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8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
1/27
ATREATISE
ONTURKISH
ANDOTHER
ORIENTAL
BOW
OF MEDEVAL
ANDLATER
TIMES
THETURKI SH
OWCONSTRUCTIONAND
DMENSI ONS
PAGE
3
THEBOWSTR NG
6
THERROW
7
THE
METHOD
OF
STRNGNGATURKISH PERSIAN
OR
INDAN
OW
9
THEHORN GROOVE
I I
THE
THUMB R NG
COMPOSI TE
BOW
OF VAR OUS
OR ENTAL NATIONS
THERANGEOF THE
TURKISHOW
9
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
2/27
f .
T
;
.
.
I
~1
t
\
i
i
1
A
8 7
fy
r
t
.
. .
. . .
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
3/27
THE TURKISHBOWCONSTRUCTIONANDDMENSIONS
LENGTH of
bow
measured bef ore i t i s st rung f r om
end
t o end
al ong i t s
out er curve wi t h
a
t a p e 3 f t 9
i n
AAAAAf i g I
opposi t e
page
Span
of
bow
measured
bet ween
i t s ends
when strung
3 f t
2 i n
BB f i g
I
.
Lengt h of
bow- st r i ng
z f t
i i
i n
Great est
wi dt h
of each armof bow
i
i n
Thi ckness
of each arm at a di st ance of 6
i n
f r om t he cent r e of t he handl e
of t he bow l i n .
Ci r cum er ence
of each arm
at
a di st ance of 6 i n f r om t he cent r e of t he
handl e of t he bow 3 i n
The
ar ms of t he
Per si an I ndi an and Chi nese composi t e
bows have a
wi dt h
o f f r om
I 2
t o
z
i n
and
t hough t he
span
of t hese
bows when strung
i s
f r om
4 t o
5
f t
and
more
t hey
do
not shoot a l i g h t arrow near l y so f ar as t he
s h o r t e r
narrower
and
i n
propor t i on
f ar
st r onger
and
more
e l a s t i c
Tur ki sh
ones .
The
strength of t he bow or
t he
wei ght t hat
woul d be r equi r ed on t he centre
of
t he
bow- st r i ng t o pu l l
i t down f r om t he
bowt o
t he
f u l l l engt h
of t he
arrow
i s
i 18 l bs
Thi s
i s wi t hout t aki ng
i n t o
account t he
addi t i onal two
or t hr ee
i nches
t he
poi nt
of
t he
arrow shoul d
be drawn
w t hi n t he
bowal ong
t he horn
groove
.
Wi ght of bow
avoi r dupoi s 12-1
oz
Though I
have
c a r e f u l l y
exam ned over
f i f t y
of t hese
smal l
Tur ki sh bows
I
have
never seen
one
t hat
exceeded
I 4
i n
i
n
wi dt h
at
i t s
wi dest
p a r t
or
i f
measur ed w t h a t ape
al ong
i t s out er
curve
when unst r ung AAAAA f i g I
was
over 3
f t
1
i n
i n l engt h
Bows
t hat
a r e 4
or
5 i n
l onger
t han t he
di men-
si ons
here
gi ven
a r e
i nvari abl y
of Per si an or I ndi an manuf act ur e
and
are very
i n f e r i o r i n
t he
e l a s t i c i t y t hat
i s
r equ i s i t e f o r l ong- di st ance
shoot i ng
t hough
i n
decorat i on and const r uct i on
t hey
of t en cl osel y r esembl e Tur ki sh
bows
I n t he ver y power f ul
bows
such as t he one shown i n Fi g 15 p
21
t he t hi ckness at t hese par t s i s
f r om j
t o
; i n .
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
4/27
4
TH
TURKISH
BOWITS
CONSTRUCTION
The
bow
i s
c h i e f l y constructed of very
f l e x i b l e
hor n
and si new These
mat er i al s
wer e sof t ened
by
heat
and
wat er
and
t hen
l ongi t udi nal l y gl ued t o
a
s l i ght l a t h of wood,
varyi ng
f r om
s
t o
4
i n
i
n t hi ckness except
where
i t f or med
t he handl e of t he
bow ,
and
f r om
1
t o i
i n
i
n
w dt h
Thi s s t r i p of wood f or med t he
core
or
moul d
of t he bow,
and
ext ended at
each
of
i t s
ends
f or
3
i n
beyond
t he
s t r i p s
of
horn
and
s i new
t hat
wer e
f i xed
on
i t s opposi t e
s i des and whi ch s l i g h t l y over l apped i t
Fi g
2 p
5
.
The
pr oj ect i ng ends of t he wooden
s t r i p
wer e
enl ar ged
so as t o f o rm t he s o l i d
ext r em t i es
of t he
bow i n whi ch
t he nocks
f or
t he bow- s t r i ng wer e cut
CCf i g
3 ,
p 6
The two
curved horn s t r i p s whi ch
i n
part
compr i sed
t he
arms
of t he
bow
on
i t s
i ns i de face when i t
was
b e n t wer e cut f r om t he hor n of
a
buf f al o
or an
ant el ope, and
average about
4
i n
i
n
t hi ckness
The
t hi cker
ends
of
t hese pi eces
meet
at
t he
m ddl e
of
t he
handl e
of
t he
bowand
t h ei r tapered ends ext end
t o
w t hi n 3 i n of i t s wooden poi nt s
EE f i g
3 ,
p
6
The s i new t hat r epresent s the back of
t he bow
i s f r om
t he
great neck
t endon of
an
ox
or stag Thi s
was pr obabl y
shr edded l ongi tudi nal l y, and,
a f t e r
bei ng soaked i n
e l a s t i c g l ue
compr ess ed
i nt o a l ong f l a t s t r i p about
4
i n
t h i c k
whi ch
was f i r s t moul ded i n a
pl i abl e
s t a t e t o
t he wooden core
and
t hen
gl ued t o i t
I t t hus f or med t he
back
of t he
bow
when i t
was
bent
D
i g 3 ,
p
6
.
The
bark
of t he
cherry-tree, or thi n
l eat her or
s k i n was
next
gl ued
over
t he
s i new
t o
preserve
i t f r om i nj ury
and
damp Thehor n p a r t s or i nner face
of t he
bow
when
i t
was strung,
wer e not
cover ed
w t h bark or s k i n a f eat ur e of
t he
Tur k i sh
bow t h a t
t oget her w th i t s
smal l s i z e di st i ngui shes
i t f r om
t he
bows of I ndi a
and
other Or i ent al count r i es
.
I n
t he best
Tur k i sh bows t h i s
out er coat i ng of
bark, l e at her
or
s k i n
was
l acquered
a
b r i l l i a n t
cr i mson and
el abor at el y decorated
w t h gol d
t r a c e r y
t he
date
of
t he
bow
bei ng
al ways pl aced
a t one
of i t s ends
and
t he
name
of i t s
maker
a t
t he ot her
The
hor n
and
s i new the mat er i al s whi ch
r e a l l y
f o rm t he
bowand
gi ve i t
i t s
power and
e l a s t i c i t y may be
l i kened
t o
a
t ube,
t he smal l
centre of whi ch
i s
f i l l e d
w t h
wood Sect i ons,
f i g 2 opposi t e page
.
Though t he hor n s t r i p s whi ch f o rm t he b e l l y
or
i nner sur f ace when i t i s strung, o f aChi nese or
a
Tar t ar bow
ar e
nei t her covered nor decorat ed,
t he
great s i z e of t hese weapons e a s i l y di st i ngui shes them
f r om
t hose
of
Tur ki sh manuf acture
Fi g .
