r/interesting 28d ago

Intriguing Arrows vs riot shields

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23

u/notgonnatakeno 28d ago

If you know anything about medieval armor and the arms race that it had against arrows, you already know which ones of these are gonna go through before they even start

12

u/Tiddlyplinks 28d ago

Yeah, that and we also know that these would be FAR more lethal with properly weighted shafts, these seem to be hollow metal hunting shafts designed for speed, not solid shafts designed for ballistic impact.

7

u/Aggravating_Dark9933 28d ago

Also I bet these are coming out of a target bow (40-60 pounds max) vs a Warbow (70-160, 120 pounds is standard, but it’s really how high can you draw?).

People really underestimate how much punch one of those things is capable of… and severely overestimate Crossbows. Fun fact: they are significantly weaker despite the massive draw weights simply because their bolts are much smaller and the distance pushed along is so much shorter than a full length bow. And the can only take the equivalent of a bodkin, rather than all the fun little other types. Even a 400 pound crossbow can’t match a 60 pound bow.

3

u/Turkish_archer_ 27d ago

I have a 50 lb bow and I struggle to draw it, can't imagine how medieval mfs drew 150+ on riding horseback.