Six Medieval Arrow Types - What are they for?

[@Maxmetalmetallica]

Pulling a barbed arrow out is described in the manuscript Jan Ypermans Surgie from 1303-1304. He describes using a goose feather to put around the barbs.

[@Maxmetalmetallica]

Jan Yperman is a surgeon from the town Ypres in Belgium he wrote a manuscript about surgery around the year 1303-1304. The manuscript is written in old dutch. In this manuscript he describes how to pull out a barbed arrow. This is the old dutch text about pulling a barbed arrow out. Of es die mensce gescoten met ingels gescutte die men maect met baerden end .2. ane elke zide. of met ere hasescichte des gelike. so doet aldus. Men sal sloeven over die baerdekine ene ganspipe of ene swanenpipe. ende dan doet dyser ute. Ende doedijt andersins die baerden selen gaen int vleesch. ende dan sout den gewonden swerlike gaen 1). entie wonde vele argere siin dan si was tevoren ende oec en gecregedijt nemmermeer uut sonder sniden de wonde bat widere. Ende men saelt trecken [met eener tanghen die subtijlic ghemaect es alsoe in deser manieren (eenvoudige schets van een getande tang) C] rechtevort opwert sonder wankelen. I tried to translate the old dutch to English. If a man is shot with an arrow that is made with barbs on each side. or a bolt? that is made the same. Then slip a goosetube or a swanstube over the barbs. And pull the arrow out. If you don't do this then the barbs will go in the flesh. And the wound will be worse than before. And you can't pull it out without cutting the wound wider. Then you subtly pull the arrow out with pliers straight up without wobbling.

[@2adamast]

Nice reference

[@Rhynome]

@@Maxmetalmetallica it just dawned on me that the English word "wank", of uncertain etymology, might (*might*) be derived from the verb "wankelen". Probably not, though.

[@kyle18934]

@@Rhynome wank kind of sounds like yank (given that they didn't use modern english I'm just assuming the work was simmilar) maybe Wanker described that one idiot that tries to pull barbed arrowheads out of other people's wounds without doing anything for it.

[@muserock2367]

@@Maxmetalmetallica Cool info! The town he is from is actually called Ieper (pronounced sort of like Eye-ayper). Ypres is the French form of the name and the name given to that section of the front line in WW1. The town was totally destroyed during WW1 and then re-built after the armistice almost exactly as it originally was before the war. I visited there for 3 days with my dad a few years ago. Well worth a visit if you get the chance. They do a last post ceremony every night at the Menin Gate (and have done every night since 1919, apart from 1940-1944 when they were occupied by the Germans) to commemorate those killed in WW1

[@mikerochester7779]

"You've now absolutely committed yourself to perhaps a devastating arterial injury that you simply didn't have before." is the best line I've ever heard on KZbin.

[@ciuyr2510]

He got a devastating strike

[@Hero-3]

Ciuy R nat 20

[@TheCureprescriptor]

you should visit medical videos more often :*

[@galenschultz3239]

Such a British way to phrase it. Fuckin love it.

[@Thor_Underdunk_Caballerial]

Metal as fuck

[@SH3Bstanko6]

When someone says "I don't know" and are humble and honest about it, only hardens that person's credibility. Love it!

[@taekwondotime]

Unless an atheist says: "I don't know"... in which case they get blasted by creationists about being wrong about the origins of the universe lol. :)

[@baraka629]

This man is the exact opposite of a typical Dunning-Kruger syndrome sufferer

[@icenine135]

@@taekwondotime I've never heard an atheist say honestly: I don't know. They start spouting data and words that they have no clue about.

[@mattberg6816]

Definitely

[@NetherPrime]

@@icenine135 Then you know some pretty shitty and stupid atheist's, creationist's are directly wrong tho. I've never understood how you can honestly believe such nonsense.

[@Thor_Underdunk_Caballerial]

Funny how Tod repeatedly apologises over the condition of the arrows while anyone watching this video is absolutely blown away by all this wonderful information and the only person who could possibly care about these arrow condition is himself. But I guess such passion is what delivers this content so flawlessly in the first place.

[@billrich9722]

Hilarious.

[@immortalsofar5314]

I'm sure they weren't too worried about how clean they were back in the day.

[@SplendidFellow]

"Dirty arrows." *dislike*

[@wellybobs4403]

Dirty arrows were stuck in the ground where you pissed so as to cause infection even if they didn't kill. Arrows are seriously underestimated even today. Home defence for when the SHTF.

[@PRLake007.1]

I honestly did not notice how warped some of the arrows are until he mentioned it.

[@sibire8284]

"I can't say it's an actual fact, but *someone* probably thought of it" Finally, someone speaks the truth about like, 95% of medieval military history

[@Hirosjimma]

look for the comment of Max Albertz, he found an early 14th century source: Max Albertz 1 week ago Pulling a barbed arrow out is described in the manuscript Jan Ypermans Surgie from 1303-1304. He describes using a goose feather to put around the barbs.

[@simonspacek3670]

I'm around history battles for some time now and I can tell you that it is amazing how many things those people in battlefieds were able to do. Using feathers to remove those arrows? Sure, why not. Maybe even common reed might be used. In Asia they would use bambus (I don't know if they had this type of arrowheads there but it is so easy to invent that it would surprise me if they didn't).

[@TheDragovianLord]

Isn't the general rule, or inside joke, between archaeologists, "if we don't know what it does, it is for ritualistic use"

[@NikBlackwell]

@@TheDragovianLord thanks for the laugh. It's so ridiculously reductive but time and again they trot that same thing out. As though everyone's got all this spare time and excess resources that they can just expend them endlessly.

[@bryanskscion2229]

@@NikBlackwell I don't know. When you think about the pyramids or the 9 mile long patterns in Chile, ancient people sometimes had a lot of time and resources to waste.

[@keving90]

It’s 3 am, I’ve never shot a bow in my life, and here I am watching a video about 6 different kinds of arrows.

[@kirkendauhl6990]

Blue Hell Demon same, except I love shooting bows and it’s 04:00 lol

[@tommyt1038]

3:10am

[@bencloostermans2181]

3:12 am here, and I am supposed to be at work in 3 hours...

[@kinggrooms7473]

Everything interesting happens at 3 am

[@andersoj5]

230. figured this video would help put me to sleep. i was wrong

[@davidm1563]

Tod, it's pretty clear that the last arrow was most commonly used by Robin Hood to cut the hangman's noose and free his band of merry men from the clutches of the Sheriff of Nottingham.

[@SuperAWaC]

which was known to be a daily occurrence in medieval england

[@immortalayarna]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@uiomancannot7931]

@@SuperAWaC Was Robin Hood a Florida Man type figure?

