Citizendia
Your Ad Here

A composite bow is a bow made from disparate materials laminated together, usually applied under tension. A bow is a Weapon that projects arrows powered by the elasticity of the bow Different materials are used in order to take advantage of the properties of each material.

This article describes mainly the traditional Asiatic composite bow, which normally uses horn on the belly and sinew on the back of a wooden core. Sinew and horn will store more energy than wood for the same length of bow. The strength can be made similar to that of all-wood bows, with similar draw-length and therefore a similar or greater amount of energy delivered to the arrow from a much shorter bow. Some Mongolian composite bows are known to have been able to produce a draw weight of nearly 160 lb.

Contents

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

The main advantage of composite bows over self bows (made from a single piece of wood) is their combination of smaller size with high power. A self bow is a bow made from a single piece of wood Extra material such as horn nocks on the ends or built-up handles would normally be accepted as part of a self bow They are therefore much more suitable for use from horseback, and presumably from a chariot. Almost all composite bows are also recurve bows as the shape curves back away from the archer; this design gives higher draw-weight in the early stages of the archer's draw, so storing somewhat more total energy for a given final draw-weight. It would be possible to make a bow of wood that has the same shape, length and draw-weight as a traditional composite bow, but it could not store the energy and would break at full draw.

Disadvantages

Constructing composite bows requires much more time and a greater variety of materials than self bows, and the animal glue traditionally used can lose strength in humid conditions and be quickly ruined by submersion. For most practical non-mounted archery purposes, composite construction offers no advantage; "the initial velocity is about the same for all types of bow. . . within certain limits, the design parameters. . . appear to be less important than is often claimed. " However, they are superior for horsemen and in the specialized art of flight archery: "A combination of many technical factors made the composite flight bow better for flight shooting. "[1]

Materials

Water buffalo horn is very suitable, as is horn of several antelopes such as gemsbok, oryx, ibex, and that of Hungarian grey cattle[2]. The gemsbok or gemsbuck ( Oryx gazella) is a large African Antelope, of the Oryx genus ORYX is an encryption algorithm used in cellular communications An ibex, commonly called by its French name bouquetin also called Steinbock in German an individual of any of several species of wild mountain goats (genus Goat and sheep horn can also be used. Most forms of cow horn are not suitable, as they soon break up in use.

The wooden core is not normally under severe mechanical stress, and a wide variety of lighter woods should be suitable. The wood needs to accept glue well. Bamboo and wood of the mulberry family are traditional in China.

The sinew is normally obtained from the lower legs and back of wild deer or domestic ungulates. A tendon (or sinew) is a tough band of Fibrous connective tissue that usually connects Muscle to Bone and is capable of withstanding tension Traditionally, ox tendons are considered inferior to wild-game sinews since they have a higher fat content, leading to spoilage.

Hide glue or gelatin made from fish gas bladders is used to attach layers of sinew to the back of the bow. An animal glue is an Adhesive that is created by prolonged boiling of Animal Connective tissue. gas bladder (also fish maw, less accurately swim bladder or air bladder) is an internal organ that contributes to the ability of a Fish Traditionally it is also used to attach the horn belly to the wooden core.

Other less-satisfactory materials than horn have been used for the belly of the bow (the part facing the archer when shooting), including bone, antler, or compression resistant woods such as osage orange, hornbeam, or yew. The species is dioeceous, with male and female Flowers on different plants Plants in the genus Carpinus ( Cár-pi-nus) are commonly called Hornbeams. Taxus is a Genus of yews small coniferous Trees or Shrubs in the yew family Taxaceae. Materials that are strong under tension, such as silk, or tough wood like hickory, have been used on the back of the bow (the part facing away from the archer when shooting). Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons Trees in the genus Carya (from Ancient Greek κάρυον " Nut " are commonly known as Hickory. [3][4][5]

