Exotic KDF Weapon: Giant Arrow

[Jeremy S.]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amentum

The atlatl came to my mind
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlatl
Similar effect as the amentum, but quicker to "reload" and loose.

[Mike Ruhala]

I've actually heard of atlatls being used in Medieval times but I was never sure if that really meant rigid spear throwers or just the amentum. Certainly any time after the dawn of the 16th century the atlatl could have been introduced into Europe from the New World.

[Bill Grandy]

It's also believed that the Japanese suit Sir O'Neil has with him was an actual piece he owned (possibly a gift), and because it was exotic, it was worth painting.

I've often joked that I worried people would use this painting as justification for wearing a kilt with katana. "Hey, there's historical precedence!"

[nathan f]

over on myarmoury i think in irish weapons or some section that picture is discussed yes as far as i know it was a present given to him.
also the arrow he is holding often called a kern dart is an odd one there is little concrete evidence in ireland to support there use but plenty of pictures from the period from all accounts they seemed to basically be atalatls now my guess is the terrain of ireland being what it is would suit them as perhaps would the swiss terrain another idea on the arrow is the ones you sometimes see shot from cannons.

[Keith P. Myers]

Wright portrayed him in the dress costume of an Irish chieftain, with suit of rare Japanese armour at his feet.

---Hey Ben! Glad to see that you and I weren't imagining things!

[keith cotter-reilly]

The swiss arrows I've ever seen for closer in size held by my old countryman, O'Nell. They were called Pathfinder Darts when I first saw them at a school outdoor camp thing. They were thrown using the "string" as Mike mentioned. Very accurate when used well.

There are a few videos on youtube of them. But I'm too lazy right now to hunt one down.

[Jeffrey Hull]

Although I am unsure whether we could consider the "giant arrow" a weapon wherewith one would actually do what one may call fechten/fencing, I must admit and point out that Silver (!) mentions "Iauelin" (i.e. javelin) in his Paradoxes (Ch.21) (1599), which may be more or less what is being discussed here, as followeth:

The long Staffe, Morris Pike, or Iauelin, or such like weapons aboue the perfect length, haue aduantage against all maner of weapons...etc.

Kind of cool to think about "alternative" weaponry like this.

[A Froster]

Nathan F is absolutely correct. This is called a Dart. It was most famously known to be used my the Irish Kern when teamed up with a Gallowglass soldier (a Scottish mercinary) against a mounted knight. Gallowglas means "foriegn solder" . The Kern were experts with these darts in battle tactics while on foot with little or no armour. The idea was for the Kern to single out and harass a mounted knight and then to retreat thereby inviting pursuit by the knight toward a waiting Gallowglass. Much to the surprise of the knight, the more heavily armoured and outfitted Gallowglass would not run. The Gallowglass were known for being very good at pulling the knights off their horseback just before finishing them off.

I bought three Arms & Armour javilens a few years ago which were about the same length as the darts that are deplicted in the period art. I immediately noticed how difficult it was to throw them straight. If I didn't throw them perfectly, they would fish tail from side to side and sometimes hit the target sideways. Using the period art as a guide, I added two leather vanes to the ends of the javilens. The vanes stabilized the fish tailing and in fact made for perfect throws every time even while on the move. I have pictures of my darts somewhere.

Here is a picture by the famous artist, Albrecht Duer deplicting the Gallowglass and the Kern.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Gallowglass_-_D%C3%BCrer.png

[Chris Thompson]

Hey Ben! The armor on the ground at this feet looks almost Japanese to me! Both in style and construction.

This is an Irish chief with his prize possession, a suit of samurai armor most likely acquired from Dutch traders. Note that he's not wearing it- it's strictly a luxury "look what I've got, I bet you don't have one" item.

[Ben Floyd]

This picture is relevant:

dart.png (551.14 KiB) Viewed 310 times