[@MrCantStopTheRobot]

For all we know, Robin IS Florida Man, who made his way to vacation in the New World after Merlin granted him immortality.

[@uiomancannot7931]

@@MrCantStopTheRobot He could've passed out and slowly floated over the ocean to florida.

[@joanmarcferreaparici2282]

The last arrow: a history teacher told me that it would be perfect for shooting a horse without causing too much damage, since the shape prevents great penetration and the horse perceives it as a predator bite (2 teeth) and only penetrates just enough to make him move violently and throw the rider, in order to kill the knight and keep his horse almost intact since they were of great value. There are other possible and feasible uses, such as bird hunting, target practice (not losing the arrow), or even fishing. for me: all possible and not mutually exclusive. ONE YEAR LATER...: I kept investigating...there is one more practical and to me possible use. ...One that would explain its massive use in the high middle ages even against infantry...in that period rounded armor began to be used...mainly to give an opportunity against gunpowder weapons and longbows or crossbows with massive penetrating power. since the convex armor favors the ricochet of the projectile occasionally: Against convex armor, the double point reduces the risk of rebound... it would be decisive if good old Todd did the test. It could be something pioneering in archaeology.

[@shackledwithfreedom]

Golden comment.

[@immortalsofar5314]

I was wondering whether it was for small game but this theory is far more plausible. For whatever it's worth, I concur.

[@wnchstrman]

@@immortalsofar5314 Small game seems very probable, and a dual use for dismounting knights would also be valuable.

[@kalcibone]

Unsharpened sure, but a proper sharped one would be like not very deep but very wide cut, trying to get as much damage as possible in a quick hit. Akin to tossing rasorblades at someone. if that is sharped to highheaven, then i could see it being armed for cutting limbs and muscle damage as well as bloodletting major artories in the limbs and throat.

[@jeremiahbaker7584]

It reminds me of those Indian discs they would throw that would sever hands arms etc..this arrow having a much smaller tip obviously

[@chesterhackenbush]

Tod: I used to know an old archer when I was a child in the 1960's. He fought in WW1 and was an expert on all things archery. He showed me some original arrow heads- including some found in a French belfry. The crescent shaped arrow head was (according to what he was told as a child) used to ensure a "rapid drop" by breaking bones. Normal broad heads and the like would strike bone and glance off, the crescent shape prevented this and ensured the bone if struck would break. He also explained that it made a slightly wider wound channel due to the dual points striking the flesh first and pushing the outer regions inward like a "pinch". Sadly he told me much more - however it was such a long time ago... hope this helps.

[@juancornetto8243]

This makes perfect sense. It's obviously to stop it glancing off something; I had assumed some sort of armadillo type animal when he showed it but your explanation is 100% plausible. Thanks.

[@danielroder830]

The cresecent shape could be for hunting birds. It prevents it from going in to deep and destroying the precious meat. But it would do enough damage to disable any bird. Or another idea, in a hunting scenario with a lord or king someone, the peasant damage the bigger animals with those arrows but they don't kill them only weaken them and drive them in the right direction, so the king can then kill it and claim his victory. The arrows don't get stuck and there is no "proof" that someone else shot it successfully before. I can imagine those were the strange rules back then in a hunting game.

[@mokwit]

Similar shape but maybe 2-3x larger Samurai war arrows - again no one actually knows but the guess is that they were used to cause horses to flinch with painful wounds and make them reluctant to continue charging.

[@mokwit]

How were they used against game - what size game and kill/disable how? Interesting that you say they could cut rope as one theory is that they were for hamstringing i.e cut the tendon - I don't believe that as you would have to be both super accurate and facing the animal exactly right AND the arrow would have to hit with the blade flat i.e at right angles to the tendon. Certainly a charging horse does not present tendons facing the right way.

[@chesterhackenbush]

@@mokwit The arrow head is of a semi-circular cross section, upon contact with either of the points, inertia and tortional forces will cause the cutting edge to rotate along the planar invaginated surface, thusly causing the arrow to cut tendons and bone that a regular arrow head would glance off of.

[@totenkopfan6296]

1:00 AM: Okay, i should get some rest 4:22 AM: *Six Medieval Arrow Types - What are they for?*

[@dakkefernet8585]

same here!! 😂🍻

[@FielValeryRTS]

1:00 AM: I should go to sleep... 2:44 AM: *Six Medieval Arrow Types - What are they for?* Interesting...

[@Madpizzaboy2]

it is 4:11 am right now ,is this coincidence i think NOT!

[@krystofbalek147]

Exactly...

[@kennethkaltenbach1366]

@6:45

[@earllybird4819]

Lol, favorite part is when he states " Well as far as we know, medieval people had the same brains as we did, and felt the same pain, and weren't stupid" 😂💀

[@Qardo]

I don't know. "Modern" Humans are pretty stupid. So if we have the same brains as "Medieval" Humans. Yeah. We are equally stupid. After all. The quote: "WHAT THIS!" is timeless.

@@Qardo Japanese picked up grenades with timed fuses Koreans left behind asked that very question "What this" and then they got exploded all over the fort.

[@bobhollywood4093]

@Steven Hickman people weren't dying early in the past, not outside of famine or disease. They lived pretty long lives, just as we do, albeit not as long because we have better technology. But folks weren't dying at thirty just because their bodies couldn't last much longer than that. Lol.

[@rafaelbogdan9307]

@@bobhollywood4093 IIRC people who made it to adulthood back then, and didn't get bumped off by plague/bandits/accident/war/famine/childbirth, tended to make it to their fifties and sixties... which is when most modern people die as well, if/when modern medicine isn't there to save them. The main reason life expectancy _at birth_ was so low is that the pre-penicilin world was an absolute death trap for kids under five.

[@amicaze9570]

@@bobhollywood4093 Well yeah if you go through birth, childhood, famines, diseases, risk of infection, war, etc, you'd live to 60 years old. It's getting through all of that stuff that is hard. It was luck based. Oh, you got a cough, which evolved in a pneumonia because there's nothing to treat you, aaand you're dead.

[@jacktrades867]

As a history student I cannot express how much I appreciate the note at the beginning about how others put forward information as flat fact and that the information he's putting forward is what he believes is true based on what he's learned and figured out.

[@GrasshopperKelly]

8:30 "I don't know" You have a subscription sir!

[@tamlandipper29]

Literally what I did!

[@myriaddsystems]

Me too! I respect someone who says like Patrick Moore "We just don't know".

If only more people were like this. IT seems lying is easier

[@dansminecraftvideos]

@Baconmuncher He means he is subscribing to him based on the fact that he is upfront about not knowing where he got this information, and not having any credible source, instead of just lying and saying its true.