History

Origins, working tips

Bows of any kind seldom survive in the archaeological record. Composite bows may have been invented first by the nomads of the Asiatic steppe, who may have based it on earlier Northern Asian laminated bows. Nomadic people, (from the νομάδες nomádes, "those who let pasture herds" also known as nomads, are communities of people that A laminated bow is a bow in which different materials are Laminated together to form the bow stave itself However, archaeological investigation of the Asiatic steppe is still limited and patchy, and it is not possible to reconstruct the details of the process by which composite bows became a usual weapon among all Asiatic nomads. It is also not clear that the various developments of the composite bow led to measurable improvements; "the development of archery equipment may not be a process involving progressive improvements in performance. Rather, each design type represents one solution to the problem of creating a mobile weapon system capable of hurling lightweight projectiles. "[6]

The first appearance of composite bows coincides approximately with the adoption of the horse to draw chariots or as a riding animal. The chariot is the earliest and simplest type of Carriage, used in both peace and war as the chief vehicle of many ancient peoples Variants of the Scythian bow were the dominant form for millennia in the area between China and Europe. These were short weapons - one was 119 cm long when strung, with arrows perhaps 50-60 cm long - with working tips[7]. Composite bows were soon adopted and adapted by civilizations, such as the Chinese, Assyrian, Indian, and Egyptian, who came into contact with nomads. The recorded military history of China extends from about 1500 BC to the present day Several composite bows were found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, who died in 1324 BCE. [8] Composite bows are known in China from at least the Warring States Period. The Warring States Period ( also known as the Era of Warring States covers the period from some time in the 5th century BC to the unification of China by the [9] The military of the Han Dynasty (220 BCE-206 CE) utilized composite crossbows, often in infantry square formations, in their many engagements against the Xiongnu. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. A crossbow is a Weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles often called bolts An infantry square is a combat formation an Infantry unit formed in close order assumes when threatened with Cavalry attack The Xiongnu ( Turkish: Doğu Hun were a confederation of nomadic tribes from Central Asia with a ruling class of unknown origin and other subjugated tribes Horse archers such as the Scythians, Parthians, Huns, Bulgars, Seljuk Turks, and Mongols often used skirmishing tactics where they would approach, shoot, and retreat. The Scythians or Scyths (Σκύθες Σκύθοι were an Iranian speaking people of horse-riding Nomadic pastoralists who dominated the Pontic Parthia ( Middle Persian: اشکانیان Ashkâniân) was an Iranian civilization situated in the northeastern part of modern Iran The Huns were an early confederation of Central Asian equestrian nomads or semi-nomads with a Turkic core of aristocracy The Bulgars (also Bolgars or proto-Bulgarians) were a seminomadic people probably of Turkic descent originally from Central Asia, The Seljuq (also Seljuq Turks, Seldjuks, Seldjuqs, Seljuks; in Turkish Selçuklular; in Ṣaljūqīyān; in [10] The term Parthian shot refers to the widespread horse-archer tactic of shooting backwards over the rear of their horses as they retreated. The Parthian shot was a military tactic employed by the Parthians, an ancient Iranian people.

Aryan nomads such as Scythians, Sakas, and Sarmatians were skilled horse archers. Aryan is an English word derived from the Sanskrit " Ārya " meaning "noble" or "honorable" The Scythians or Scyths (Σκύθες Σκύθοι were an Iranian speaking people of horse-riding Nomadic pastoralists who dominated the Pontic The Sakas ( English form of Old Iranian Sakā, Nominative plural masculine case; Ancient Greek Σάκαι, The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες Parthians, originally a Scythian tribe, were famed horse archers. Parthia ( Middle Persian: اشکانیان Ashkâniân) was an Iranian civilization situated in the northeastern part of modern Iran The Scythians or Scyths (Σκύθες Σκύθοι were an Iranian speaking people of horse-riding Nomadic pastoralists who dominated the Pontic Parthians inflicted several devastating defeats on Romans, the first being the Battle of Carrhae. The Battle of Carrhae in 53 BC was a decisive victory for the Parthian Spahbod Surena over the Roman general Crassus near However, horse archers were not invincible; Han General Ban Chao led successful military expeditions against these nomads in the late 1st century CE that conquered as far as central Asia, and Alexander the Great may be the only general who inflicted a defeat on horse archer armies on his first contact with them. Control of the Tarim Basin Ban Chao like his predecessors Huo Qubing and Wei Qing from the earlier-half of the Han Dynasty before him is said to Alexander the Great ( or, Mégas Aléxandros; July 20 356 BC June 10 or June 11 323 BC also known as Alexander III of Macedon (el Ἀλέξανδρος Γ'

