Special visit to the T?rckische Cammer in Dresden possible

Daniel · Post by **Daniel** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 4:21 pm

Many thanks to all of You, particularly Jarek who organized whole event and to Mr. Schuckelt who made it possible.
Now, I've collected some data on arrows. It will take a while to organize it but I have some quite interesting info already.
There are some 250+ arrows in the Museum, large portion of them in a very good condition and most of them on display.
I've closely examined four arrows witch represent what is available to visitors and had a good look on some 100+ arrows from the depot (not available for public view)
There are two main groups of Ottoman arrows in the Museum: longer, around 28" total length (would yield just over 26" draw) equipped with small broadheads, richly decorated, some with ivory nocks (baspare) and long (up to 6") low profile feathers.
Second group are what I believe to be target "puta" arrows - 24-25" long, equipped with small, steel target points.
There are also few groups of Tartar arrows. To me looks like they might have been manufactured in several different workshops as all of the arrows from each group are very much alike.
All of the Tartar arrows are quite long, between 32-34" total, that would yield max draw length of 30-32.5", made out of (most probably) poplar, barreled, nocks are cut directly in the shaft and very wide - up to 5.5mm. The arrows are equipped with war heads (classic triangle, bodkin and leaf shape) and long (up to 7") feathers, 4 fletch.
Majority of the arrows in the Museum are very straight, feathers are intact, very few show signs of rust on heads.
I have also seen two war arrows of typical Ottoman style made of cane or bamboo.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Fri Aug 16, 2013 1:06 am

Daniel,
On the Turkish arrows with broadheads, what was the orientation of the blades to the nock?

Daniel · Post by **Daniel** » Fri Aug 16, 2013 9:14 am

That is very interesting actually - on Tartar arrows witch, in general seem to be very uniform in terms of length of the shaft, length of the feathers, orientation of the feathers in relation to the nock grove etc blades are in line with the string notch. Allthought there are few exceptions - I can only assume that those very few arrows (not available for public) would have had their heads reattached without paying attention to the original set up.
Orientation of the blades in relation to the nock grove on Ottoman arrows is quite random - I've seen some lined up, some were not - even the nock grove isn't always perpendicular to the grain direction and the growth rings of the shaft. That is the especially the case for the arrows equipped with ivory nocks.
I've collected precise measurements (including diameter of the shafts in 2" increments, balance point, geometry of the nocks, feathers set up etc) of four shafts representing four main grups of arrows in the Museum.

Daniel · Post by **Daniel** » Fri Aug 16, 2013 9:57 pm

Just flipped through the photos of the main exposition and looks like majority of the Ottoman arrows have their blades oriented vertically, that is in line with the string notch.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Sat Aug 17, 2013 2:04 am

I am curious whether any of the shorter arrows with small broad heads had a horizontal orientation. Vertically oriented broad heads can be drawn until the base of the head is in line with the belly of the bow. The rear of the arrow head is not sharpened in this case. Rearward facing barbs are not used either since they would interfere with the draw. I think that barbs on Asian arrows were phased out as early as the introduction of the closed quiver since they are hazardous to the archer. Later with the use of open quivers, barbs could hook onto other arrows and spill them from the quiver.

Bj?rn Sofeit · Post by **Bj?rn Sofeit** » Thu Oct 17, 2013 8:05 am

Daniel, is it possible that you post a selection of your best photos here? I'm very interested in the arrows, especially the nocks and fletching.

Daniel · Post by **Daniel** » Fri Oct 18, 2013 1:30 pm

I can give you standards obtained from measurement but not the pictures - that is not yet.