13
p 16.
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
5/27
THE
TURKISH
BOWITS
CONSTRUCTION
B
B
FIG2 SECTIONSOFA
TURKISHBow
Hal f
f u l l
s i z e
Sect i on
of bowat 6 i n
f r om
one of
i t s
ends
5
I I Sect i on of
bow at
hal f - way
bet ween t he centre of
i t s handl e
and
one
of i t s
ends
I I I
Sect i on
of bow a t t he centre of i t s handl e
whi ch i s here t hi ckl y
covered
w t h s i new
I V
Longi t udi nal
sect i on
of
bow at
hal f - way bet ween t he
centre
of
i t s
handl e and one of
i t s ends
Li ght shadi ng AAAA
The
compr es sed
s i new f ormng
t he back of
t he
bow
when
i t
i s
strung
Dark shadi ng
BBBB The hor n f ormng t he i nner
surf ace
of
t he bow
when
i t
i s
strung
Li ned
centres
The thi n l a t h
of
wood
t o whi ch
t he horn
and s i new parts
of t he bow
are
moul ded and
f i xed
The
t hi n wooden
l a t h
i n
pl aces
on l y - i n
t h i c k
bes t owed
no
strength
on
t he
bow
as
i t was
mer el y
i t s hear t or core
t o
whi ch
t he
t wo curved s t r i p s
of
horn
and
t he
l ong
band
of
s i new
wer e
gl ued
Fi g
3 p
6
.
As i t
woul d have
been
very d i f f i c u l t
and
t edi ous
t o
shape so
f r a g i l e a l a t h
i n one l engt h t o
s u i t
t he
out l i ne of t he
f i ni shed
bow
t h i s l a t h
was
al ways made
i n three
p i ec es
whi ch were f i t t e d together
a t
t h e i r
j o i n t s and
then
secured
w t h
gl ue
Fi g
3 .
Themddl e pi ece
f ormed t he cor e of t he handl e
of t he
bowand
t he other
pi eces
t he cor e of i t s
l i mbs
Fi g
3
The ext remt i es of
t he
two out er
pi eces of t he wooden
core wer e
enl arged
t o
f o rm
t he
strong
pr oj ect i ng poi nt s of t he bow
i n
whi ch
t he
nocks
f o r
t he
bow- st r i ng
were c ut CC f i g 3 .
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
6/27
6
THE
TURKSH
OWTS
CONSTRUCTON
s
e
THEBOW
SRNG
E E
FI G
LONG TUDNAL PLANS
OF
THE PARTS OF A TURKISH
Bow
The three
pi eces
of
t hi n
wood
that
f or med
t he cor e of t he
bow
Sur f ace
vi ew The
two
out er
l engt hs
of t he cor e wer e
s t eamed i n t o
a curve
as
shown i n CCC
BBB
The
pi eces
gl ued
t oget her
Sur f ace
vi ew
CCC The pi eces gl ued t oget her
Si de vi ew
DDD The
s t r i p of
s i new that
was gl ued t o
t he c o r e
and
whi ch
f or med
t he back or out er surface of t he bowwhen i t
was
reversed
and strung
EE The t wo s t r i p s
of
nat ura l l y curved
horn
that were gl ued t o
t he
c o r e
and
whi ch
f or med
t he
bel l y
or i nner
surface
of
t he bow
when
i t
was
reversed
and
strung
TI LE
mai n
par t of t he bow st r i ng
was composed
of a
skei n
o f about
s i x t y
l engt hs of s t ron g
s i l k
and was
i ngeni ous l y knotted a t each
of i t s ends t o a
separate l o op
f or med
of hard
and
c l osel y t w s t e d
s i new
oop
and
i t s knot
i s shown i n f i g
4 opposi t e
page
These l oops coul d not f r ay or c u t as woul d
occur
i f they
wer e
made
of
s i l k
and
they
f i t i n t o
t he nocks
of
t he
bow The
l oops r e s t
when
t he
bow
i s strung
upon smal l
i vor y
br i dges f i g
1
p 2 whi ch ar e hol l owed out t o
r ecei ve
them
and
whi ch
i n
t h i s
way
as s i s t
t o
r e t a i n
t he
bow st r i ng
i n
i t s
pl ace
Though
these l i t t l e
br i dges
ar e not al ways
present
on
Tur ki sh bows
they
ar e
i nvar i abl y
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
7/27
THE
TURKSH
OWTS
OWTRNG
7
t o
be
f ound on
those of Per s i an I ndi an or Chi nese const r uct i on t h ei r greater
l ength requi r i ng the
assi st ance of
br i dges
t o
keep t h ei r bow- st r i ngs
i n
a
correct
p o s i t i o n
I A l oop
and
i t s knot as f i r s t
f or med
on
one end of t he skei n of t he
bow- st r i ng
11
The
l oop drawn
up, but not
t i ght ened
I 11
The
l oop
drawn
up
t i ght
and
i t s l oose ends secur ed
s shown
i n
111,
t he pr oj ect i ng
ends of t he l engt h of
si new whi ch
f o rm
t he l oop ar e
c ut
of f
t o
w t hi n
a
t hi r d of an
i nch
of t he
knot
They ar e
si nged
a t
t h e i r
extr emt i es
so
as
t o
f o rm
smal l bur r s whi ch pr event
t he shor t
l engt h of strong
s i l k ,
whi ch
l ashes them
FIG
4
ONE OF
THE
LOOPS OF HARD
AND
together
f r om
sl i ppi ng
o f f
CLOSELYTWSTEDSNEWWHCH
AREKNOT
The ends of
t h i s
l as t
smal l l ashi ng
TEDTO EACH
ENDOF THEMDDLE
PART
ar e l aced
beneat h
t he
wr appi ng of s i l k
RSKENOF
ATURKSH
BOWSTRNG
ScalScale
Haf
ful l
size
t o
be
seen
on
t he
skei n
near
t he
knot
i n 111
I n t h i s way t he knot of t he
l oop
i s
r i g i d l y secured
agai nst
any
chance
of
dr awi ng
when t he
bow i s i n
use
The
bow- st r i ngs of al l Or i ent al
bows wi t h
t he except i on
of
t he
Tartar and
Chi nese wer e made
as
above descr i bed .
THRROW
LENGTH
of ar r ow 2
2
i n
t
o
2
4a i n
Wei ght of ar r ow
avoi r dupoi s 7 dr s .
