Bow

Bow are one of the most ancient inventions of the person.  This weapon could hit the target at a great distance, thereby giving huge advantage to his owner.
Originally Bow applied on hunting a bit later - in the war.  At all times Bow and arrows, as well as any other weapon, tried to make the most effective.  So, for example difficult compound Bow from horns of animals shoot further the usual Bow made of a tree.  The main parts of Bow are the staff and a bowstring.  The staff of Bow was made of a tree, by horns and even of metal.  Bowstring did of veins of animals, a hempen rope etc.  One end of a bowstring fastened to a staff tightly, and other end of a bowstring could be removed and put on depending on a situation.  The arrow for Bow had to be easy, strong and well balanced.

Therefore a staff of an arrow produced from strong and easy breeds of a tree, such as a cypress, a cedar, an apple-tree etc.   On the end of an arrow the tip fastened.   It was made of iron (in the ancient time - from a stone and a bone).   The tip had a various form depending on the mission.   For range and improvement of balance of an arrow in flight her tail supplied with plumage.   For this purpose used feathers of large birds.   The arrows intended for firing on small distance, had no plumage.

   Length of arrows was defined by the size of scope of the tense Bow and could be from 75 to 125 centimeters, the weight of arrows reached 50-80 grams, thickness - from 10 to 14 millimeters.  Arrows were stored in special cases - quivers.

In the Middle Ages English two-meter wooden Bow were especially highly appreciated. The archer armed with English Bow, could let out from 7 to 11 arrows the minute, thus all arrows hit the mark, and the distance to the purpose was about 100 meters. What could hit the target at distance of 200 meters at that time was considered as the good shooter. The maximum range of flight of the arrow which has been let out from English Bows, was 550 meters. Bows on the qualities were the ideal weapon for army. It was easy, inexpensive, necessarily was easily made of an improvised material, hit the target at considerable distance, and the main thing possessed possibility of silent firing (ideally the weapon for ambushes). Also, shooting from Bows the lit arrows, it was possible to set fire to any structure and even the ship of the opponent.