Siyahs, stiff tips

Later, it became usual to stiffen the ends of composite bows. The stiffened ends of the bows are "siyahs". For centuries, the stiffening was accomplished by attaching laths of bone or antler to the sides of the bow at its ends. The bone or antler strips are more likely to survive burial than the rest of the bow. The first bone strips suitable for this purpose come from "graves of the fourth or third centuries" BCE. [11] These stiffeners are found associated with nomads of the time, such as the Alans and Huns, whose ancestors may have invented them. Eurasian Nomads are a large group of peoples of the Eurasian Steppe. The Alans or Alani (occasionally but more rarely termed Alauni or Halani) were an Iranian nomadic group among the Sarmatian people The Huns were an early confederation of Central Asian equestrian nomads or semi-nomads with a Turkic core of aristocracy Maenchen-Helfen states that they are not found in Achaemenid Persia, nor in early Imperial Rome, nor in Han China. Otto John Maenchen-Helfen (in German: Otto Mänchen-Helfen) (born July 26, 1894 in Vienna, Austria; died January 29 However Coulston attributes Roman stiffeners to about or before 9 CE. [12] He identifies a Steppe Tradition of Scythian bows with working tips, which lasted, in Europe, until the arrival of the Huns, and a Near East or Levantine tradition with siyahs, possibly introduced by the Parni as siyahs are found in Sassanid but not Achaemenid contexts. The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Dynasty or Sassanian Dynasty (ساسانیان) is the name used for the third Iranian dynasty and the second Persian empire The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenid Persian Empire ( haχɒmaneʃijɒn (558–330 BC was the first of the Persian Empires to rule over significant portions of They have also been described from the Arabian peninsula. [13] They were adopted by the Roman Empire and were made even in the cold and damp of Britannia. Britannia was the term originally used by the Romans to refer first to the British Isles, and later to the island of Great Britain. [14] They were the normal weapon of later Roman archers, both infantry and cavalry units (although Vegetius recommends training recruits "arcubus ligneis", with wooden bows, which may have been made in the northern European longbow tradition. Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus was a writer of the Later Roman Empire. To see other senses of this word see Longbow (disambiguation. )[15]

With the arrival of the Huns, a separate tradition of bows with siyahs arrived in Europe. "Rausing termed it the 'Qum-Darya Bow' from the Han Chinese type-site at the frontier post of Lou-lan, at the mouth of the (Qum-Darya) river, dated by analogy to c. 1st century B. C. to 3rd century A. D. Fittings from this type of bow appear right across Asia from Korea to the Crimea. Alanic graves in the Volga region dating to the 3rd to 4th century A. D. signal the adoption of the Qum-Darya type by Sarmatian peoples from Hunnic groups advancing from the East. In general, Hunnic/Qum-Darya bows had two pairs of ear laths identical in every respect to those found on Roman limes sites. The only difference is that there are proportionally a greater number of longer laths (like those Roman examples from Bar Hill and London). In addition the grip of the bow was stiffened by three laths. On the sides were glued a pair of trapezoidal laths with their longest edges towards the back. On the belly was glued a third lath, varying in shape but often narrow with parallel sides and splayed ends. Therefore, each bow possessed seven grip and ear laths, compared with none on the Scythian and Sarmatian bows and four (ear) laths on the Yrzi bow. "[16]

Such bows may usually have been asymmetric, with lower limbs shorter than the upper. [17][18] [19]To some extent, this combines the power of a longer bow with the convenience of a shorter one.