[@cjsomething4995]

Kind of like when I hear "Scientists speculate.." "Researchers accept the.." "The theory of..". At least he is real and honest. You are subbed my friend!

[@0funtimesandhappylucy]

Because you so professionally handled not being able to call the feather method fact, I liked this video.

[@Erik-vp5bm]

@Alex Vives One can still appreciate a person who's not above admitting that there are things he doesn't know about his subject.

[@thankyouforyourcompliance7386]

@Alex Vives interesting. Although you might have got a severe blood poisoning using a feather with all its organic stuff you at least for the arrow out. Anyway: glad I did not lived back then.

[@theshuman100]

@@thankyouforyourcompliance7386 infection?? whats that

[@samuelluria4744]

Thank you for your compliance - Don't get _too_ cozy....we all gotta go _somehow_ 😜

[@samuelluria4744]

X_XJacob - And for your elegant sentence structure, I gave your comment a thumbs up.

[@ptonpc]

The last one is for mowing very small patches of grass from a distance....

[@charliedilltarde9881]

thin lines. very thin lines.

[@junreybade1738]

😅😂😂😂

[@anthonybracuti6898]

you made me chuckle

[@gustavgnoettgen]

*insert any British lawns jokes here

[@Lacombe57]

LMAO! Comment of the Day !! Sometime last week.

[@reconoverland7388]

Tod, you are incredible humble. Never sell yourself short! Just because you do not have a PhD at the end of your name does not mean you aren't a scholar. Your knowledge of medieval armor and weapons is incredible. I can listen to you all day long. Thank you for posting these videos.

[@Imtahotep]

AMEN. Point well taken.

[@mrbluesky9891]

@@Imtahotep Pun intended? Point well taken=arrow

[@Imtahotep]

@@mrbluesky9891 I was considering putting it in quotes but you got it

[@mrbluesky9891]

@@Imtahotep YAY...does this mean I'm brainy?....probs not. :)

[@chrisschenk1495]

I couldn't agree more....... cfnc

[@KlausKaiserDB3TK]

"The myth and legend that surrounds the English longbow obscures so much hard information." You mean, the English longbow is the katana of projectile weapons?

[@xBloodBoundx]

@Pappy Tron Your pop-pop was Mad Jack? lol

[@Booruvcheek]

@Pappy Tron You forgot to mention he shot several arrows at once 😉🙃

[@garthfairfield8357]

@Pappy Tron utter tripe

[@ciprianganea759]

No, he said that the English longbow is far too mystified. The long bow (not only English) is a weapon that combines power with low price and an easy technological process at the expense of versatility. A recurve composite bow, as the Egyptians Bow 4,000 years ago or the Scythian Bow 2000 years ago had similar powers but could be used by lesser people, could be used on the back of the horse, but such a bow would be expensive even at present. For example, the Korean Bow requires animal horns from the indochine peninsula, imported wood, and the glue was made from oceanic fish while the long English bow was only a piece of wood imported from Spain.

[@mirycreek]

@@ciprianganea759 😂😅😂😂 you don't have a fuckin clue what you are talking are talking about. Longbow were dependant on regular wood imports from Spain! You know they were developed by the Welsh using yew wood as well as other locally available woods suitable, that was until the duke of Normandy set up a landing pad for drones and the the first Amazon prime account for his Longbow supplies from Spain. Until then they relied on FedEx which wasn't very efficient yet with no roads and constantly making right hand turns they were forced to go in circles.

[@JetorgXIII]

Thank you for your clarifications, I cannot accurately describe how relieving it is to hear someone comfortable enough with themselves to explain in detail what they do and do not know. It lends so much to your credibility, thanks for the video, I'll be sure to explore your channel more.

[@TheCinderfang]

Ya, when someone can say when they don't know their credibility jumps.

[@quantumtp5872]

Me: I have to be up at 7, I should get some sleep. *sees this video* Me: oh yes this is definitely something I need to know

[@Zeithri]

You never know when you get accosted by a burly Knight and all you happen to be carry is a Bow and arrows after all!

[@cirno9356]

@@Zeithri or zombies xD

[@imjustwill]

@@cirno9356 Armored zombies ;)

[@indoorsandout3022]

It is 4:20 here, I love archery, and I have been working out a way to haft a handmade arrowhead onto an alluminium shaft because I want to try a crecent head on our local wild boar.

[@imjustwill]

@@indoorsandout3022 You might need something a little tougher than aluminum. If you get a chance to do a strength test with a wooden dowel vs aluminum shaft let me know please. I also want to note that the wooden shaft arrows Tom has are a bit thicker than the average aluminum shaft arrow.

[@jammybizzle666]

Imagine walking across a battlefield with your head down and arms all tucked in, getting peppered with arrows that are bouncing off your armour. That must have been terrifying

[@lucanic4328]

4:39 It was said to me by the former curator of the Eastern Collection in the Royal Armouries of Leeds, Ian Bottomley, that the English arrows they have analyzed had exactly that feature, steel on the edges. Great content as always!

[@hellonearth-thehistoryofwa1270]

I followed up your claim, and he was kind enough to Confirm it to me as well.

[@NothingLikeAGoodWork]

The intelectual correctness of this man is very refreshing, and the content is very interesting aswell. You got yourself a new subscriber!

[@NothingLikeAGoodWork]

@ROBERT J KIS typo, thanks!

[@weasle2904]

intellectual

[@alphasierra.]

+1

[@sasquatchredbeard9385]

Except he makes the british mistake of calling Alluminum "Alluminium" which I agree sounds better but is technically inaccurate.

[@alphasierra.]

@@sasquatchredbeard9385 how is him calling it "aluminium" technically incorrect?

[@futurerandomness1620]

Would that be an African swallow, or European swallow tail for that arrow head?

[@ZacHawkins42]

And also: How far would you be able to propel a coconut (tied with perhaps a bit of twine) with said arrow?

[@qutube100]

Depends on the unladen weight of the two halfs of coconut used to simulate the horse you might be riding....

[@toompyfloyd4074]

What!? I don't know that? FWOOSH! AAAAAAGGHHHHH!!!!

[@myster.ejones1306]

Aha! So that last arrow type was obviously for cutting coconuts! For transportation purposes. No medieval Knight would go galloping around Wales without his trusty coconut halves. 😊

[@solsdadio]

First thou should take out the holy pin, then thou shouldst count to three....

[@bygoditsfullofstars]

Here are the time stamps for the arrows! Plate Cutter (Arrow Piercing Bodkin): 0:57 Needle Bodkin: 5:10 Barbed type 16: 6:18 Leaf shape: 9:25 Swallow Tail: 10:07 Crescent: 14:10

[@truthlight2816]

Thanks.