or equal t o
t he
wei ght
of
two s h i l l i n g s
and a
si xpence
The
bal ance of t he
ar row
i s a t
2
i n f r omt he
end
of i t s
nock
Shape
of ar r ow ` bar r e l l ed,
and
much t aper ed f r om i t s
bal anci ng- poi nt
t o
i t s
ends
i t s
sharp
i vor y poi nt
bei ng
onl y
s
i n
i
n
di amet er
wher e
i t
i s
f i t t e d
t o
t he
s h a f t and
4
i n
i n l ength
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
8/27
8
TH
TURKISH
BOWITSRROW
The part of t he s h a f t t o whi ch t he
f eather s
ar e
at t ached
i s
3 / 1 6 i n
i n di amet er
and
t he cent r e of t he
shaf t s i n
Though
I
have
c a r e f u l l y
meas ur ed
and wei ghed
about
two
hundr ed
ei ght eent h cent ur y Tur ki sh
f l i g h t ar r ows
I
have
scarce
f ound
a
hal f dozen t hat
wer e
s
i n more
or
l e s s
t han f r o m
25 i n t
o
2 5 t
i n i
n l engt h
or
t hat
2 4
var i ed
by
even as l i t t l e as
I
dr f r o m 7 dr i
n
wei ght
I
n regard t o t h e i r
bal anci ng poi nt
t hese
ar r ows
ar e equal l y
e x a c t ,
as t h i s part i s i nvar i abl y f r o m
I
I 2 - i n
t
o 122 i n
f r o m t he nock
I t i s evi dent
t h a t
t he ol d Tur ki sh
f l i g h t
a r r o w
was made t o
a
st andar d
pat t er n t hat exper i ence showed
was
t he best f or l ong di st ance
shoot i ng
The
l i g h t
and
el egant l y shaped wooden
nock
of an ol d Tur ki sh a r r ow
f i g
5 ) i s
qui t e
unl i ke t he
cl umsy hor n
nock
of t he
modern Europeanone
The l a t t e r cannot w t hs t and t he
r e co i l
of t he
Tur ki sh
bow
and
soon s p l i t s
a p a r t ,
t hough
i n
t he
t housands
of
t i mes I
have
di schar ged
Tur ki sh
ar r ows
I
have
never
known one
t o
s p l i t at t he
nock
I t
wi l l
be not i ced
t hat
t he shape of t he
Tur ki sh
nock w th
i t s
nar row
ent r ance t hat spri ngs
apart
t o
adm t t he bow st r i ng
and
t hen
cl oses agai n
enabl ed an ar cher
even
on
hor se back
t o
carry
an
a r r o w
r eady f or
use
on
t he
s t r i n g
of hi s bow
A
The
but t
end of
t he ar r ow
w t h t he pr oj ect i ng
wooden
hal ves
of
t he
nock
shaped
and r eady
t o be
gl ued
t o t he shaf t
B The hal ves of t he nock
gl ued t o
t he s h a f t
FI G
j THE
CONSTRUCTI ON OF THE
NOCK
OF
TURKISH
ARROW
C, D
The
f eather s gl ued t o
t he
Scal e
Hal f
f u l l
s i z e .
shaf t
The
f eat her s
; ) of a Tur ki sh
f l i g h t
ar row
t hough s t i f f ,
ar e as th i n as paper
and
ar e
2
i n
l ong
and
4
i n
hi gh near
t he nock
Theywere
of ten made of par chment .
The dark
band
of
shadi ng t o
be seen r ound t he nock
i n
C and Di s a
wr appi ng of
f i n e
t hr ead l i ke
s i new Thi s si new a f t e r bei ng
soaked
i n hot g l ue ,
was
wound t o a
t hi ckness of
about
1 /
3 2 i n
al l over t he nock
and i t
t hus
hel d
t he
hal ves of t he
l a t t e r
secur el y
t o
t he s h a f t
When
dry t he
wr appi ng of s i new
was
cut out
where
i t
crossed
t he openi ng
f or t he
bow st r i ng I t never t hel ess
gave
a gr eat i ncr ease
o f
strength
t o
t he
th i n
pr oj ect i ng
hal ves
of t he nock
as
i t
cover ed
them
on t h e i r out er
sur f aces
B
Parchment f eather i ng
i ncr eases
t he
r ange
o f a f l i g h t
a r r o w
by a t l ea s t t hi r t y yards Ther eason of
t h i s
i s ,
t h a t par chment i s s o t h i n andsmooth that i t o f f e r s ver y s l i g h t f r i c t i o n a l r esi st ance
t o
t he
a i r ,
whi l s t
at t he same
t i me
i t i s
much
harder
as
wel l a s
much
moreunyi el di ng
t han
f eat her
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
9/27
ORI ENTAL
BOWS STRI NGNG
9
wi t h
sheat hi ng
that
w s
very t ough and e l a s t i c
nd
as
smoot h
as gl ass
t o t he
t ouch Thi s wr appi ng was
of
course
appl i ed bef or e t he
f eat her s were gl ued on
So
caref ul
were
t he
urks
i n t he construct i on of these
arrows
that
even
t he hal ves of t h e i r nocks wer e
made
f r om wood wi t h a natural
curve t o
s u i t
t he
f i n i s h e d out l i ne
t i s
pos s i b l e
of
course they woul d
not ot herwi se
have
wi t hst ood
t he
vi ol ent
shock
of
the rel eased
bow- st r i ng
t may
be
s a i d
that
every i nch i n l engt h
of
a Tur ki sh
bow
or arrow
w s named
i n a
manner
that
coul d
be
r ecogni sed or
referred
t o I n a general
way
t he parts of an arrow
wer e
known
as f ol l ows
.
THE
METHOD
OF STRI NGNG
TURKISH PERSI AN OR
IND N
OW
I N
these days
no
per son
have ever
heard
of
can s t r i n g
a strong Tur ki sh
bowdi mnuti ve
as
t h i s
weapon
i s - wi t hout
much personal
a s s i s t a nc e
or
el se
by
mechani cal
means yet f ormer l y t he Tur ki sh archer
unai ded
coul d
do
so
wi t h ease
Thi s he achi eved
by
a
combi nat i on
of l e g and
m nu l power
Fi gs
6
nd
7
p
10
.
