Composite Shortbow

[Jagger]

Does anyone have any good info or sites on the composite shortbow? My understanding is that the composite shortbow was much stronger and better than the common shortbow portrayed in the game. I think the Mongols used it but am not sure who else used it. I think it was also available in the early time frame.

Does anyone have any info?

If I can find the info, I am going to add it as a mod to the projectile file. But I will need to know the factions using it and when. Also approximately how powerful and fast vs the longbow/shortbow/crossbow.

Thanks in advance.

[Hakonarson]

Good luck!

There's little precise technical detail on the net - you may have to go to some limited print technical books on archery.

The terminaology for bows can be confusing. The Mongol (and other asiatic) bows were relatively short when strung, but when unstrung they could be as long as an English longbow - 6 foot or more.

Their "short" length strung was due to their recurve construction, and in no way indicates anything about their power - they were at least comparable to the longbows - probably better because they were more efficient at transfering energy to the arrow than the longbow.

Bow's are better described by shape and construction than length.

Shape is either simple or recurve. Simple is something that looks like a stick with string connectign the 2 ends. Recurve is the classic "cupids" bow.

Construction is either "self" or "compound". Self bows are made from a single piece of wood with no additions.

Compound bows are made up of various materials - the core is usually wood, and they have different materials on the inside and outside of the bow.

The inside will have something that resists compression, such as bone, horn or dense wood. the outside will have something that resists tension such as tendon or springy wood.

The best self bows did include some compound features as they would be cut from the tree so the denser heart wood was on the inside of the bow.

[This message has been edited by Hakonarson (edited 11-08-2002).]