The Huns and their successors greatly impressed their neighbours with their archery. Germanic tribes transmitted their respect orally for a millennium; in the Scandinavian Hervarar saga, the Geatish king Gizur taunts the Huns and says, "Eigi gera Húnar oss felmtraða né hornbogar yðrir. Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks is a Legendary saga from the 13th century combining matter from several older sagas " (We fear neither the Huns nor their hornbows. ) The Romans were so impressed with Hunnic tactics that, as described in the Strategikon, Procopius's histories, and other works, they changed the entire emphasis of their army, from heavy infantry to cavalry, many of them armed with bows. Procopius of Caesarea ( Προκόπιος ο Καισαρεύς, c

After the fall of the Western empire, Eastern Roman armies maintained their tradition of horse archery for centuries. They finally fell to the Turks before the decline of military archery in favour of guns. The Fall of Constantinople refers to the capture of the Byzantine Empire's capital by the Ottoman Empire on Tuesday May 29, 1453 (Julian Calendar Turkish armies included archers until about 1591, and flight archery remained a popular sport in Istanbul until the early 1800s. Istanbul (historically Byzantium and later Constantinople; see the other Names of Istanbul) is the largest city of Turkey [20]

Integral wooden siyahs

Later developments in the composite bow included siyahs made as a continuation of the wooden core of the bow, rather than strengthened by external reinforcement.

String bridges

A string "bridge" or "run" is an attachment of horn or wood, used to hold the string a little further apart from the bow's limbs at the base of the siyahs. This attachment adds weight, but might give a small increase in the speed of the arrow by increasing the initial string angle and therefore the force of the draw in its early stages. This feature is characteristic of recent Mongolian and Chinese bows, but it is not shown in artwork from the time of Genghis Khan's conquests or the succeeding Ming Dynasty. Genghis Khan ( or;, Chinggis Khaan, ʧiŋgɪs χaːŋ Činggis Qaɣan; 1162–1227 born (meaning "ironworker" was the Mongol founder The Ming Dynasty ( or Empire of the Great Ming ( was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol -led String bridges were a later adoption from the Manchurian (Qing dynasty) bows of northwestern China. [21]

Most surviving documentation of the use and construction of composite bows comes from China and the Middle East; until reforms early in the 20th century, skill with the composite bow was an essential part of the qualification for officers in the Chinese Imperial army.

Modern "composite" bows

Modern replicas of traditional composite bows are commercially available; they are usually made with fibreglass on both belly and back, easier to mass-produce and easier to take care of than traditional composite bows.

American composite bows

When Europeans first contacted Native Americans some bows, especially in the area that became California, already had sinew backing. After the reintroduction of horses, newly mounted groups rapidly developed shorter bows, which were often given sinew backing. The full three-layer composite bow with horn, wood, and sinew does not seem to be recorded in the Americas, and horn bows with sinew backing are not recorded before European contact. [22]

Types of composite bow

All Eurasian composite bows derive from the same nomad origins, but every culture that used them has made its own adaptations to the basic design. The Turkish, Mongolian, and Korean bows were standardized when archery lost its military function and became a popular sport. Recent Turkish bows are optimized for flight shooting.

Chinese bow

Zhangxian shooting a pebble bow.
Zhangxian shooting a pebble bow.

