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The Turkish Bow - Its Range
columns erected at the ancient archery ground near Constantinople, and
these records are still in existence.1
The only trustworthy evidence of unusual ranges attained with the English
longbow is as follows:
| 1798 Mr. Troward |
340 yards |
| 1856 Mr. Horace Ford |
308 " |
| 1881 Mr. C. J. Longman |
286 " |
| 1891 Mr. L.W. Maxon |
290 " |
| 1897 Major Joseph Straker |
310 " |
It is not probable that the English bowmen of mediaeval days were able
to shoot the arrows they used in warfare farther than from 230 to 250 yards.
Nor is it likely that they could send flight arrows to longer ranges than
those given above, as heavy yew bows, strong as they may have been, were
unsuitable for the purpose.2 It was from their great elasticity,
as much as from their strength, that composite bows derived their wonderful
power.
When, too, the composite bow was strung, its bow-string was much more
taut than was that of any European bow, as the latter was merely bent out
of a straight line, whilst the former was bent from a sharp reflex curve,
which it was always striving to resume when in use.
Though many nations formerly used composite bows of horn and sinew,
no people attained such dexterity in their manipulation, or constructed
them of such marvelous power and efficiency, and at the same time so small,
elegant and light, as did the Turks.
It should not be supposed, however, that because these bows were so
diminutive in size, they were mere playthings for shooting a flight arrow
to an immense range. They were powerful weapons of warfare, and, as I have
proved in practice, those of only moderate power are capable of sending
an iron-shod arrow weighing 5s., or one ounce, to a distance of 280 yards.
Bows that could shoot a flight arrow 600 yards, and more, would certainly
be able to drive an ounce arrow 360 to 400 yards - or much farther than
was possible with the old English longbow and its war shaft.
I have obtained with much difficulty during the last few years about
a score of composite bows of Turkish manufacture from various parts of
the Ottoman Empire. Not more than three or four of these have, however,
proved serviceable, owing to their age, as no bows of the kind have been
made for over a hundred years, the art of their construction being long
since neglected and lost.
1 See The Crossbow, pp. 28, 29.
2 In King Henry IV., Second Part, Act III.,
Scene 2, Shakespeare makes Shallow exclaim of Double that the latter could
shoot a flight arrow from 280 to 290 yards. In the time of Shakespeare
(1564-1616) it was, therefore, considered a notable feat to send an arrow
to this distance. |