[@phil20_20]

It's about time somebody mentioned case hardening! Good job!

[@ollifoxbow9123]

That’s the most accurate, differentiated and informing explanation of this subject I have seen as a video so far. I have been looking for this quite some time. Thank you very much for this constantly high quality content.

[@anarchyfox325]

Ollie fox bow agreed totally fellow fox :-) 👍❤🐺🐾🐺

[@SuperAWaC]

@@anarchyfox325 perverted degenerate

[@harleyme3163]

yet only the kings and royal gaurd wore full plate mail.. lol the army wore a chestplate and a helmut at best. hes right but rarely you see honor gaurd rush arrows.. they werent stupid ya know lol..

[@SonsOfLorgar]

@@harleyme3163 eh... no, just no. Thats D&D level bullshit.

[@matthiuskoenig3378]

@@harleyme3163 actually plate armour was very common for knights in the later middle ages, common soldiers only wore chestplates in later periods, in the latter middle ages they wore brigandines and chainmail. and earlier they wore chainmail or just gambersons. also 'rushing arrows' was a common thing, shields exist afterall.

[@VJEManninen]

Dear Tod, I recently went to the Finnish National Museum in Helsinki, where they had on display an arrowhead very much similar to your crescent-head. According to the display sign, the arrowhead was "iron age" in the Finnish context, so that would be early medieval on a more central-European scale. The sign said these types of arrowheads were used when hunting waterfowl near shoreline brushes - the design making missed arrows easier to find! I got a contact e-mail for the museum staff and I'll ask them if they have a good source on this information and let you know if something turns up.

[@AliothAncalagon]

@Abu Troll al cockroachistan I cannot talk about the resulting aerodynamics, but the main advantage of a metal shaft could be that the shaft is not snapping on impact but instead "pushing" more into the hit. So on paper you have more punch to it. But there are a couple problems. 1. If you try to keep the same weight the metal shaft is going to be only around 30% in diameter compared to wood. It might be bending just as quickly as wood is snapping. 2. If you don't care about making the arrow heavier it will be slower. Any advantage will be thrown out the window. 3. Steel was much more expensive than wood. Conclusion: There is just no point in "full steel arrows". Probably some people tried it a few times. And because its not worth it they stopped doing it a week later.

[@AliothAncalagon]

@Abu Troll al cockroachistan So what exactly were these results, you seem to know them pretty well? What diameter did they use? What kind of material? And what were they supposed to be used for? As a mechanical engineer I am quite experienced with steel. And I would guess that you underestimate the forces of an arrow on impact. I don't want to bore you with mechanics, but if you compare the section modulus for both, wood and metal shaft of the same weight you might find out in surprise that the wooden one, due to its bigger geometry, will not break more easily than the metal one, despite metal being a tougher material.

[@AliothAncalagon]

@Abu Troll al cockroachistan "how do you explain modern thin hollow Carbon arrows penetrating far better and being more solid then the wooden one's" Carbonfiber in general performs better than wood. It is also not that much heavier. If the arrow is much thinner and hollow the arrow will be much lighter which results in smaller forces, less penetration and a smaller likelyhood of the arrow shattering on impact. Do you have sources for better penetration? Maybe the bow or the target is the reason, not the arrow. "there are even Aluminum arrows made too today because Aluminum is a very light metal" Depending on the alloy aluminium is expected to perform better than steel. This is about geometry again. I don't have interest in wasting money in such a historically irrelevant experiment. At least not as long as relevant historical questions we could tackle instead remain unanswered.

[@AliothAncalagon]

@Abu Troll al cockroachistan Look at a later video from Todd mythbusting Armor vs Arrows. There was one case of a war arrow with a case hardened bodkin head that didn't shatter, but instead transferred all of its momentum into the armor. Nothing. This was already a 80g beast of an arrow shot by a 160lbs bow at low distance. You aren't going to change the matchup with arrow redesign shenanigans. The geometry is simply against you. Its a ludicrous misconception to try to fix anything with a higher arrow weight to begin with. If you aren't able to make the bow more powerful, which you hardly can any further, the result is just a very underwhelming result with an awkwardly slow projectile. You would be better off throwing if you wanted to go any heavier.

[@AliothAncalagon]

@Abu Troll al cockroachistan No. Just no. I am too bored to explain the same things over and over again, but you have a huge problem with physics. Your example of thinking that a thrown weapon will always be subpar to a projectile of a sling or a bow is just a prime example. You talk about momentum. Why does your talking point sound as if you had no idea how momentum works? The 80g arrow of the example is heavy as fuck. The top speed was 55m/s. Javelin throwers are able to throw a 800g Javelin with 31m/s. A war javelin would have even higher momentum. Do the math. Tell me which one will have more momentum. And then conclude weither its realistic, or totally bollocks to think there would be only the slightest chance to raise the momentum of an arrow or a sling projectile to the one of a thrown javelin.

[@martynb901]

Following on from my previous suggestion about the crescent-shaped arrowhead, I think I've stumbled on the answer! I was visiting a lovely little museum in Watchet, Somerset, whehn I came across a display featuring different types of arrowhead. The one in question is labelled as a 'crescent broadhead', used for 'horse disabling' and 'rope/sail cutting'.

[@DrMarlowski]

Take my comment with a grain of salt but I could definitely see the last one being used for hunting smaller animals on the ground like rabbits and turkeys. It doesn't burrow itself into the ground, it packs a lot of punch and kills smaller animals instantly with pure kinetic energy (kinda like a blunt arrow) but it's also sharp so you do get some bonus cutting/bleeding effect in case your shot doesn't hit 100% perfectly and the animal doesn't die instantly

[@Zadie112]

out of all the different guesses i like this one the most. seems very logical when hunting small animals that you don't need arrowheads designed to make the animal bleed out as quickly as possible so if just hitting it with any arrowhead will suffice you might as well make it one that doesn't bury itself in the ground.

[@inspectorcal]

i think your theory about the crescent shaped head is a very sound one. and seeing as though no-one else has a definite reasoning for this arrow shape, i would go with your theory, and let it be written as such, until someone proves otherwise. well done you.

[@serenegreene6984]

Your theory is sound, and in fact, was iterated by the fellow (Todd, I believe his name is) when he compared it with the modern "JUDO" point. But, as he also stated, Whenever he has seen paintings depicting the use of this style of arrowhead, it was being used on game such as deer or boar and NOT on foul or small mammals or fish for that matter. And it does seem strange that someone going to the arduous task of painting the scene and noticing the detail of the style of arrowhead, would then paint a deer, where a duck stood.....But, in the same breath: Artists, Eh ? See the fun, overlook the fundamentals.

