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Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: Hammers on June 14, 2020, 09:51:16 PM

Title: Melee-wesponized bows
Post by: Hammers on June 14, 2020, 09:51:16 PM

I have just been painting a largish group of LOTR archers, on foot and warg-mounted, which has reminded me how annoyed I am that many of their bows have blades or spikes bolted onto then. I have some experience and know a few things about archery (I attend Medieva meets and I own a longbow) so the whole idea seems to me ludicrous as it would compromise the whole lamellar construction if a bow.

Is there *any* historical precedence of using bows as hand-to-hand weapons or is the idea a complete low-fantasy flight of fancy?

Title: Re: Melee-wesponized bows
Post by: Black Arrow on June 14, 2020, 10:14:12 PM

I dimly remember seeing a Japanese bow that had a spearpoint affixed to one end...I don't remember where I saw it though. I believe the idea was that you could thrust downwards with it from atop a horse if someone got too close, but it was really an emergency weapon and obviously wasn't widespread at all.