Steel bow vs. classic composite

Jura From Underhill · Post by **Jura From Underhill** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 7:51 pm

Hi, have somebody steel bow? Im search some comparative info. range, arrow speed, pros and cons...

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:50 am

If you mean an Indo-Persian steel bow, I have one. They are sluggish and have a short range. Mine is quite short with a 23 inch draw. The great weight of the limbs compared to a wooden or composite bow limit their effectiveness. They can still shoot an arrow successfully with their range and aside from training bows would have been useful at short range and indoors.

I have added a picture of it strung and unstrung. It unscrews at the handle into two parts.

Jura From Underhill · Post by **Jura From Underhill** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:27 am

Thanks:)

KenH · Post by **KenH** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 1:33 pm

Pretty little thing. Too bad the efficiency is so low...

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 5:20 am

It would get you out of a tight spot, but would not be competitive in battle. I often wonder if they might have been kept in howdahs on elephants in case of emergency.

Their other advantage is that they can be oiled and stored without any other special treatment. The bow I have is a small bow, but I have handled larger ones that required great force to draw. I must also point out that there are two other types of steel bows. One type was large and used in gymnasiums for exercise. Another was non-functional and was possibly used in religious ceremonies or mounted on statues.