[@Wookiescantfly]

it could be that the arrowhead is more meant to break bone or disable the target. I could see it being easier to strike bones or joints with such a wide arrowhead. actually, the more I look at the design of the arrowhead the more it looks like it might be meant to strike between joints given how slim the tip is. A good shot to the neck or back would probably cripple whatever you're shooting at without damaging the pelt too much. This is just heavy speculation on my part though.

[@anne-droid7739]

@@serenegreene6984 I have no idea what that crescent point was used for, but I can guess about the paintings: One might paint a deer or a boar where a duck stood because the patron would be better pleased by the more heroic image. Sometimes flattery pays better than unvarnished truth. =D

[@TheArcticTravels]

Military Heads 0:59 Armor-piercing Bodkin (Plate Cutter) 5:10 Needle Bodkin 6:25 Open Barbed Type 16 Hunting Heads 9:25 Leaf Shape 10:07 Swallow Tail 14:11 Crescent

[@satz8783]

Yo are the boss

[@emberhermin52]

I thought I would need this but it turned out to be so interesting I just watched

[@andhieyusuf7008]

Who would win: - English archers with "armor-piercing" arrows or - Hunched-over French knights

[@Swagpapii]

Some hunchie-bois

[@dabunnyrabbit2620]

French.... Is this a trick question?

[@UKMonkey]

French knights, with no shields or horses...

[@-_-DAVe]

Since the french would be running away you could shoot them in the back, gonna go w the eng on this one.

[@kirkendauhl6990]

Virgin French knight vs Chad British Archer

[@MrSinghKhanna]

One of the best explanations of the arrowheads that I've had the pleasure to hear. Clear, concise, researched, and no fluff. Thank you sir.

[@ErokowXiyze]

"Eh, wrong colour." Got you the like. Nobody ever talks about how blue steel is.

[@phtevenmolz5030]

While I mostly agree with this thought, you can have aluminum that looks like steel, depending on the grade, heat treatment, and finish. You can also have steel that looks like aluminum, depending on carbon content and finish. It's usually easy to tell the difference, but there are some that would confuse you.

[@SiFiFreak]

Iron and aluminum look very different. Steel and aluminum can look very similar. It all has to do with the finish and composition. At work I deal with lot of aluminum. I saw a piece that I swore was aluminum until I picked it up. Way heavy. That was most likely stainless as it spent a lot of time outside and shown no sign of rust.

[@ErokowXiyze]

All I'm saying is that steel gets a blue shine to it (most of the time), while aluminum tends to get a white shine. Tin gets a similar, though slightly chalkier shine to it as aluminum.

[@phtevenmolz5030]

@@SiFiFreak exactly. I'm in aviation and I guarantee most people couldn't tell the difference between most grades of sheet metal and sheet aluminum, let alone what type they are. And that's just the basic alloys.

[@tabchanzero8229]

Now I have to go look for videos comparing the appearances of alloys. Thanks, all.

[@ashleyphotog]

not just interesting, but a genuine pleasure to listen to you talk freely and honestly, and with a very 'listenable' voice. subscribed.

[@tyh7529]

Ah yes, the KZbin recommendation algorithm has done its magic once again.

[@yesman9792]

Yes indeed, a fickle mistress she is .

[@disnagburnazog9552]

i've been watching nothing but music videos, a few warhammer things and YTPs lately, I don't know why youtube suggested this (probably because i have schola gladiatoria in subs?) but I am thankful

[@thecharmcityredneck]

Everytime

[@brian280453]

How I wish I had had a history teacher with the knowledge and passion that Tod has, I could listen to him all day.

[@VideoHawkeye]

You gotta love people with a passion for what they love.

[@TheCompleteMental]

Thats what loving something is, right?

[@AlchemiProducts]

This was wonderful to watch. Your honesty made me subscribe. You're incredibly articulate. Thank you for all the information!

[@chesterhackenbush]

@@tods_workshop : Dear sir - I have posted on this channel the answer to the crescent shaped arrow head's function - hope it helps!

[@raisagorbachov]

Thank heavens - somebody that talks honestly about a subject.

[@limburakuloliver5405]

Rrgeetm

[@billyelliot4141]

42 to you. buy some bitcoin ticker btc and some cardano ticker ada. or you wont hve cash to buy that second head in 2024. marvin ps bitcoin will devour all cash

[@martynb901]

Great to stumble upon an intelligent, articulate, gimmick-free presentation like this. I'm intrigued by the last crescent shaped arrow head. It seems it can only be intended to penetrate something relatively soft, and the first thing that came into my mind was fish, but someone else has suggested waterfowl, which also makes sense.

[@Imtahotep]

I think you're right: water is the key whether swimming or floating on it.

[@ChorltonBrook]

I thought maybe a throat? But I suppose any arrow would work there.

[@pu-crekker4098]

Romans used them for DECAPITATING OSTRICHES during the games if you can believe THAT!

[@347Jimmy]

Apparently they're from China, and were used as an anti-cavalry tactic for wounding horse legs As to the accuracy of this info, 🤷‍♂️

[@mikewhalen8020]

Tod is my "go to" guy when it comes time to purchase medieval weaponry. I own 2 of his bronze mace heads. Tod's stuff is a little bit more expensive, but OMG are they nice. Well made, well balanced and just gorgeous works of craftsmanship. Thank you Tod.

[@granticusiv]

When I started reenactment back in 2010, Tod's Stuff was one of the first recommendations I had

[@AverchenkoMiroslav]

I thought you were going to review the dwarven, elven, orcish, glass, ebony and daedric arrows.

[@bigredwolf6]

Miroslav Averchenko I think we’ve found the person responsible for all the arrows in knees

[@punic4045]

Get him!

[@siahmon1able]

Yes

[@justmyopinion2333]

Miroslav Averchenko I don’t need review on those arrows, they make since. I need him to review why the hell falmer and forsworn arrows are so damn weak.

[@Alfenium]

Also the stand and requiem arrows.

[@dylanuttam2881]

It’s awesome how you say “I don’t know”. It not only makes you sound more humble, but more credible. I appreciate it!

