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How Did Armies Keep Archers Supplied With Arrows While Fighting?
Slate ^ | July 27, 2015 | By Stephen Tempest

Posted on 07/30/2015 11:19:03 AM PDT by Brad from Tennessee

During the Hundred Years' War, England had a centralized, state-controlled organization for manufacturing arrows in bulk. These were then issued as required to the soldiers on campaign.

In June 1413, for example, Henry V appointed Nicholas Mynot to be “keeper of the king's arrows,” based in the Tower of London. Mynot was responsible for making arrows, but the royal fletchers alone could not supply the total need, so additional orders were placed with outside suppliers. In August 1413, for example, London-based fletcher Stephen Seler was paid for 12,000 arrows.

We have some total figures available. In 1418, Henry V's government purchased 150,000 arrows; in 1421, it acquired nearly 500,000. Several years' supply would be stockpiled for a major campaign. Half a century earlier in 1360, Edward III's accounts reveal that 566,400 arrows (and 11,000 bows) were stored in the Tower of London alone.

It's possible some archers brought their own arrows. People who were foresters or hunters (or bandits) in civilian life would be accustomed to supplying their own needs and might prefer arrows whose length and weight was better suited to the draw weight of their bow than the standard government-issue arrows. . .

(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: a2; archery; arms; arrows; godsgravesglyphs; henryv; hundredyearswar; longbow; longbowmen; middleages; militaryhistory; nicholasmynot; recycling; renaissance
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1 posted on 07/30/2015 11:19:03 AM PDT by Brad from Tennessee
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To: Brad from Tennessee

If they had all been liberals, then the arrows and barbs would have been unlimited.

ba dum pish


2 posted on 07/30/2015 11:23:31 AM PDT by panzerkamphwageneinz
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To: Brad from Tennessee

I read a story in Scientific American - it must have been more than thirty years ago - about archeological evidence surrounding the manufacture of arrows in feudal Europe.

The authors advanced the argument that arrows were the first manufactured article that was produced on an assembly line.

They said there were arrow factories having production in the millions of units.


3 posted on 07/30/2015 11:23:51 AM PDT by Steely Tom (Vote GOP: A Slower Handbasket)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

The military-industrial complex...


4 posted on 07/30/2015 11:23:52 AM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

I’ve often wondered where the American Indians got all their arrows.................


5 posted on 07/30/2015 11:24:16 AM PDT by Red Badger (Man builds a ship in a bottle. God builds a universe in the palm of His hand.............)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

Any idea how many arrows were used at Agincourt? I read that they archers there would go among the French dead and gather their previously fired arrows after each French fallback.


6 posted on 07/30/2015 11:24:42 AM PDT by rfreedom4u (Chris Stevens won't be running for president.)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

Just gather up and shoot the enemy’s arrows back at him.


7 posted on 07/30/2015 11:25:42 AM PDT by Genoa (Starve the beast.)
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To: 2banana

8 posted on 07/30/2015 11:25:45 AM PDT by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: 2banana

LOL!


9 posted on 07/30/2015 11:26:37 AM PDT by freedomson (Tagline comment removed by moderator)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

They used to be adventurers, just like you, then then they took an arrow in the knee.


10 posted on 07/30/2015 11:26:44 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: rfreedom4u
after each French fallback

That would have been a lot of arrows...

11 posted on 07/30/2015 11:26:52 AM PDT by gov_bean_ counter
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To: Brad from Tennessee

12 posted on 07/30/2015 11:27:12 AM PDT by SamAdams76
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To: Brad from Tennessee

They didn’t pull them out and reuse them like Daryl does?


13 posted on 07/30/2015 11:27:42 AM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: rfreedom4u

[I read that they archers there would go among the French dead and gather their previously fired arrows after each French fallback.]

Makes sense. The article mentions retrieving arrows from the field after the fight is over.


14 posted on 07/30/2015 11:28:42 AM PDT by Brad from Tennessee (A politician can't give you anything he hasn't first stolen from you.)
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To: Red Badger
"I’ve often wondered where the American Indians got all their arrows................."

At the trading post where else?

15 posted on 07/30/2015 11:29:22 AM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

We simply don’t understand how good ancient archers were. We are now relearning their secrets. This Dane is making it happen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zGnxeSbb3g

He’s the best “real combat” archer in the world.


16 posted on 07/30/2015 11:30:22 AM PDT by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

“Longbowmen might be issued with three sheaves of 24 arrows “

Coincidentally (?), in the video game Skyrim, arrows are crafted in lots of 24.


17 posted on 07/30/2015 11:31:34 AM PDT by sparklite2 (Voting is acting white.)
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To: Red Badger

Walmart


18 posted on 07/30/2015 11:32:06 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: Brad from Tennessee


19 posted on 07/30/2015 11:32:28 AM PDT by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

Arrows are recyclable. Shoot them back.


20 posted on 07/30/2015 11:33:33 AM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
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