The Chinese archery tradition goes back millennia. There is also a long tradition of local developments. The modern Chinese and Mongolian bows are similar to each other, both having string bridges derived from the Manchurian tradition. [23]

Mongol bow

Main article: Mongol bow

The Mongolian tradition of archery is attested by an inscription on a stone stele that was found near Nerchinsk in Siberia: "While Genghis Khan was holding an assembly of Mongolian dignitaries, after his conquest of Sartaul (East Turkestan), Yesüngge (the son of Genghis Khan's brother) shot a target at 335 alds (536 m). The modern Mongol bow is a recurved composite bow used by the Mongols and renowned for its power accuracy and range A stele (from Greek:, stēlē, ˈstiːli plural stelae,, stēlai, ˈstiːlaɪ also found Latinised singular stela Nerchinsk (Не́рчинск is a town in Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia, situated east of Chita and east of Lake Baikal. Siberia (Сиби́рь Sibir) is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving Genghis Khan ( or;, Chinggis Khaan, ʧiŋgɪs χaːŋ Činggis Qaɣan; 1162–1227 born (meaning "ironworker" was the Mongol founder DO NOT ADD THE FLAG OF EAST TURKESTAN TO THIS ARTICLE *** THIS ARTICLE IS ABOUT A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA AND Ald is an old Mongolian measure equal to the length between a man's outstretched arms "

Until today, archery with traditional composite bows is part of the annual festival of the three virile sports (Wrestling, Horseriding, Archery), called "Naadam". Naadam (Наадам Classical Mongolian: Naɤadum games) is a traditional type of festival in Mongolia.

Hungarian bow

Main article: Hungarian bow

The Hungarian bow is a fairly long, approximately symmetrical, composite reflex bow with bone stiffeners. Its shape is known from two graves in which the position of the bone plates could be reconstructed. [24] In general, details of the bows of other ethnic groups in history are known on the basis of similarly scanty evidence.

Korean bow

Main article: Korean bow

A traditional modern Korean bow, or gakgung, is a small but very efficient horn-bamboo-sinew composite bow. The Korean Bow ('Hwal' is a waterbuffalo horn-based composite reflex bow standardized about 1900 CE from the variety of such weapons in earlier use The Korean Bow ('Hwal' is a waterbuffalo horn-based composite reflex bow standardized about 1900 CE from the variety of such weapons in earlier use Korean archers normally practice at a range of approximately 145 metres.

Perso-Parthian bow

Main article: Perso-Parthian bow

The Perso-Parthian bow is a symmetric recurve under high tension when strung. The Perso-Parthian bow is a symmetric recurve composite bow made of Ibex horn (or for low quality bows ox horn a variety of wood cores The Perso-Parthian bow is a symmetric recurve composite bow made of Ibex horn (or for low quality bows ox horn a variety of wood cores The "arms" of the bow are supposed to reflex far enough to cross each other when the bow is unstrung. The finished bow is covered by bark, fine leather, or in some cases shark skin to keep out moisture.

Perso-Parthian bows were in use as late as 1820s in Persia (ancient Iran). Events and trends Nationalistic independence helped reshape the world during this decade Greece gains independence from the Ottoman Empire The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. They were then replaced by muskets. A musket is a muzzle -loaded Smoothbore Long gun, which is intended to be fired from the shoulder