[@jaksaradman1627]

The crescent arrow dates from the Zhou Dynasty (周朝), followed by Qin (秦) and Han (漢代). Sketches were found on bamboo tiles 650 BC and with Han on the paper at the time. The arrows were for one purpose, not against cavalry, not for killing horses, but for hurting horse legs. At the command of the officers, all the front archers were slashing from the kneeling stance and shooting the cavalry at their lower leg . The wounding of the leg would cause great trauma and pain due to the multitude of tendons, the roar of the horses would confuse the other horses and make a mess in the cavalry. A dead horse does not panic in the rest of the cavalry but is wounded with a crescent or chisel arrow in the tendon and the bone is indeed. A Chinese friend, not by age but still, showed me some of the photocopied writings from that time, he worked at the Beijing Archaeological Institute, there are many things, but this one does not have any prerequisites on the internet: to cut a rope, to hunt, to .... .. funny and thanks for your video -Jaksa Radman.

[@27toten]

Well put!

[@KorumEmrys]

I thought the crescent arrow could be used for fishing though I admittedly have no other ideas besides what wisdom you shared...Thank You.

[@jaksaradman1627]

@@KorumEmrys Thank you, it's hard to come to the truth today!

[@squidwardo7074]

I thought it might be used to help neutralize the angle on curved armor

[@davidwacker1925]

Really enjoyed your lecture on these arrows and it's refreshing to hear someone say they don't know.

[@simonblackwell3576]

9:00 “modern problems require modern solutions” - soldiers in the 16th century probably

[@booradley6832]

Richard the Lionhearted was sent the personal doctor of Saladin(by Saladin, of course) after being injured by an arrow, who used wooden dowel rods soaked in honey to slowly dilate the channel, remove it and prevent infection. Throw in a little lidocaine for local pain and people would buy that as a preferred treatment these days. My source is Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings' historical background page. If I cant trust Ensemble Studios, who can I trust?

[@Jesses001]

I just learned a first aid trick! I can use a sterilized drinking stray in place of that feather in case I have to remove anything with a reverse spike like that.Thanks. Hope that is never useful but good to know if I ever need it.

[@gregtheredneck1715]

As long as you're not in California!

[@Jesses001]

@@gregtheredneck1715 ...good point, ha.

[@Leothelion357]

I would use two sticks, get better feel for where the tips are seating

[@zone8848]

So that’s why you were drinking from this man’s wound?

[@patrickkeller2193]

Just keep in mind that removing is always the worse option, only do it when hiking and you have to move the person a lot, but if you have an ambulance with a stretcher coming, leave the object in, to reduce bleeding.

[@Dss-bm3rz]

I appreciate the fact that you are honest about the lack of knowledge about certain artifacts, rather than making up some nonsense.

[@Dampfaeus]

The last one is obviously for hunting goblins and orks, duh. And they where extremely successful, since they where hunted to extinction :D

[@LindaGailLamb.0808]

As good an explanation as any.

[@johnperry6746]

Nice.

[@tonyalanmarchant7330]

Thankyou sounds right

[@blakefriesen1216]

it's for rabbits.

[@sebcruz9197]

They’re useless. And they look bad.

[@AndyRobichaud]

I'm glad this was in my suggested videos. Looking forward to checking out more of your videos Tod. I love learning about historical crafting and tech.

[@jugdealer1227]

That feather barb trick is pretty sweet, I'll remember that just in case...

[@amandasmith1236]

Let me know if you ever have to use that trick.

[@groynin]

The kind of random knowledge that you write in you novel or something and have people making videos and theories and study about it years later.

Hopefully you don't get shot in the back.... with no friends around

[@SB-rf2ye]

@@groynin I'm definitely using this in my novel.

[@TheLithp]

Just bring a cell phone & call 911.

[@jacktribble5253]

I've seen that crescent head in Japan, they referred to it as a "Frog Crotch" point. You've sparked my interest here, I'm going to do some comparison of all these shapes to much older stone points that I've cataloged. Perhaps I'll learn something. Thank you for your time.

[@TrueFork]

They seem relatively common in Japan, sometimes very ornate. Though it seems nobody is quite sure what they were for there either.

[@jacktribble5253]

@@TrueFork I'm not beyond calling some of them ceremonial but others are obviously utilitarian. Confounding set of circumstances.

[@walterotto2801]

+q+å1q1111¹

[@duanesamuelson2256]

As I recall from a long time ago the crescents were used for bird hunting in Rome and perhaps Greece and others. The crescent was sharpened on the inside as a cutting edge. It was made to cut up birds to drop them quickly (heads wings amputated). A regular arrow will pass through allowing them to fly away before dying, or flying off with your arrow (there was a stork that was flying around for a couple weeks before they managed to capture it to remove the arrow). For fishing it's small tips with small barbs to avoid deflection in the water, if arrows were used at all (spears were common).

[@ravenmasters2467]

i looked up '"Frog Crotch" point arrow' after reading your comment and sure enough found an article that desribed its use. "The "knife prong" and "frog crotch" were intended to cut the helmet-strings and armor-lacing of the enemy". So thankyou for that clue. It was the crescent head in the thumbnail that piqued my curiosity and made me watch the video.

[@andrewtan6221]

It’s 4:20 am and I’m here learning about medieval arrows. Thank you! Great content!

[@lostpockets2227]

lmaooo duude 420 😂😂😂 haha weed bro

[@kenkoopa7903]

nice

[@CaptApril123]

Welcome to the club, we've got t-shirts

[@neilwilson5785]

Wonderful. A gritted teeth thank you to KZbin for getting the suggestion VERY right this time.

[@jay71512]

Love the quill over the barb idea! Like you said they werent stupid and must have had ways!

[@Tallnerdyguy]

Often little sticks were used as well

[@cytherians]

I expect there were many ways that people devised for dealing with issues but were never well documented if at all... so much experiential knowledge perished over time because of fragile and expensive recording methods.

[@spiff2268]

@@cytherians Could've also been a case of "Everybody who needs to know this trick knows this trick. Why bother to write it down?"

[@rabbi120348]

@@cytherians Plenty of oral traditions in classical cultures. The knowledge probably died out when people no longer encountered barbed arrows on the battlefield. Also, quills would probably have been handy since they were used on the arrows themselves.

[@nansnook3920]

Your comments are very intriguing. I love learning any historical information I can. The older the better.

[@szarvaskoppany]

Regarding the crescent shaped arrowhead, Hungarian reenactor told me (a long ago, I might not remember details correctly) that it is for hunting in the reeds, next to swamps, the point being if you miss, it gets stuck sooner in some reed and won't fly far away so it'll be easier to retrieve afterwards, since arrows were expensive. Greetings from Hungary, with reflex bows and backwards shooting!

[@jacobnisley6581]

Having hunted quite a bit with a bow, this makes a lot of sense. Missing or shooting through deer in tall grass (golden rods in particular) an arrow with a normal hunting head disappears like magic.

