[Archers] You Tube: Magazine Fed Bows

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends of the Bow

This YouTube video is titled "Archery: Will It Ever Be The Same Again?".
This chap, I believe Joerg Sprave, has built a whole bunch of different
self-cocking, repeating bows of different types (including a sling-shot
cannon which is powerful enough to massacre a small auto). Sprave's many
videos are really a lot of fun. This is the clip that was called to my
attention by a non-Scadian friend:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=URwuU0bRMpU&feature=youtu.be .

So will archery ever be the same? In the SCA, I believe the answer is,
"This changes nothing." The reason? Sprave admits in the above referenced
video that his devices are string releases, a modern adaptation that is
illegal throughout the SCA (except for people with handicaps).

I would very much enjoy seeing Sprave's weapons in action as a
demonstration, but I'm reasonably certain they cannot be used for official
SCA shoots.

That said, a magazine fed repeating bow, however limited its accuracy might
be, is a possibility. The Chinese had them some 2,000 years ago. I once saw
one of these on display as an A&S project at Holiday Faire. And who can
forget the two Mythbusters episodes shooting the Greek version of this
weapon?

And that sling shot cannon? It can be seen in action against an unfortunate
1991-ish Citroen AX (badged as a "First") at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AySuafZ8to . Well, it was one of the
cheaper Citroens. "Was" is the operative word once Sprave and his friends
finished with it.

Could this weapon be adapted to SCA siege, perhaps shooting a single tennis
ball at racquet-speed. I think so. After all, our rapier friends sometimes
shoot rubber band guns at each other. It's something for you siege fans to
ponder. Until someone fires up their shop and builds one of these terrors,
we can all enjoy the film.

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
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