[Regia-NA] Norse Archery
Douglas Sunlin
list-regia-na@lig.net
Tue, 25 Mar 2003 13:23:16 -0800
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<P><BR><BR></P>Jim, this is Douglas. I am one of the handful of Regia people in California thus far. I'll be meeting with some other folk (including another archer!) at a Scandinavian festival in Santa Barbara this April 5-6. Drop me a line at 650-940-1907. </DIV>
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<DIV></DIV><BR><BR><BR>On manręden,
<DIV></DIV>Osweald of Baldurstrand
<DIV></DIV>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/California_Viking_Age
<DIV></DIV>http://www.geocities.com/baldurstrand/
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<DIV></DIV>>From: jim <JIM.SMITH@BATNET.COM>
<DIV></DIV>>Reply-To: list-regia-na@lig.net
<DIV></DIV>>To: list-regia-na@lig.net
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: [Regia-NA] Norse Archery
<DIV></DIV>>Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2003 13:02:21 -0800
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Hello,
<DIV></DIV>>My name is Jim, or Smišr Žoršarson when in garb. I live in the
<DIV></DIV>>San Francisco Peninsula, and have been doing Norse re-creation
<DIV></DIV>>for over 5 years, mostly with Asatru groups, but have been involved
<DIV></DIV>>with the SCA since last year.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I've been getting into archery since the beginning of this year, and
<DIV></DIV>>have just started making my own bows (I have over 15 years experience
<DIV></DIV>>as a professional woodworker).
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I'm interested in finding any documentation for Viking Age Norse bows.
<DIV></DIV>>The only reference I have seen is from a video tape a friend lent me.
<DIV></DIV>>The video's title was Archery, but I forgot the subtitle, and was produced
<DIV></DIV>>by an English company. It showed lots of re-enactors from different eras
<DIV></DIV>>using and making period archery equipment. It spent a few minutes
<DIV></DIV>>on Norse archery, including showing re-enactors (Regia members?) using
<DIV></DIV>>a round shield as a target for practice.
<DIV></DIV>>I jotted down the following info from the video:
<DIV></DIV>>The long bow form was used extensively in the Iron Age in Germany and
<DIV></DIV>>Scandinavia. Very few Norse bows have survived, however 36 bows have
<DIV></DIV>>been found at the Newdam(sp?) ship burial. At least one of these bows
<DIV></DIV>>featured a long iron spike mounted to the bottom limb, supposedly for
<DIV></DIV>>use in close combat.
<DIV></DIV>>The bows featured an elaborate string knot on the bottom limb, requiring
<DIV></DIV>>no bottom nock. The top limb was fitted with side-nocks. A copper peg
<DIV></DIV>>mounted on the front of the bow a few inches down from the nook was used
<DIV></DIV>>as a string keeper when the bow was unstrung.
<DIV></DIV>>Yew was the favorite wood used for bow making, but other woods, such as
<DIV></DIV>>elm were also used.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I've been trying to find any book that has information on the Newdam
<DIV></DIV>>finds, but have been unsuccessful. Any suggestions of any books that
<DIV></DIV>>might be helpful would be appreciated.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Thak you
<DIV></DIV>>Smišr
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