[@jdsd744]

I was thinking the same thing. Either your shot hits, by missing all obstacles, or it falls short enough you can retrieve it, perhaps even in sight. I could also see it being used for hunts. The hunt was an event, and taking down a kill was always an honor. If a guardsmen were to shoot at say, a large boar, he would not want to kill it or he might feel the ire of his lord, but he may wound it for him!

[@petergosden1]

Thank you, Tod. Another great video. I support your view on case hardening. So simple a process for any blacksmith or metalworker, and cost free, that I have believed it inconceivable that it would not have been done. As you say people back then we're not stupid. I recall as a child a comic with a hero series of picture stories of Saladin, I think (it was a long time ago). But I clearly recall the English archer putting a pea-sized ball of beeswax on the tip of his arrow to assist it to penetrate armour (a lubricant?). I can't see that in the heat of battle. But it has stuck with me through these many years. Fascinating stuff. I look forward to your next.

[@OhioCruffler]

Completely agree on the carburising. It's an obvious choice and known at the time.

[@tipsymcstaggerx2173]

First time viewer to your channel. I appreciate how you articulate yourself, & your honesty is refreshing. Great video!

[@abestm8]

It's so nice to finally hear someone who knows what they are talking about. Been in engineering all my life. When you accurately described the case-hardening process, I was hooked. Brilliant stuff.

[@timrogers2045]

Excellent from beginning to end. What an absolutely absorbing, interesting, superbly presented film. Thank you so much.

[@nielsruiter2500]

8:50 you did a really good job sharing your knowledge, and still stating what might be wrong about your knowledge! A lot of academics might still learn from this

[@TFW80]

Dear Tod, for the crescent arrow type, you might want to look into the traditional Japanese Samurai Karimata type of arrows. It's one of many subtypes of arrows fairly similarly shaped arrows that were supposedly used to cut especially large wounds on limbs. Maybe they are similar in use, I'm not an expert on the subject though. I'm enjoying your vids, thanks and keep up the good work.

[@samw5644]

i don't know why i found myself watching a video on medieval arrowheads at 1am but i'm glad i did.

[@jagc1969]

At last I can find a person talking honestly about this topic. You have earned my subscription, sir. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@trogdorburninator1229]

You make quality content I clicked that bell hard. So many people on here talk with more authority than they ought to. You are a refreshing change of pace.

[@randomsecrets]

Very informative, and HONEST! - Instead of just making something up, if you didn't know - you said you didn't know. I absolutely adore the honesty and learned a LOT in the process. - Thank You! - You have a subscriber sir.

[@POPOPOPOPOPOP82]

I really appreciate that you admit when you don’t have all the information. It shows that you really know what you’re talking about.

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

Great video, charismatic presenter, sounds like you really know your thing. You earned a sub, kind sir.

[@barryirlandi4217]

you wouldn't fight him would you? I wouldn't

[@hollaht3753]

Same he looks like he could have it

[@kevinklei3005]

Thanks for a very informative video with no waffle or B.S. Cheers from Down Under in Australia

[@Leehealy-wheninthewoods]

I want to say thank you for this video! Really very good stuff and a refreshing perspective. I appreciate any perspective that concedes the “I don’t knows” right away. I’d also like to say for the large part that your ideas on how these heads were used seems very legitimate. My one contention, and I also will concede that may be incorrect, is that a large arrow head will inevitably steer an arrow off course. I shoot modern compound bows as a hunting tool, but I’ve also shot long bows, crossbows, and recurved in the past and practiced with them to proficiency. From my experience, a properly tuned arrow will support a very large head without planning if your arrow is also fletched well. The archers paradox comes into play, but a strong helical flex quickly corrects arrow flight if the shaft is tuned to support the weight of the head. This essentially enable an arrow to fly true regardless of point size or shape...I say this hesitantly however as I’ve not shot an arrowhead passed the 2” cut diameter. But I can speak for arrows tipped with a head up to 300g and 2” wide. They can be tuned to fly true and can practically be used to harvest game out to the shooter max comfort distance(mine was 20yd with traditional gear). Again thank you for the video!

[@Ben-xl7ft]

I could listen to this guy all day, thoroughly interesting and wonderfully presented.

[@hughbriz]

Interesting video, thanks Tod. I am inclined to agree that the crescent head is for small game and birds - to injure without too much visible damage, and also to increase the effective target area without glancing off, or going clean through a wing as a single point arrow might do. Being able to retrieve them easily is a bonus too!

[@jameslawrie3807]

I've spent so many years grinding my teeth at bad history 'tubes. It's so good to see a person who approaches history so well. Maybe you should sit Lindy Beige down and explain how to do this? :)

[@doublem3052]

Only now do i realise how true that actually is

[@paulmathias1908]

Fascinating video and talk through. I like the way you came to the conclusion of using a feather quill over the arrow to remove from the wound. So interesting, thank you.

[@davesheppard8797]

Yes, and there would have been stacks of Feathers around with them as Fletchers would be with the outfit as a matter of course.

[@iahelcathartesaura3887]

This is the kind of thing I watch YT for. I am totally, immediately transfixed, delighted by this wonderful, excellent video.

[@sarpedonzeus1874]

Tod what a brilliant video... loved the content, nicely filmed, location is fab and the outfit perfect.

[@billclarke1131]

What an awesome presentation, especially with practical qualifiers! I learned a great deal. Thanks

[@Forrealcuz]

I subscribed immediately when he admitted that he doesnt know when he doesnt know something.... wise man ... also i could listen to him reading a book on tape anytime.. such a soothing voice

[@matthewmillar3804]

Tod: And here's a crescent shaped arrow head. It's somewhat of a mystery. Me: That seems simple enough, it'll be for hunting birds. Tod: Many people think it's for hunting birds, but it's never shown in that context so I don't think that's the case. *Owned*

[@matthewmillar3804]

@@tods_workshop YES! Vindication! Honest though, big fan. 🙂

[@Grimmrog]

@@tods_workshop they might also be good for smaller stuff, like rabbits and paultry based targets? if you miss you could easilier get it back sicne they don't peirce the ground and have a lower chance of ruining the tip as easily if it hits the ground with a pointy tip. Esecially whent eh surroundign might be more stoney than earthey. A normal srrow may even pierce and overkill the rabbit anyways.

[@johankriel8883]

@@tods_workshop I've never before seen such a mistery crescent shaped arrow head. For birds and small game such as rabbits cross shaped wire "baskets" are used which stun rather than penetrate. I don't want to suggest thery were used as "practice arrows" on humans paintball style as they still look dangerous and inaccurate. When you shoot small targets there is a very good chance you will miss hit a rock and ruin an arrow on which much money, materials and labour were expended. On the other hand the crescent heads are less bulky than baskets and you can fit more of them in a quiver. May have been used on raptors preying on poultry, as it would justify the expense? Up to what distance are they accurate? Great video by the way.