Wth t he l onger r e f l e x
bows
t he Chi nese f o r i nst ance t h i s
operat i on
i s
comparat i vel y easy as t he
h nd
can reach
one end
of t he
bownd
draw
i t
i nwards
f o r t he
l oop
of
t he
bow- st r i ng t o be sl i pped i nto t he
nock
The
Tur ki sh bow
bei ng
so
s h o r t
necessi t at es
a
great
e f f o r t
of
strength
on
t he
part
of t he archer t o
bend
i t bet ween
h i s l egs
and
a t
t he
same t i me st oop
down t o f i t t he
bow- st r i ng
Fromconst ant pr a c t i c e
t he Turk of f ormer days
knew
exactl y
how nd when
t o
appl y
t he muscul ar
force
of
l eg
nd arm
necessary
t o s t r i ng h i s bow a per f ormance that
no
modern archer coul d
accompl i sh
w t h
bow
of
ny
strength
Leg
and
manual
f orce combi ned
i s t he onl y
possi bl e
method
of
str i ngi ng
a
strong r e f l e x bow unl ess
mechani cal power
i s u t i l i s e d i t
w s
t he
heredi t ar y
cust om
of t he Ori ent al s I n t he
operat i on there
i s
al ways
t he
r i s k of
tw st i ng
t he
l i mbs
of t he bow
f rom a l ack of t he great strengt h of
wr i st
r equi r ed t o
hol d them
st rai ght
dur i ng t he str i ngi ng
f
t he l i mbs of t he
bow
are
gi ven
The
enl ar ged centre The
st omach
Fromt he centre
t o
t he poi nt
The
t r owser
Fromt he cent r e t o t he nock
The
neck
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
10/27
ORIENT L BOWS STRINGNG
t he
s l i g h t e s t
l a t e r a l
t wi s t as they ar e
bei ng
b en t t he horn parts
ar e
cert ai n t o
s p l i n t e r
and
t he
bow
i s then
usel ess and
damaged
beyond r epai r
The
d i f f i c u l t y of
r ever s i ng
and st r i ngi ng a
very s t i f f bowwi t h s uc h
a
r e f l e x
curve
that i t s ends
near l y
meet
bef or e i t
i s
bent
may be
i magi ned
De Busbecq t e l l s
us
that
some
of t he
Tur ki sh bows
wer e so strong
that i
a
coi n
was
pl aced under t he bow st r i ng a t
one end
of t he bow as
i t
was
bei ng
strung
no
one
but
a
t r ai ned ar c her coul d
bend
t he
bows u f f i c i e n t l y
t o
s e t f r e e
t he coi n s o t hat
i t
f e l l t o t he
gr ound
Fi g 6 shows an
Or i ent al
r e f l e x bow
bei ng gr adual l y r ever sed preparatory
t o
f i t t i n g
on
i t s bow st r i ng
Fi g
shows
a
s i m l a r bow
when
reversed
s u f f i c i e n t l y
t o i t i t s bow st r i ng
Though
t h i s
i l l u s t r a t i o n
i s f r o m
an
anci ent Geek
vase i t
w i l l
be
not i ced
that
i n
i t t he
power
of
t he
l eg
and
arm
i s
appl i ed
i n
prec i sel y
t he
same
way
as
i n
t he
more modern
exampl e
gi ven
t
The
onl y s a f e
method
f o r
a modern archer
t o
adopt i n
order to
s t r i n g a power f ul r e f l e x
bow i s
t o us e
strong
upr i ght pegs t he
s i z e
o f t ent pegs
i nsert ed i n smoot h ground
or
i n hol es i n a
boar d
t he
bow
res t i ng
duri ng t he process f l a t al ong
t he
gr ound or
boar d I nsert one peg agai ns t the i nner face of
t he
handl e of
t he
bowand
then p u l l t he ends of
t he
bow
back
by degr ees pl aci ng a
peg
behi nd
each
of
i t s
ends a s you
do so t o r et a i n them n thei r acqui r ed
posi t i ons
The
out er pegs canbe s h i f t e d t owar ds you as
t he bow
i s gr adual l y bent
f i r s t
a t i t s one end and then a t
i t s
other one F i n a l l y
when t he bow s
f u l l y
bent
t he
bow st r i ng
can
be
f i t t e d
across
i t f r omnock t o
nock
and
t he pegs removed
To
uns t r i ng the bow
grasp i t s
ext remt i es and wi t h t he pal m of
t he
hands
upper most
bend i t s l i g h t l y ac ros s the knee a t t he
same
t i me
s h i f t i n g
wi t h
t he
thumb
one
o f
t he
l oops of
t he
bow st r i ng
out
of
i t s
nock
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
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8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
12/27
ORENT L
OWTHE
THUMB RNG
The
Tur k as was
t he cust omof Ori ent al s
shot hi s arrow f rom
t he r i g h t -
hand s i de
of
hi s bow
as
shown i n
f i g
p 1 1. 1
The bow i s
here
represented as
f u l l y
bent
t he poi nt of t he arrow
bei ng
drawn
back al ong t he
groove
of t he horn
f o r a
coupl e of i nches
w t hi n t he
bow
The horn i s
attached
t o t he thumb by a smal l
l eat hern
c o l l a r
short
pl ai ted
cord
of
s o f t s i l k
i s
suspended
f rom
t he
f ore- end
o f
t he
horn and
i s
gr i pped
bet ween t he f i ngers
of
t he
archer
as
he
hol ds
t he
bow
Thi s cord
enabl es t he archer
t o
keep t he horn i n
a
l ev el
posi t i on
on hi s
hand
I t
i s
f i xed t o
a smal l
s t r i p of l eat her
whi ch
i s
gl ued
beneat h
t he horn
The horn i s usual l y of t o r t o i s e she l l
very
hi ghl y
pol i shed
I t i s f r om
5
t o
6 i n
l ong
1
i n
w de
4
i n
deep
i ns i de and
i n
thi ck
I t
i s
s l i g h t l y sl oped f rom
i t s
cent re of l engt h
t o each
of i t s
ends so
that
when t he arrow i s proj ect ed i t t ouches t he hard
and smooth
sur f ace
of t he horn
very
l i g h t l y
and
wi t h t her e f o r e
t he
l eas t
possi bl e
f r i c t i o n
t o
retard
i t s
f l i g h t
As t he horn groove i s onl y
one- s i xteent h
of an i nch t h i c k
t he ar row as i t
i s
drawn
back or shot f orward
may
be
sai d t o
f i t
cl ose
agai nst
t he si de of t he
bow
THETHUMB RNG
THETurk pul l ed hi s bow- st r i ng
w t h
a r i ng of i v o r y or of
ot her hard
ma t e r i a l
f i t t e d
on hi s ri ght thumb
Fi g
g
p 13. I t s mani pul at i on
i s shown
on p
I t mght be supposed
that t he s t r a i n of t he
bow- st r i ng on t he i vory
r i ng
woul d cause
t he edges of t he
l a t t e r t o i n j u r e
t he
f l e s h
and
si news of t he
thumb
;
t h i s
i s n o t
however t he
case
i n t he l eas t
I
f i n d
I can
bend
a
strong
bow
much
eas i er
and draw
i t
a
great deal
f a r t h e r
w t h t he Tur ki sh t humb- r i ng
than I
can
w t h t he
ordi nary
European
f i nger- gr i p
The rel ease
t o
t he
bow- st r i ng whi ch i s best owed
by
t he smal l
and
smooth
poi nt
[ i n Tur ki sh l i p ]
of t he t humb- r i ng i s as qui ck
and
cl ean
as t he snap
of
a gunl ock when a t ri gger
i s
pul l ed
and
very
d i f f e r e n t
i n
f eel i ng
and
e f f e c t
f rom t he comparat i vel y s l ow
and
draggi ng act i on that occurs
when
t he
rel ease
t akes pl ace
i n
t he Europeanway f rom t he
l eat her- covered t i p s of three
f i ngers
To di scharge t he
arrow
fromt he
l ef t - hand
s i de of t he bow as
i s
t he cust om i n
al l European
archery
t he
l eather r i ng and t he grooved horn wi l l
have t o be f i t t e d t o
t he f i r s t
j oi nt of t he f o r e f i n g e r
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
13/27
The r ange of a f l i g h t arrowwhen shot
f rom
a
bow
by
means
of a
t humb-
r i ng i s al ways
much beyond
t hat of
an
arrow shot w t h t he three f i ngers
i n t he
usual manner
Wth t he t humb- r i ng t he
f eat hers
of
an
arrow can
be
pl aced
cl ose
t o i t s
nock as t he usual space
of about i - 1
i n need not
be l e f t on
t he
shaft at
t he
but t - end l e s t t he f i ngers
hol di ng
t he bow- st r i ng shoul d crush t he
f eat hers
of
t he arrowa precaut i on t hat i s necessary
i n
al l
Europeanarchery
There
i s
no
doubt t hat t he cl oser t o t he
nock
t he f eat hers
of
an
arrow can
be
f i x e d t he farther and st eadi er
i t
w i l l
t r a v e l
The
handl e
of an
Engl i sh
bow
or of
any ot her bowt hat
i s
l oosed
w t h t he
f i n g e r s i s pl aced
bel ow
i t s cent r e so t hat t he arrowcan
be
f i t t e d
t o t he mddl e
of t he bow-st r i ng
a
poi nt
whi ch
i s
j u s t above
t he
hand
of t he archer as
he
grasps t he
bow
bow
hel d
bel ow
i t s cent re can
never
be pul l ed
r e a l l y
t r u e
t he l i mb
bel ow
t he handl e bei ng shorter t han t he one
above
i t
I n a
Tur ki sh bow
t he handl e i s
i n
i t s exact cent re of l engt h and t he pro-
j ect i ng
po i n t
or
l i p
of t he t humb- r i ng engages t he bow- st r i ng c l o s e t o i t s cent re
For
t hese reasons t he bow i s equal l y s t r a i n e d each
of i t s l i mbs doi ng i t s
proper
share
of
work i n dr i vi ng t he
arrow an advant age t hat i s very not i ceabl e i n f l i ght - shoot i ng
and
woul d
probabl y a l s o
be at t he
t arget
I n t he
method
of
l oosi ng
used
i n
modern
t i mes
t he
bow- st r i ng
l i e s
across the
three mddl e
f i n g e r s i t s
o u t l i n e where
t he arrow i s nocked
on
t he
s t r i n g t aki ng
t he fo rm
of t wo angl es connect ed by
a st rai ght
l i n e
2
t o 3 i n i
n
l engt h
Wth
t he
t humb- r i ng
t he bow- st r i ng i s
drawn
back
t o
one sharp
angl e
cl ose
t o
t he
apex
of whi ch t he
nock of
t he arrow
i s f i t t e d so t hat every part of t he
s t r i ng
i s
u t i l i s e d
i n dr i vi ng
t he
arrow Fi g
12
p
I 4
The ease w th
whi ch
a
strong bow
can
be
drawn
w t h
t he
t humb- r i ng and t he e n t i r e absence
of
any
unpl easant
FIG URK
I SH
THUMB RNG
s t r a i n
on
t he t humb i s r emarkabl e Thi s proves how e f f e c -
scal e hal f
f u l l
t i ve
t he Or i ent al s t y l e of l oosi ng a bow- st r i ng was
compared
s i z e.
