing are to be regarded as special. This kind of bows and arrows you will find at Andracor.

Bows and even more equipment for Larp can be found here, under: Andracor – Ranged weapons

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