[@elliotbecker6769]

@@tods_workshop Could the additional point on the crescent be a means of increasing the odds of hitting small,swift prey? It seems unlikely, but it popped into my head.

[@stackzgaminglucky7927]

This is information we needed. This is the stuff they should interpret into video games no matter how complicated. If there is a game with arrows such as these, do inform me.

[@ABC-by1tg]

There's a theory about those crescent shaped points found in Poland that basically they were wrapped in a wool or hay dipped in a tar or some other sort of flammable liquid, ignited and shot to begin an arson. The shape of the tip ensures the flaming material not to slide right of the arrow when it gets accelerated by the bow

[@wattyler9806]

The Japanese had the same shape arrow head but I don't know what's there used for.

[@andrewjohnson6716]

“You find a way.” The only reason that Henry V walked away from the Battle of Shrewsbury was because a chirurgien made up a brand new method of removing arrowheads from human faces and got a blacksmith to make a brand new medical apparatus on the spot! Yes, they had the same brains as us and the same motivation.

[@tooyoungtobeold8756]

They didn't do so well with Richard l though. He got an infection and died.

[@bradj977]

I thought the barber surgeon was also a blacksmith and created his own tool in 4 days

[@colepayne7988]

Bitch they had more motivation 😂😂😂👍🏼👍🏼

[@andyman8630]

@@bradj977 actually it was a Barber Sturgeon! lol (Chinese whispers gone wrong)

[@andrewjohnson6716]

@@colepayne7988 No kidding you're working on the King's son and heir while the King hovers over your shoulder!

[@TheHatGuy]

This is a fantastic video, really well put together, extremely informative, and you're very genuine!

[@connormcleod4225]

Literally the coolest intro I've seen, had to rewind like three times 👍

[@Werock4roll]

I was absorbed by your presentation to the very end. Good work!

[@1jimbly1]

Such honesty and integrity is rare these day ..liked and subscribed

[@tods_workshop]

Thanks - really appreciate you taking the time

[@Cibohos]

Todd, I urge you to do more chill talking in the woods about your practical findings on medieval ''mysteries''

[@derpj7105]

00:55 Marry Rose: four faces to pierce armor better (but they can’t) 05:10 Needle Bodkin: is thin so can poke through mail (until mail fell out of use) 06:20 Barbed arrow: only cuts flesh (hurts though) 09:30 Leaf shape: hunting and war arrow (for boars and English pigs) 10:10 Swallowtail: let someone bleed to death asap (animals mostly) 14:20 Crescent-shaped head: I don’t know (are they even longbow-arrows?)

[@davidsteward5290]

The Crescent-Bow tip is generally for injury to birds or something that flys

[@Kaefer1973]

@@davidsteward5290 The Chowke in Africa used virtually identical as well as very similar types at least until the 60's (there's a collection of contemporary hunting arrows including such arrow heads), so there should still be some people alive knowing full well how to use these from first hand experience, if someone really wants to find out.

[@DarrenHughes-Hybrid]

In the Renaissance Re-enactments I belong to, the crescent moon shaped head is a sail cutter. Used to take the wind out of your opponents sails. Leaving them dead in the water! Literally

[@HebaruSan]

The "Medievalists" podcast just did an episode about honey in medicine, which included a long segment about the treatment of Prince Henry's facial arrow wound in 1403. Supposedly the royal surgeon increased the wound size with wooden dowels covered in linen soaked in honey, so they could get the arrowhead out, then kept it open so it could heal from the inside out to prevent an abscess.

[@pikethree]

I saw that. That's what I was thinking while watching this video The best bit was that clever instrument they invented to get the arrow out

[@filipematias5127]

Same here!

[@nvwlsnvwls2785]

Hi, while this is not my typical area of interest, I was very impressed by Tod and the medieval tech. Thank you for a very clear description that even I could comprehend and for making the presentation worth watching till the end. How many of our ancestors put food on the table with this tech and how many fell to them in combat. Sitting here in A/C during a heat wave watching content from half a world away, the contrast in life experience is shocking.

[@Pantherking916]

Finally someone who is honest and real and doesn't give a load of bs with facts. Respect due and paid.

[@Lostinsilenthill]

The last arrow you showed i think would be good for range contests. Seeing how far someone could shoot an arrow and because of the design when they land they would stand up making it easier to determine a winner, im just speculating tho.

[@combeechan]

Hey Tod, congrats on figuring out KZbin's algorithm. Have been seeing this video thumbnail all night. Great presentation though. Thank you for the information!

[@Lew114]

Love your transparency about sources and that some of the theories are reasonable but can’t be absolutely proven. Fascinating stuff.

[@dunwitch]

Being an avid hunter, I have an idea about the crescent-headed arrows. I think they were beater arrows. Most of the hunting (especially in the older days) consisted of driving the game toward stationary hunters (standers). In medieval times the standers would be the Lords and the beaters whatever common folk were employed to chase the game from the bulk of the forest to wherever the Lords were standing. The people who did the driving of game toward the standers were called beaters or drivers. I think they would find these points useful for several purposes: 1) Firing them into heavy cover to startle game. If the game hid in a thicket, these arrows would cause a lot of noise and startle the game into bolting as they tore through the brush with the wide head, scaring the animal in the direction opposite the sound. 2) A hit from these arrows would send large game like deer or boar running in the right direction without injuring it, and finally 3) If the Lord's gamekeeper caught one of the beaters roaming the woods with a crossbow, they could not be accused of poaching because of the non-lethal beater heads on their ammunition.

[@heygek2769]

Wouldnt wooden broad (leafshaped?) achieve the same and be a lot cheaper. If you're going to make arrows just to spook animals, why would you make them as expensive as proper arrows?

[@dunwitch]

If you hit a sapling, piece of brush etc. with a leaf shaped arrow it would just glance off whereas a crescent-headed arrow would stop squarely and shake the sapling/brush violently.

[@heygek2769]

@@dunwitch What about just throwing a rock? It just doesn't make sense because arrows weren't cheap.

[@dunwitch]

Have you ever tried to hit a deer with a rock?

[@heygek2769]

@@dunwitch ... Why the fuck would i be throwing rocks at deer?

[@ScythianGryphon]

...and the crescent arrow is for reenactment of Night Elves!

[@etherealessence]

We are a dying breed. Those of us who know what we know and what we don't. Excellent video!

[@pz9907]

His respect for sources of knowledge is so important and I love it

[@josephnardone1250]

Fascinatingly interesting video. Great and excellent presentation. You really know your stuff. Once again, excellent.