w t h
t he one pract i sed
by European
archers
The
r i ng
was
usual l y of
i v o r y
i t s edges
bei ng
r ound
and smooth
where
t hey
came i n
cont act w t h t he ski n
of
t he thumb
cover i ng of s o f t
l eat her
was
somet i mes
gl ued
al l over t he sl opi ng out er
surf ace of the proj ect i ng l i p
of
t he r i ng
The
l eat her assi s ted
t he archer
t o hol d t he r i ng
f i rmy
w t h
h i s f o r e f i n g e r
s o t ha t i t
coul d not
s l i p under
t he
s t r a i n
of
pul l i ng
back t he
bow- st r i ng
The
OR NT L
BOWS -THE THUMB-RING
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
14/27
4
OR ENTAL
OWTHETHUMB R NG
pro j ec t i ng
l i p of
t he r i ng best owed t he
l ever age
whi ch
enabl ed
t he archer t o
dr aw t he
bow st r i ng
of
a
power f ul bow
Thumb r i ngs of
s i l v e r
or
of agat e
were
often per manent l y
worn
by
Tur ki sh
ar cher s of
p os i t i on
bot h
f or
or nament
and f or
use
These
r i ngs
wer e
f i n e l y pol i shed
and
f r equent l y i n l i d
w t h
gol d
THE
TURKISH
THUMB R NGAND
I TS
MANPULATION
FIG 10. FIG
12
Fi g i
o The
posi t i on
of t he
hand
when
t he ar row i s
f i r s t
f i t t e d
t o
t he
bow st r i ng
t he
l t t e r bei ng
hi t ched
behi nd
t he l i p of t he
t humb r i ng The nock
of t he
ar row
shoul d be
cl ose
agai nst
t he
l i p
of t he
r i ng
and
hence
w t h i n
about an
ei ght h of
an
i nc h of t he angl e
f or med i n
t he
bow st r i ng when
i t
i s
f u l l y
dr awn
as
shown
i n f i g
2
Fi g
t
1
Vi ew of t he
t humb
w t h t he r i ng
A i n posi t i on
preparatory
t o cl osi ng
t he
f or ef i nger and
thumb
[ B Sect i on of
t he
bowst r i ng
as
hi t ched behi nd t he pr oj ect i ng l i p of t he
r i n g
C
The base
of t he f o r e f i ng er or t he par t
of
i t
whi ch presses t i g h t l y
over
t he
sl opi ng
surface
of t he
l i p
of t he
r i ng
i n
front
of
t he bow st r i ng
when t he
bow
i s bei ng bent ]
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
15/27
ORENT L
OWTHE
THUMB RNG
1
5
Fi g
The
base of t he
f or ef i nger
pr essed agai nst t he
r i n g ,
t he
hand
o s ed, and
t he bow- st r i ng
and
ar r ow bei ng
drawn back by
t he
t humb- r i ng
I t
shoul d be
not ed
that no par t of t he hand i s u t i l i s e d
i n hol di ng t he r i ng
d
i n
dr awi ng
t he bow- st r i ng, except t he
thumb and
t he base
of t he f or ef i nger
When t he
pressure
of t he f or ef i nger i s t aken o f f t he r i ng by
separ at i ng
t h i s
and
t he
t humb
t he
bow- st r i ng
i n s t a n t l y p u l l s
t he
l i p
of
t he
r i ng
s l i g h t l y
orward, and
at
t he
samemoment s l i p s o f f
i t wi t h
a
sharp c l i c k
The
archers
of ot her
Or i ental nat i ons
besi des t he
Turks
empl oyed
t humb-
o f
var i ous
shapes and di mensi ons t o
s u i t t he constr ucti on of
t h e i r bows,
ow- st r i ngs and ar r ows Al l
t humb- r i ngs
wer e, however , more or l e s s
s i m l a r ,
d
wer e al l used i n t he
manner
I have descr i bed
I t
i s
i ndeed,
i mpossi bl e
t o shoot an ar row
by
means
of
a
t humb- r i ng
as I have shown,
and as a
very short
pr a c t i c al t r i a l
w i l l pr ove
I f
t he r i ng
i s
appl i ed
i n
any
ot her
way
i t
ei t her
f l i e s
o f f
t he
hand
when
t he
ow- st r i ng i s
r el eased
; t he
thumb
i s
i nj ur ed
; or t he bow- st r i ng
escapes
f r om i t s
ol d when onl y
p a r t i a l l y drawn
I n one of t he
Tur ki sh
manual s
on
Archery
t r ansl at ed by Baron
Pur gst al l
p 22 , many
i l l u s t r a t i o n s
ar e
gi ven
of t he const r uct i on of t he Tur ki sh
composi t e
b u t , unfor t unat el y,
mnor d e t a i l s ar e omt t ed,
t hough
doubt l ess t hey
er e common knowl edge when t he Ottoman aut hor
wr ot e
Wt hout these
d e t a i l s
t he
correct
f or mat i on of t he
bow
cannot be ascer t ai ned
he chi ef
omssi ons ar e
i ) The composi t i on
of t he very
strong and e l a s t i c
gl ue
i t h
whi ch
t he
parts
o f
t he
bow
wer e
so secur el y j oi ned, 2) The t r eat ment of t he
s i new
whi ch f or med
t he back of t he
bowwhether f o r i n s t anc e ,
i t
was
l ued on i n
shor t
shr edded l engt hs or
was
at t ached
i n
one s o l i d s t r i p
Al l weknow
i s
t hat
t he
s i new
was t aken
f r omt he
Li gamentum
Col l i
of
an
or s t a g , a
very
power f ul
and
e l a s t i c
t endon whi ch
contracts
or
expands
as
t he
mal r a i s e s or l ower s i t s head
t o
f eed or dr i nk
When
t he
si new
whi ch
compr i ses t he
back, or
out si de when
i t i s
st r ung,
of
Tur ki sh
ow however
o l d
i t
be i s di ssol ved
i n
hot
water ,
i t
di si nt egr at es
hundr eds o f shor t pi eces
of f r om
t o
3
i n
l ong
and
about
i n
i
n di ameter ,
as
d u c t i l e
as i ndi ar ubber
and
al most
unbr eakabl e by
hand
The
component
parts
of
a Tur ki sh bow, consi sti ng
of
a t h i n s t r i p
of horn,
of wood
and
anot her of s i new
f i g p 6 ) , ar e so p l i a b l e when
separated
at
they
can
al most
be
c o i l e d
r ound
t he
f i n g e r s ,
t hough
i f
t he
same
pi eces ar e
ued
t ogether
they
f o rma bowof
unr i val l ed
strength
and e l a s t i c i t y
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
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16
ORENT LOW
Scal e
One i nch=one oo t
Fi G
3
FI GS
3
4
TH
COMPARATI VE D MENSI ONS
OF REFLEX COMPOSITE
OWS O V RIOUS
NATIONs. The structure
of
l l
these
bows
i s
s im l a r i n
t hat
t hey
ar e
composed of si new wood
and
hor n
i si newon
t he
back of
t he
bow
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
17/27
c l e One
i nch
one t
ORIENT L OWS
PERSIAN
UNSTRUNG
PERSIAN
STRUNG
INDAN
UNSTRUNG
INDAN
STRUNG
TURKISH
UNSTRUNG
TURKISH
STRUNG
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8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
19/27
THER NGE
OF
THE
TURKSH
OW
I N 1795
Mahmoud
Ef f endi
Secretary
t o t he Tur ki sh
Am
bassador
i n
London
shot a
252
- i n
f l i g h t arrow
8o
yards The bow
he
used i s
s i m l a r
t o
t he
one
shown
i n
f i g 1
p
2 and i s
nowpre
served
i n
t he Hal l
of t he
Royal Toxophi l i t e
Soci et y
Regents Park
Mahmoud
Ef f endi
ac
compl i shed
t h i s
f eat whi ch
was c a r e f u l l y
v e r i f i e d at
t he
t i me i n
t he
presence
of a
number
of
wel l known
mem
ber s of t he
Toxophi l i t e
Soci ety
of t h e day i ncl udi ng
M
T
War i ng
t he aut hor of a
work
on
Archery
J oseph S t r u t t t h e
h i s
t o r i an
was a l s o a
spectator
and
descr i bes
t h e
i nci dent
i n
h i s
book
e n t i t l e d
`The Sports
THE
UTHOR
SHOOTINGWTH
A
TURKISH
ow
and
Past i mes of t he
Peopl e of
Engl and
I t
i s beyond quest i on that
i n
t he seventeenth
and
ei ght eent h c ent ur i es
w t h
bows
preci sel y
s i m l a r
t o
t he
one
shown
i n Fi g
1 but of muchgreater
power
f l i g h t ar r ows
wer e shot f r o m 600 t o Boo
yards by
cert ai n f amous Tur ki sh
archers
The
achi evement s
of these cel ebr at ed
bowmen were
engraved
on
mar bl e
There
ar e
many
country r esi dences i n Englanda t whi ch t he aut hor has made ver y l ong
shots w t h
abow
and
arrow
and
where
trees
have be en
p l anted
t o
mark
t he
di stances
Among
others
Gl ynl l i von
Park
Car nar von
;
Broomhead Hal l
Shef f i el d
; Onsl ow Hal l
Shrewsbur y ; Nor t on Pri ory Runcorn The
Hendr e
Monmouth
and Harpton Cour t
New
Radnor
may
be named
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8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
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THE
TURKI SHBOWITS RANGE
Wth
t he bow
depi ct ed i n Fi g I I shot s i x arr ows
i n
successi on
t o
r anges
eedi ng 350
yards
t he l onges t
f l i g h t s
bei ng 360
365 and 367 yards
Thi s
l i c record
was est abl i shed
J u l y
7 t h
1905 a t an archery meet i ng
hel d
at Le
uet
near Et apl es
i n
France
The
gr ound
sel ect ed
f o r
t he
t r i a l
was
per-
t l y l e v e l there
was no
w nd
and
t he di s tances
wer e
accur at el y
meas ur ed
by
wel l - known
members
of
t he
Royal
Toxophi l i t e
Soci et y
who
wer e
present
Wth
t he
same bow
I
have i n pri vat e pr a c t i c e t h r i c e
exceeded
415 y a r d s
on one occasi on reached 4 yards
Though
t h i s
bow
i s
a
power f ul
one f o r a modern
archer
t o dr aw
i t
i s
a
r e
pl aythi ng compar ed
w t h ot her Tur ki sh bows of t he
same l engt h
but
of
gr eat er
strength
whi ch I possess
Some of
t he l a t t e r a r e so curved i n t h e i r unst r ung s t a t e t hat t h ei r ends
ar l y
meet and a r e so
s t i f f when
strung
t hat I cannot
draw
them
t o
more
t han
FIG
15
SKETCHOF A
VERY POWERFUL
TURKISH
BOW
WTH
I TS ARROW
ANDBOWSTRING
2
1
l f
t h e
l engt h of a
25
i n
arrow
Fi g
15
shows
a bowof
t h i s
ki nd
i n
my
Such
bows
as t hese requi re
a
pul l of 150 t o 160 l bs
t
o bend
them o t h e i r f u l l
whi ch qui t e
account s
f o r
t he mar vel l ous but wel l
aut hent i cat ed
di st ances
t ai ned
i n
f l i g h t s h oo t i n g
by
t he
muscul ar
Tur ki sh
bowmen of
bygone
days
Though
367
yards
i s
a shor t r ange
i n
compar i s on w t h t hat
whi ch t he best
r ki sh
archers wer e
f ormerl y
capabl e of
obt ai ni ng
i t i s
so
f a r
as
known much
I
present ed
t h i s
bow
and
some
of
t he
arr ows
I
used
at
e
Touquet
t o
t he
members
of
t he
Royal
xophi l i te Soc i et y These are nowpreserved i n t he c l ub
house
of t he Soci et y i n Regent s
Park t he
f i n e
l l of whi ch cont ai ns an unri val l ed c ol l e ct i o n of archery i mpl ement s and c u r i o s i t i e s
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
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22 THE
TURKISH
BOWITS RANGE
i n excess of t he
di st ance any
arrow has been shot f rom a _bow
si nce
t he
o f t -
quoted
f e a t of
Mahmoud Effendi i n
1795,
p
9
Ful l cor roborat i on
of t he wonder f ul
f l i ght - shoot i ng
of t he
urks
may
be
f ound
i n
som
t r eat i s es on
Otoman archery whi ch have been t ransl at ed
i n t o
German by aron
Hammr-
Purgstal l Vi enna
1851
I n hi s di recti ons
concerni ng
t he
s el ec t i o n
of
sui t abl e
bows and
ar r ows
f o r
t he
s p o r t one of
t he
Tur ki sh
aut hor s
quot ed by
Purgstal l wr i t es - : `
The
t hi nnest
Angl i ce
Bal l oon feathers
TURKSH
CAVALRY
SOLDERSWTH
THEIR
BOWS
From
an
i l l umnated Turki sh MS
n t he
Sl oane
Col l ecti on B.M dat ed 1621, 5258
hese
r eproduct i ons pl ai nl y
showhow
smal l
was t he s i z e o f t he
bowf ormerl y used
i n warf are
by
Turki sh
s o l d i e r s
and l ongest
f l y i n g arrow has whi t e swan feathers shaped
l i k e
l e av es
and
t h i s
arrow
w t h
a good s h o t
carri es f rom 1,000
t o
1,200
paces
The
or t hodox l engt h
of
a
pace s t h i r t y
i nches
and
thus
even
1 00o
paces
or t he
l es s er
range ment i oned woul d exceed B00
Engl i sh
yards
Augi er
Ghi sl en
de
Busbecq 1522-1592 , a Bel gi an aut hor
and di pl omat i st
descr i bes t he
Tur ki sh archery
he
w t nessed when ambassador t o t he
cour t of
Sol yman
and
t he wel l - ni gh
i ncredi bl e
di st ances
t o
whi ch
he
saw
ar r ows
propel l ed
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8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
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THE R NGE
O
THE
MED EV L CROSS OW
27
or even f o r t ar get - shoot i ng, as i t
woul d
br eak
t o
pi eces
on s t r i ki ng any
at er i al t hat was more
r e s i s t a n t
t han s and or s o i l
London
7 9
.
ear
Br ot her , - I
have j ust been t o see t he secr et ar y of t he Turki sh
bassador
shoot i ng w t h
Wari ng
and
ot her
f amous
Engl i sh
bowmen
her e was a gr eat cr owd, as you may suppose, t o see them TheTur k,
regard-
es s of t he many persons
st andi ng
r ound hi mand
t o
t he amazement and
t e r r o r
f t he Toxophi l i t es, s uddenl y began f i r i n g hi s ar r ows up i n
al l
di r e c t i o ns ,
but
t he
t oni shment of t he companywas i ncr eased by f i ndi ng t he ar r ows wer e not
made
o
f l y but
f e l l
har m es s l y w t hi n a f ew
yar ds
These
ar r ows
t he Turk
c al l ed
s exer ci si ng ar r ows . Thi s
was
an i dea t hat was
qui t e new
t o t he bowmen
and t hey began
t o
have more respect
f o r
t he Turk and
hi s bow
The
r k s bowi s made of ant el opes
hor ns
and
i s s h o r t , and pur posel y made
short
or
t he conveni ence
of
bei ng
used i n al l di r ect i ons on
hor seback
The Toxophi l i t es w shed t o
s ee
t he power s of
t he Tur ki sh
bow and
t he
ur k
was
asked
t o
shoot one of hi s f l i g h t ar r ows He shot f our or
f i v e ,
and
t he
f l i g h t was ver y c ar e f u l l y
meas ur ed
at
t he t i me
I t
was
482
yards
The
oxophi l i t es
wer e
ast oni shed,
I can t e l l you
`Wari ng s ai d t he f ur t hest
di st ance at t ai ned
w t h
an
Engl i sh f l i g h t
a rro w
f
whi ch
he had
ever
hear d, was
335
yards,
and that Lord Ayl esf or d had once
ot one, w t h a
s l i ght
w nd
i n
hi s
f avour , 330
yar ds
Wari ng
t o l d
me
that he
i ms el f , i n
al l
hi s
l i f e
had
never
been
abl e
t o
send
a
f l i g h t
arrowabove
283
yar ds
`The Turkwas not s a t i s f i e d
w t h hi s per f or mance, but decl ar ed that he and
s bow
wer e
s t i f f and out of condi t i on,
and
that
w t h some pra ct i c e
he coul d
much f ur t her
than
he had j ust done
He
s ai d,
however , that
he
never
was a
f i r s t - c l a s s
bowman
even
when i n
s best pr a ct i c e, but that t he
pr esent
Grand
Sei gneur was ver y f ond of t he
e r c i s e
and a ver y strong man, there
bei ng
onl y
two
men
i n t he whol e
Tur ki sh
my
who
coul d shoot an
a r r o w as
f ar
as
he
coul d
The
Turk
s ai d
he had
seen
t he
Grand
Sei gneur
send
a
f l i g h t
a r r o w
oo yards
I
asked
Wari ng
t o what he
at t r i but ed
t he Tur k s great
super i or i t y over
ur
Engl i sh
bowmen ;
whet her
t o hi s bow
or
not
Wari ng
r epl i ed
he
di d not
si der
i t
was so much t he r e s ul t of t he Tur k s bow but
rather
of hi s
strength
s k i l l c ombi ned w t h t he shor t l i g h t ar r ows
he
used,
and
hi s
method of
ot i ng themal ong t he gr ooved horn
attached
t o hi s arm
`Nei t her
Wari ng
nor any of t he Toxophi l i t es pr esent , and many t r i e d , )
ul d
bend
t he
bow
as t he
Turk
di d
when he used
i t
TWar i ng,
aut hor of
a Treati se
on Archery,
1s t ed 1814,
l as t
ed
1832
Wari ng
was an accompl i shed
andawel l - known manuf act ur er
of bows
and
ar r ows
8/11/2019 Treatise on Turkish Bows
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So much
f o r
t he
t r i umph
of t he I n f i d e l s
and
t he hum l i at i on of
Chri st endom `Yours
a f f
.
FR NKL N
To
Si r
Thos
Frankl and
Bt .
MP
Thi rkl eby Park
TROSS OW
I
f ound
t he f ol l owi ng
i n
a
manuscr i pt
not ebook
of
1798
descri bi ng
f e a t s
and
i nci dent s
of archery
c o l l e c t e d by
t he
reci pi ent of
t he above
l e t t e r
`Records of Tur ki sh
archery procured i n
1797
f r o m Const ant i nopl e
by
Si r Rober t A i n s l i e a t t he
request of Si r
J oseph Banks and
t ransl at ed
by
Si r Rober t A i n s l i e s i nt erpret er .
`The Turks
s t i l l have det achment s
of
archers
i n
t h e i r armes
mer el y
not
t o
devi at e f r o manci ent cust om f o r
i n
Turkey
archery
i s
nowmer el y
regarded as
an
amusi ng
exerci se
that
i s
t o
t h i s
day
practi sed
by
al l
ranks
of
t he peopl e
The Ottoman
emperor s
wi t h
t he i r c o ur t
often
enj oy
t he di versi on
of
archery i n
publ i c and
there i s an ext ensi ve pi ece of ground
a l l o t t e d
t o
that
pur pose
Thi s pl ace i s
upon
an em nence
i n
t he
suburbs
of t he
c i t y
of
Const ant i nopl e
and commands
an
ext ensi ve vi ew of t he t own and
harbour I t i s c a l l e d Ok
Meydan or t he
Pl ace
of t he
Arrow The
ground
ment i oned
i s
covered
wi t h
mar bl e
p i l l a r s erected i n honour of t hose archers who have
succeeded
i n shoot i ng
arrows
t o
any
r emar kabl e
di st ance
Each
p i l l a r
i s
i nscr i bed
wi t h
t he name
of t he person
whose
dext eri t y i t records t oget her wi t h some compl i ment ar y
verses
t o hm
nd
t he
exact range
whi ch
he
at t ai ned
wi t h
hi s
f l i g h t
arrow
The
Ottoman
emperor s f r o manci ent t i mes
have
been al ways supposed
t o
l i v e
by
t h e i r
manual l abour
and
i n consequence
of
t h i s
supposi t i on
they have
each
l e a r n t
some
a r t or
prof essi on
most of themhavi ng pref er r ed t he a r t
of
maki ng
bows and ar r ows
The
present emper or
was bound
apprent i ce
t o t he t rade of archery
and
a t
t he t i me
he
was
r ecei ved as
a mast er
i n t h i s t r a d e
he
gave
on
d i f f e r e n t
occasi ons
very spl endi d
publ i c
ent er t ai nment s a t
t he
OkMeydan
where
t he
State
t e n t s were
pi t ched f o r
hi mand
hi s court
The Tartar bows ar e pr ef er abl e t o
those manuf act ur ed i n Turkey
as t he
f or mer
are t he
l arger
and
stronger t hough there
i s
now
an
ext ensi ve factory
f o r
i mpl ement s
of archery i n Const ant i nopl e
c a l l e d Ok Z i l a r
or t he pl ace of t he
Ar r ow maker s
The
Tur ki sh
bow
i s
f or med of a very strong
e l a s t i c
wood One si de of
t he
bow
i s covered
wi t h a
composi t i on made
chi ef l y of buf f al o
horn mel t ed
down
t h i s
i s
smoot hed
wi t h a
f i l e
t o a
proper
shape
and
f or ms
t he
concave
s i d e
of t he bowwhen i t i s bent
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THE
R NGE
OF THEME EV L
CROSS OW
9
The convex
s i de
i s
p l a i n wood,
pai nt ed, varni shed
and
r i c h l y
g i l t
The
w
i s onl y bent
when i t i s about
t o be
used, and
t hen
i t
i s
bent w t h
much
o n t he heat
of
f i r e
bei ng al ways f i r s t
empl oyed
t o make
i t
f l e x i b l e
The
Tur ki sh bow
w i l l
penet r at e,
w t h an
or di nary arrow
a
hal f - i nch
pl ank
over
10o y a r d s
t he head
and shaf t of
t he
arrow
passi ng
f o r
t hree
or
f our
ches
t hr ough
t he
wood
ansl at i ons
of
t he
i n s c r i p t i o n s
on some of t he
mar bl e
col umns
at t he
Ok Meydan
Pl ace
of t he
Ar r ow ,
whi ch wer e
erect ed
i n honour
of t hose
who have
e x c e l l e d i n
archery
k S i r a l y Mustapha ga
shot
two
ar r ows bot h of whi ch
t r a v e l l e d t o a di s t ance
of
625 yards
2 .
Omer
ga
shot an arrow
t o a
di st ance of
628
Sei d
Muhammed
Ef f endy, son- i n- l aw
of
Sher bet zy
Zade 6 o
4
Sul t an Murad
685
5
Hagy
Muhammedga
shot
an
arrow
729
6 Muhammed
Ashur
Ef f endy
shot
an
ar r ow whi ch f i x e d i n
t he
ground
at
759
7 hmed Aga,
a
gent l eman of t he
Seragl i o
under Sul t an
Sul ei man t he Legi sl at or, shot an arrow
76o
8
Pashaw
Ogl ee Mehmed
shot
an arrow
762
9 The present
Grand
Admral
Hussei r
Pashaw
shot
an
arrow
whi ch drove i n t o
t he gr ound at
764
.
P i l a d
a
Treasurer
t o Hal l i b Pashaw
805
1 .
Hal l i b ga
810
.
The rei gni ng Emperor Sul t an
Sel i m
shot
an arrow whi ch
dr ove i n t o
t he
ground
at a
di st ance of
838
The Sul t an
shot
a second
arrow t o
near t he
same
di st ance .
I n t he
t r a n s l a t i o n
of t he
above
f rom
t he
Tur ki sh l anguage,
t he
f e e t
i nches ar e
al so gi ven
f o r
each
s h o t
but t hese have
omtted
as
unnecessar y
I n t he manuscri pt ,
t he
i nt erpret er r emar ks
t hat
t he
measur ement s of
t he
anc e s on t he mar bl e
col umns at
Ok
Meydan
ar e i n
p i k e s
t he pi ke
bei ng
Tur ki sh
meas ur e
of a
l i t t l e
over
t wo f e e t e a s i l y
conver t i bl e
i nt o Engl i sh
f e e t
and i nches
tw i l l
be obser ved t hat
t he l ongest f l i g h t r ecor ded
on
t he
col umns sel ect ed
quot at i on i s
838 y a r d s and t he s h o r t e s t 625
yards
Though t hese di st ances
al mos t t oo ext raordi nary
t o
be
t r u e
t hey
cor robor at e
i n
some
meas ur e
s t at ement
made
i n 1795
by
t he
secret ary, of
t he
Tur ki sh ambass ador , p
27
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27/27
3
THE
ROSS OW
I f
t hey
ar e
c o r r e c t ,
they
can
onl y
be account ed
f or by t he use of a l i g h t
short
ar r ow, a ver y power f ul
bow, gr eat s t r engt h
and s k i l l ,
and, above a l l
e l s e , by
t he
horn
appendage
whi ch t he
Tur ki sh
archer
attached
t o hi s
l e f t
ar m
and
wi t hout whi ch
he
coul d
not shoot s o short
an
a r r o w
f r o m hi s
bow
I f
a very l i g h t f l i g h t
a r r o w
of reed
or
bamboo coul d
i n some
way
be
ar r anged
t o
r ecei ve
t he
i mpul se
of t he
t hi ck st r i ng
of a crossbow
wi t h
a
power f ul
s t e e l bow,
I
have l i t t l e doubt i t coul d
be
pr opel l ed hal f a m l e
I have f i t t e d a s a
separate
pi e ce a l ar ge hol l ow
hor n noc k over t he
but t
of t he or di nar y
f l i g h t
a r r o w of t he l ongbow, so that t he
l oose nock
rested
agai ns t t he s t r i n g of t he crossbow I n
t h i s
way
I
have
obt ai ned
several f l i g h t s
of f r o m
500 yar ds
t o 515
yar ds
I n t he case
of
a
short and very
l i g h t
f l i g h t i n g
ar r ow,
however ,
t he
r e c o i l
of t he
s t e e l bow
shi ver s
i t t o pi eces
as i t l eaves
t he st ock of t he cr oss bow
ven i f we
ac cept onl y
t he short est
r ange
recor ded on
t he col umns
as c o r r e c t - i
. e
625 ya r ds - i t i s an
extr aor di nary di st ance f o r anyarrowt o be pr opel l ed, and
much exceeds, as
f a r
as we know
what
has
ever
been done by an
Engl i s h
bowman
wi t h
a l ongbow
I t i s
however ,
beyond
questi on t h a t
t he secretary
t o
t he Tur ki sh mbassador di d s hoot an arrow482 yar ds
t he
a r r o w
and
bow
bei ng even
now
preser ved i n
t he Toxophi l i t e Soci ety s r ooms) , t hough he
decl ared
a t
t he
t i me of t he
occurrence
that
he was
not
pr of i ci ent
i n t he a r t
of
sendi ng a f l i g h t arrowt o
what he c ons i der e d
a
gr e at di s t a nc e
.
W
may
from
t h i s
s a f e l y
as s ume t h a t a r ange of
143
yar ds further than t he Tur ki sh
secretary att ai ned wi th hi s bow,
or a t o t a l f l i g h t
o f
625 yards, was qui te possi bl e
i n
t he
c as e of amore
power f ul
and s k i l l e d
Tur ki sh
archer
than hewas
See Chapt er L f or a descr i pti on
of l ong
di st ance ar r ow- t hr owi ng
by hand