Reinventing the fastest forgotten archery.

**Xeres2665** · November 29, 2012, 07:50 AM

the title speaks for itself, its extremely interesting

**Ipposthenis** · November 29, 2012, 08:02 AM

Impressive.

I just love what that happens (2:00) , when we try to correct history, until some Lars appears.

**Påsan** · November 29, 2012, 10:22 AM

Outstanding. This was really food for thought, a great find

Lars would have been deadly in an ancient battlefield, but on a 17th century one equally so. His bow are both faster, more accurate, more flexible and more long ranged than a musket could ever be.

**The Last Varangian** · November 29, 2012, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Påsan

Outstanding. This was really food for thought, a great find

Lars would have been deadly in an ancient battlefield, but on a 17th century one equally so. His bow are both faster, more accurate, more flexible and more long ranged than a musket could ever be.

Well, no, because he's clearly firing without fully drawing the bow. Those shots will have a 50-metre range at most.

**Slaytaninc** · November 29, 2012, 09:03 PM

I saw the handheld arrows thing on a special about the Huns YEARS ago. One of the episodes of Barbarians I think.

Also, there are competitions in Mongolia where people still practice the same types of riding and archery as the Mongols in the 13th-14th centuries, and perhaps even similar to what the Huns might have done.

**Xeres2665** · November 29, 2012, 11:09 AM

its really pretty cool thinking about the impact of these techniques on ancient battlefields, considering he only learned his skill in three years, let alone the years of practise that professional soldiers put in back then to master it

**saxdude** · November 29, 2012, 01:07 PM

I dont know, does it really seem forgotten? I mean we have seen murals and paintings depicting hand held arrows, which I would assume seems pretty common sense. I just assumed that modern archers didnt do it because of sport, they require precision, not speed. Unless modern archers cant fathom any other way of shooting than there own, or simply dont understand the use of bow and arrow in war, I dont understand how this isnt common knowledge, at least among historians.

I dont know, I just dont quite get how this is a big revelation, if it truly is.

You grab a bunch of arrows out of your quiver and shoot them with out loosing time grabbing another one, how have modern archers not figured that one out?

**Slaytaninc** · November 29, 2012, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by saxdude

You grab a bunch of arrows out of your quiver and shoot them with out loosing time grabbing another one, how have modern archers not figured that one out?

My understanding is that "Western" archery competitions are more about accuracy and shot placement than demonstrations of how warriors used bows in battle.

Also, my suspicion is that Mongol archers didn't always use this technique, I'm sure they often conserved ammo.

**saxdude** · November 30, 2012, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by Slaytaninc

My understanding is that "Western" archery competitions are more about accuracy and shot placement than demonstrations of how warriors used bows in battle.

Also, my suspicion is that Mongol archers didn't always use this technique, I'm sure they often conserved ammo.

I dont know, does it really seem forgotten? I mean we have seen murals and paintings depicting hand held arrows, which I would assume seems pretty common sense. I just assumed that modern archers didnt do it because of sport, they require precision, not speed. Unless modern archers cant fathom any other way of shooting than there own, or simply dont understand the use of bow and arrow in war, I dont understand how this isnt common knowledge, at least among historians.

**Holger Danske** · December 04, 2012, 01:46 AM

Originally Posted by saxdude

I dont know, I just dont quite get how this is a big revelation, if it truly is.

That modern archery "masters" have said those feats were impossible and that our generally perception of military achery has been flawed is a bit of a revelation...

**Carpathian Wolf** · December 05, 2012, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by Holger Danske

That modern archery "masters" have said those feats were impossible and that our generally perception of military achery has been flawed is a bit of a revelation...

Which "archery masters" have said that?

**Tureuki** · November 29, 2012, 01:27 PM

Composite bows always used with hand held arrows.

**white-wolf** · November 29, 2012, 02:04 PM

Similar technik, see below video. Even Lars (above) commend on it.

Edit:

Another video, which describes speed shooting.

**Lord Oda Nobunaga** · November 29, 2012, 06:48 PM

Saying that Lars is just as deadly in the 1600's is false, after all there was a reason for why the Mongols, Middle Easterners and Chinese adopted the musket. If I was behind a barricade armed with a matchlock then I could probably kill Lars before he even saw me or came into close enough range to shoot at me. If I was wearing a cuirass then chances are I would be almost completely safe with the exception of my face. Plus in three years it took Lars to train I could be training matchlock men every 4 months or so; meaning that in three years I could train like 9 times more troops than Lars can.

But I still I got to give serious cred to Lars for his speed, and accuracy and for probably reinventing such a little known art (I doubt that this is completely lost as there may be tribes that know this). I'll admit that I probably wouldn't be able to do this, I'd be very interesting in seeing Lars do this on horseback.

**NikeBG** · December 01, 2012, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by money

But I still I got to give serious cred to Lars for his speed, and accuracy and for probably reinventing such a little known art (I doubt that this is completely lost as there may be tribes that know this). I'll admit that I probably wouldn't be able to do this, I'd be very interesting in seeing Lars do this on horseback.

You could search in YouTube for Lajos Kassai - he does it on horseback and I'd say he's quite better. Not to mention he's been doing this for far more time than Lars.

Originally Posted by The Last Varangian

Well, no, because he's clearly firing without fully drawing the bow. Those shots will have a 50-metre range at most.

Not to mention the penetration power. I wonder how that video is even becoming viral (just saw a friend post it on Facebook recently), considering half the archers he compares himself with are better.

**Sphere** · November 29, 2012, 09:12 PM

It doesn't matter how fast Lars Anderson shoots those arrows.

I still slept with his wife.

**Carpathian Wolf** · November 30, 2012, 11:42 PM

This isn't anything new. He's also using a low poundage bow. Nothing was "forgotten" or rediscovered. This is ridiculous.

**TheDarkKnight** · November 30, 2012, 11:56 PM

Well, thankfully we know this would be difficult to add into a TW game...otherwise archers would be even more overpowered

**brandbll** · December 01, 2012, 09:26 AM

What draw weight does he use? Seems like it's pretty low and would only make his style effective in close combat which sort of defeats the purpose. If you could win a battle with style points i guess i'd want him on my side...