Well? English Longbow, Italian Crossbow, or Mongol bow? Two Wikipedia articles claim the Mongol bow was better than the English longbow:
The Mongol bow was the best of the age, able to penetrate plate armour at close range, and accurate up to 300 yards, almost 50-100 yards more than the legendary English longbowmen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_military_tactics_and_organization
The closest bow in medieval time was the English longbow, with the same draw weight and range, but about twice the size. Another medieval bow, the crossbow, took much longer to fire. The small size of the Mongolian bow not only allowed them to carry it on horseback, but to shoot in any direction while their horse galloped.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_advances_of_Genghis_Khan
Originally posted by AThousandYoungyou might like Dan Tyler Moore's novel "The Terrible Game", it's out of print, i think, but maybe you can find it used (in paperback).
Well? English Longbow, Italian Crossbow, or Mongol bow? Two Wikipedia articles claim the Mongol bow was better than the English longbow:
[b]The Mongol bow was the best of the age, able to penetrate plate armour at close range, and accurate up to 300 yards, almost 50-100 yards more than the legendary English longbowmen.
http://en.wikipedia ...[text shortened]... eir horse galloped.[/b]
[i]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_advances_of_Genghis_Khan[/b]
it relates to mongols, and discusses those bows. (i won't spoil the plot, tho.)
Originally posted by zeeblebotThere are five changes in curvature (going from concave to convex or the opposite) on a Mongol bow from end to end. Two "horns" and the center all curve away from the wielder, while the two regions between these curve towards him.
the Mongol bow. (double-curved, laminated horn?)
Do you think a six foot composite bow - a "Mongol Longbow" - could have been made which is even stronger than either? Would it have been practical?
Originally posted by AThousandYoungThe Japanese longbow could be used on horseback and was by all accounts pretty awesome. Yumi-ya!
Do you think a six foot composite bow - a "Mongol Longbow" - could have been made which is even stronger than either? Would it have been practical?
http://ejmas.com/jcs/jcsart_denig_0301.htm
The great advantages of the English longbow, apart from the obvious, were that it could be fired in volleys, was cheap to produce, didn't require expensive training, and was obviously suitable for the conditions of Western Europe (mud). The Black Prince's boyos would have come a cropper against Genghis' mob.
Originally posted by Bosse de NageHow about Zulu spears?
The Japanese longbow could be used on horseback and was by all accounts pretty awesome. Yumi-ya!
http://ejmas.com/jcs/jcsart_denig_0301.htm
The great advantages of the English longbow, apart from the obvious, were that it could be fired in volleys, was cheap to produce, didn't require expensive training, and was obviously suitable for the conditi ...[text shortened]... estern Europe (mud). The Black Prince's boyos would have come a cropper against Genghis' mob.