Could medieval arrows pierce armour? The Results Blunt Trauma Medieval archers used different arrows, Long thin bodkin heads were developed Archers Mark Stretton and John Potter The later style, lozenge-shaped bodkin arrows were The buckling of the armour on arrow heads and weights of bow to in the 13th Century to pierce mail armour, shot a series of replica medieval arrows shot first. The first one hit the lower section of the impact is as significant as the undertake specific tasks. which was the standard military defence. at this replica steel breastplate from fifty breastplate (the plackart), which is double thickness. penetration of the arrow head. The arrow cut through both layers of armour (3mm A blunt trauma impact of more The heaviest bows (hardest to pull) were As plate armour developed during the yards to see how effective these arrows of steel) but bounced back out again. The large dent than 80 joules of energy to the the war bows. These could be between 14th and 15th centuries, new, heavier really were. around the point of the plackart shows the heavy human torso is usually fatal. 110 and 180lbs in draw weight. arrow types were designed to try and punch through the curved iron plates. impact of the arrow. Further holes were achieved in The arrows which pierced this both the double and single layered parts of the target. breastplate hit with around John’s English Yew bow has a 130lb Mark’s Italian Yew bow has a The breastplate was fixed to a heavy bag of dried Each hole is accompanied by a dent and in most cases 150 Joules of energy, which draw weight at 32”. 140lb draw weight at 32”. beans, which was wrapped in a padded jacket. the armour flexed then sprung back, forcing the arrow would have knocked the wearer out of the hole it made. over and stopped his heart. If an armoured man was hit by The last of the broad bodkins was the heaviest at several arrows at the same time 102g, with a long lozenge-shaped head. This cleanly the flexing of his armour would penetrated the single layered armour at the centre of have catastrophic effect on him the target, the jack beneath and the bag of beans. even if it was not pierced. The arrow head cut to a depth of 1.25inches into A charging knight would add his the beans. own momentum to the energy As expected, the lighter long bodkin arrows, which were upon impact, making the effect designed to pierce mail armour, did not penetrate the even worse breastplate. The first one bounced off leaving a small With many thanks to Mark dent on the armour and a curled tip to the head, while Stretton and John Potter. the second shattered its shaft, bent the entire head and left a short but deep scrape in the armour..