See also

Bow construction techniques

Bow forms

References

  1. ^ http://www.bio.vu.nl/thb/users/kooi/kobe97.pdf An Approach to the Study of Ancient Archery using Mathematical Modelling. A crossbow is a Weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles often called bolts The English longbow, also called the Welsh longbow, was a powerful type of medieval Longbow (a tall bow for Archery) about 6 ft To see other senses of this word see Longbow (disambiguation. A flatbow is a bow with non- recurved, flat relatively wide limbs that are approximately rectangular in cross-section Archery is the practice of using a bow or Crossbow to shoot Arrows Archery has historically been used in Hunting and Combat and has A self bow is a bow made from a single piece of wood Extra material such as horn nocks on the ends or built-up handles would normally be accepted as part of a self bow A compound bow is a modern bow that uses a levering system usually of cables and Pulleys to bend the limbs A laminated bow is a bow in which different materials are Laminated together to form the bow stave itself A cable-backed bow is a bow reinforced with a cable on the back B. W. Kooi and C. A. Bergman. Antiquity 71:(271) 124-134 (1997)
  2. ^ http://www.atarn.org/magyar/magyar_1.htm
  3. ^ * (1992) The Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume 1. The Lyons Press. ISBN 1-58574-085-3
    • (1992) The Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume 2. The Lyons Press. ISBN 1-58574-086-1
    • (1994) The Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume 3. The Lyons Press. ISBN 1-58574-087-X
  4. ^ [1]http://www.atarn.org
  5. ^ http://www.grozer.com[2]
  6. ^ http://www.bio.vu.nl/thb/users/kooi/kobe97.pdf An Approach to the Study of Ancient Archery using Mathematical Modelling. B. W. Kooi and C. A. Bergman. Antiquity 71:(271) 124-134 (1997)
  7. ^ [http://www.atarn.org/chinese/scythian_bows.htm Scythian Bows
  8. ^ Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation. (The notes were made in the 1920s and describe composite bows as "compound"; the modern compound bow did not exist at this time. A compound bow is a modern bow that uses a levering system usually of cables and Pulleys to bend the limbs ) http://griffith.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/perl/gi-ca-qmakeres.pl?sid=62.56.75.230-1189852846&qno=1&sta=0&qtx=bow+
  9. ^ [http://www.atarn.org/chinese/scythian_bows.htm Scythian Bows
  10. ^ Maurice's Strategikon: Handbook of Byzantine Military Strategy. by George T. Dennis (Translator) ISBN-10: 0812217721 ISBN-13: 978-0812217728
  11. ^ Maenchen-Helfen, Otto (1973). The World of the Huns. University of California Press, 222. ISBN 520-01596-7.  
  12. ^ At Oberaden in Free Germany, and Dangstetten in Germania Inferior. Coulston J. C. , 'Roman Archery Equipment', in M. C. Bishop (ed. ), The Production and Distribution of Roman Military Equipment. Proceedings of the Second Roman Military Equipment Seminar, BAR International Series 275, Oxford, 1985, 220-366.
  13. ^ An De Waele. Composite bows at ed-Dur (Umm al-Qaiwain, U. A. E. ) Arabian archaeology and epigraphy 2005: 16: 154–160 [3],
  14. ^ Coulston J, 'Roman Archery Equipment', in M. C. Bishop (ed. ), The Production and Distribution of Roman Military Equipment. Proceedings of the Second Roman Military Equipment Seminar, BAR International Series 275, Oxford, 1985, 220-366.
  15. ^ Vegetius, Epitoma rei militaris
  16. ^ Coulston J. C. , 'Roman Archery Equipment', in M. C. Bishop (ed. ), The Production and Distribution of Roman Military Equipment. Proceedings of the Second Roman Military Equipment Seminar, BAR International Series 275, Oxford, 1985, 220-366.
  17. ^ Maenchen-Helfen, Otto (1973). The World of the Huns. University of California Press, 222. ISBN 520-01596-7.  
  18. ^ Roman Military Equipment from the Punic Wars to the Fall of Rome (Paperback). M. C. Bishop, J. C. Coulston. Oxbow Books 2005. ISBN-10: 1842171593 ISBN-13: 978-1842171592
  19. ^ Faris, Nabih; Robert Potter (1945). A BOOK ON THE EXCELLENCE OF THE BOW AND ARROW AND THE DESCRIPTION THEREOF. University of Princeton Press.  
  20. ^ Turkish Archery and the Composite Bow, second edition. Paul E. Klopsteg, published by the author, Evanston, IL 1947
  21. ^ Archery Traditions of Asia. Stephen Selby. Publisher: Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence 2003. ISBN/Code: 9627039470
  22. ^ American Indian Archery. Reginald Laubin, Gladys Laubin. University of Oklahoma Press 1980. ISBN-10: 0806114673 ISBN-13: 978-0806114675
  23. ^ Chinese Archery (Paperback). Stephen Selby. Hong Kong University Press 2000. ISBN-10: 9622095011 ISBN-13: 978-9622095014
  24. ^ Hungarian Traditional Archery

External links

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic