6 votes

Medieval Myth Busting - Arrows vs Armour 2, using historically accurate reproductions from time of the Battle of Agincourt (1415)

Posted by cfabbro (edited )
Tags: archaeology.experimental, armour.plate, chainmail, the wallace collection, cherbourg breastplate, arrows, mary rose, bodkin arrowhead, battle of agincourt, weapons.ranged, myth busting, medieval, longbow.english, videos, tods workshop, long watch

ARROWS vs ARMOUR 2 - FULL MEDIEVAL ARMOUR TESTED

Other extra videos in the series:
ARROWS vs ARMOUR 2 - ARMOUR PLATE TESTS
ARROWS vs ARMOUR 2 - MAIL TESTS
ARROWS vs ARMOUR 2 - ARROWHEAD MATERIAL TESTS

And they have also created a website for the project now too:
https://todtodeschini.com/youtube-projects/arrows-v-armour-2/

Previous series of tests from a few years ago:
https://tild.es/h3u

19 comments

  1. [4]
    cfabbro
    (edited )
    Link
    They just uploaded another extra video: AVA2 - How powerful is a Warbow? TIL we have no preserved specimens of medieval English longbows. I knew about the Mary Rose, but I had no idea that the...

    They just uploaded another extra video:
    AVA2 - How powerful is a Warbow?

    ‘Arrows vs Armour’ is back and we are shooting medieval war arrows at the top half of an armoured knight using armour and arrows that are correct in every detail; but what about the bow?. The main film shows exactly what happened but was the bow too powerful?

    There are no existing medieval longbows, not one. So we have to guess from the best of our knowledge and experience what weight bow Joe should shoot and we have deliberately chosen power at 160lbs. But would a weaker bow be powerful enough to injure our knight? We set out to find out, by shooting at a sheet steel target.

    TIL we have no preserved specimens of medieval English longbows. I knew about the Mary Rose, but I had no idea that the bows and arrowheads found in it are our only examples from around that age. Although, as said in the video, the Mary Rose was 130 years after Agincourt, and the bows aboard it were naval warfare bows so likely very different from medieval longbows intended to be used against armoured ground targets.

    Also, crazy to see the power of those 100+lbs bows. Even in full plate armor I wouldn't want to get hit with one of those! It may not penetrate a breastplate or helm, but it would probably still hurt like hell.

    2 votes
    1. [3]
      cfabbro
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      New related myth busting video: ARROWS vs ARMOUR 2 - Can arrows knock you over?

      New related myth busting video:
      ARROWS vs ARMOUR 2 - Can arrows knock you over?

      2 votes
      1. [2]
        cfabbro
        Link Parent
        Another new related video: ARROWS vs ARMOUR 2 - Is this Crossbow the same as Joe?

        Another new related video:
        ARROWS vs ARMOUR 2 - Is this Crossbow the same as Joe?

        1 vote
        1. cfabbro
          Link Parent
          Again: ARROWS VS ARMOUR 2 - ARMOUR DEFEATED! Some really interesting shots in this one. Worth watching if you're interested in seeing the places the arrows actually can cause the armour to fail.

          Again:
          ARROWS VS ARMOUR 2 - ARMOUR DEFEATED!

          Some really interesting shots in this one. Worth watching if you're interested in seeing the places the arrows actually can cause the armour to fail.

  2. cfabbro
    Link
    New video: Arrows vs Armour 2 - Question and Answer Session

    New video:
    Arrows vs Armour 2 - Question and Answer Session

    The Arrows vs Armour crew were asked to give a presentation at the Chalke Valley History Festival and so here it is. A short introduction film followed by an hour question and answer session including the classic from a young fellow, "Was there any point to your films?"

    1 vote
  3. BeardyHat
    Link
    Wow, cool! Thanks for updating this topic, I'm glad I saw it! Commenting so I can come back and check out these videos. Thanks!

    Wow, cool! Thanks for updating this topic, I'm glad I saw it! Commenting so I can come back and check out these videos. Thanks!

    1 vote
  4. Pistos
    Link
    Wish I could upvote this, so... take my positive comment instead.

    Wish I could upvote this, so... take my positive comment instead.

    1 vote
  5. [12]
    cfabbro
    Link
    New video from this series: Arrows vs Armour 2 - Our thoughts 6 months later

    New video from this series:
    Arrows vs Armour 2 - Our thoughts 6 months later

    1. [11]
      youknowthatthing
      Link Parent
      Thanks for sharing these, I was completely unaware of the channel and the update video took me down a rabbit hole I wasn’t expecting today but really enjoyed learning from!

      Thanks for sharing these, I was completely unaware of the channel and the update video took me down a rabbit hole I wasn’t expecting today but really enjoyed learning from!

      1 vote
      1. [10]
        cfabbro
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        YVW! I know this is a bit of a (still) ongoing necro post of mine, but this is one subject I am truly passionate about. So I have no shame in necroing it. People can ignore the topic if they don't...

        YVW! I know this is a bit of a (still) ongoing necro post of mine, but this is one subject I am truly passionate about. So I have no shame in necroing it. People can ignore the topic if they don't want to keep seeing it. :P

        p.s. If you enjoyed this series, you might also enjoy the latest video from Fandabi Dozi too:
        Is a highlander shield bulletproof? Targe vs flintlock musket and pistol - Historical myth busting

        And all of Tod's collaborations with Matt Easton of Schola Gladiatoria for their "Weird Weapons" series are also really fun watches too: Playlist

        1 vote
        1. [8]
          vektor
          Link Parent
          I take it -considering your YouTube habit and interests- that you're familiar with Skallagrim?

          I take it -considering your YouTube habit and interests- that you're familiar with Skallagrim?

          1 vote
          1. [7]
            cfabbro
            (edited )
            Link Parent
            Indeed. Skallagrim, scholagladiatoria, Tod's Workshop, Shadiversity, Lindybeige, Metatron, KnyghtErrant, ModernKnight, and JoergSprave are also amongst my favorites. But if you know of any other...

            Indeed. Skallagrim, scholagladiatoria, Tod's Workshop, Shadiversity, Lindybeige, Metatron, KnyghtErrant, ModernKnight, and JoergSprave are also amongst my favorites. But if you know of any other good medieval + history, HEMA, or arms & armour channels worth watching, please do share!

            p.s. @Clabsmodan you might find this topic and discussion interesting too. :)

            1 vote
            1. [6]
              vektor
              (edited )
              Link Parent
              I'm not too deep into this corner myself, and you listed all the ones that I think I've ever watched. Oh, but I have this video sitting in my bookmarks since forever - possibly since shortly after...

              I'm not too deep into this corner myself, and you listed all the ones that I think I've ever watched. Oh, but I have this video sitting in my bookmarks since forever - possibly since shortly after it released. Always found it amazing and it has finally become relevant.

              I'd recommend Tasting History to you, but I'm likewise almost positive that you're already familiar.

              Oh, and on a side note related to a previous video topic: I keep checking my YT frontpage for new videos I don't want to miss, but I'm thoroughly backlogged by WW2's DDay-coverage. I'm sure you can relate.

              1 vote
              1. [5]
                cfabbro
                Link Parent
                :( And yeah, I am one of the people that usually submits the Tasting History videos here. Same with the Townsends videos. :P LOL, yeah I am so far behind on my YouTube notifications now. Not just...

                This video isn't available any more

                :( And yeah, I am one of the people that usually submits the Tasting History videos here. Same with the Townsends videos. :P

                I'm thoroughly backlogged by WW2's DDay-coverage. I'm sure you can relate.

                LOL, yeah I am so far behind on my YouTube notifications now. Not just because of WW2 stuff, but also because Tildes has been taking up a lot more of my free time lately too. :P

                1. [4]
                  vektor
                  Link Parent
                  Oh dang. Sorry, my bad. I truncated some bullshit off the link and chopped off an important bit. Here, for your inbox convenience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hlIUrd7d1Q

                  Oh dang. Sorry, my bad. I truncated some bullshit off the link and chopped off an important bit. Here, for your inbox convenience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hlIUrd7d1Q

                  1 vote
                  1. [3]
                    cfabbro
                    Link Parent
                    Oh, hah. Yeah I've seen that before. It's awesome, and perfectly shows how most people's preconceptions about medieval plate armor aren't true. You could still be pretty damn agile in them.

                    Oh, hah. Yeah I've seen that before. It's awesome, and perfectly shows how most people's preconceptions about medieval plate armor aren't true. You could still be pretty damn agile in them.

                    1. [2]
                      Clabsmodan
                      Link Parent
                      That was something that blew my mind when I witnessed it firsthand. In my younger years, I definitely had the preconception -- one I think many modern people have acquired from movies and video...

                      That was something that blew my mind when I witnessed it firsthand. In my younger years, I definitely had the preconception -- one I think many modern people have acquired from movies and video games -- that plate armor was heavy, and therefore slow.

                      Then a major international jousting tourney was held near my hometown when I was a teen, and my dad bought tickets. Between the morning and afternoon sessions of the jousts, they held a foot combat contest. These dudes in 60 lbs of plate and mail were like lightning. They were so fast that it was hard to process the action at times. I was blown away.

                      It's one of those things that has always reminded me how truly deadly these men trained for war in the pre-gunpowder days were (not to say firearm soldiers aren't incredibly capable, of course). When your body is the source of power for your weapons, your armor has to hamper it as little as possible.

                      1 vote
                      1. cfabbro
                        Link Parent
                        If you like that sort of thing you should check out the IMCF (International Medieval Combat Federation). They recently started hosting events again after a long hiatus due to COVID, and they even...

                        If you like that sort of thing you should check out the IMCF (International Medieval Combat Federation). They recently started hosting events again after a long hiatus due to COVID, and they even have a YouTube channel (where they livestream the events): https://www.youtube.com/@imcf3989/

        2. youknowthatthing
          Link Parent
          Oh I’m definitely checking those out, that’s super cool!

          Oh I’m definitely checking those out, that’s super cool!

          1 vote