Tod's Workshop
Tod's Workshop
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Real Medieval Fire Arrows! (Sorry Hollywood)
Medieval fire arrows were real! So I followed the old books, made some and tested them in every way I could think of.
We have loads of old manuscripts, pictures, drawings, fire arrow heads and recipes of fire arrows but because some people haven't looked at the old information and can't make them work, lots of people think they were a myth. You see them everywhere in films and computer games so it is easy to dismiss them as a modern popular culture affectation - they were as real as you are.
So this film is an exhaustive description of what they were and how they made them work, woven through with a series of tests and demonstrations and showing the sources.
If you want to know about fire arrows this is the film for you.
00:00 Intro and highlights
00:38 Burn Duration Demonstration
02:05 Safety Warning
02:35 Hollywood loves fire on a stick!
04:12 The evidence and archaeological record
05:39 Construction of fire arrows
07:58 Lighting and shooting process
09:00 Close up burn
09:56 Distance test
10:34 Shooting a target
11:00 Shooting in a field battle?
11:51 Tod Cutler advert. Lots of shiny things for sale
12:20 How do Fire Arrows work? - Slo mo
13:14 The Alchemy of Fire Arrows
14:55 Stirling castle - Trebuchet!
16:09 Medieval manuscript evidence
17:58 Getting hit in the face by a flaming arrow?
18:57 Noxious Smoke!
20:07 Medieval Chemical weapons?
22:07 Scenario - Arrow into window
22:36 Scenario - Thick Oak palisade
23:43 Scenario - Pitched building or ship
24:50 Scenario - Hay store or Thatch
25:51 Don't underestimate the smoke
26:21 Conclusion
For budget medieval weaponry of fantastic accuracy and value todcutler.com
For commissions and custom work todsworkshop.com
For merch todsworkshop.creator-spring.com
For those who enjoyed Arrows vs Armour todtodeschini.com
Target posters are here todcutler.com/collections/tods-merchandise
We have a Patreon page and if you liked this and wish to support the channel please consider having a look at that www.patreon.com/TodsWorkshop
Arrow heads by www.medievalarrows.co.uk
Longbow by Joe Gibbs Hillbillybows
Italian yew bow by the late Chris Boyton
Books referenced
European arrowheads and crossbow bolts C.Rau
Gunpowder technology in the fifteenth century (translation of the book of the firework)
Axel E.W. Muller
The Pirotechnica of Vannoccio Biringuccio (translation)
Cyril Stanley Smith and Martha Teach Gnudi
Weapons of Warre The Mary Rose Trust
Переглядів: 355 351

Відео

5 crazy different medieval crossbows
Переглядів 123 тис.Місяць тому
I make all kinds of crossbows and for the first time ever I have 5 totally different crossbows in the workshop, from the tiny 'assassins' crossbow to the huge ballista. Best mess about with them then! The ballista is listed here todsworkshop.com/collections/in-stock-historical-swords-daggers-crossbows/products/roman-ballista-catapulta-in-stock We now have a Patreon page and you can find it here...
Making bouncing arrows
Переглядів 39 тис.2 місяці тому
Tods Workshops - Medieval knife, dagger, sword, crossbow replicas todcutler.com/collections - For budget medieval replicas of fantastic accuracy and value todsworkshop.com - For medieval replica commissions and custom work Video The Ugri people of Northern Finland and Russia use bouncing arrows for hunting ducks. I made some and used them on a flock of rubber ducks with great success. In this v...
Max Fosh meets my trebuchet
Переглядів 32 тис.2 місяці тому
My trebuchet launches things. Max Fosh, a UA-camr who specialises in being silly, asked if he could use my trebuchet to 'launch' the book he just wrote..... This is the story behind the scenes from when he came to make this film ua-cam.com/video/WpOKeCtju3w/v-deo.htmlsi=G8_-CUeyCjuAaAk3 I now have a Patreon page where you can sign up to see bonus films, build blogs, behind the scenes and loads ...
400 year old rapid loading crossbow - tested
Переглядів 94 тис.3 місяці тому
I was told that this small lever action crossbow was a Border Reivers bow from around 1600 and used for raiding and civil defence. I have never been able to find similar bows to compare it against and group it with so have never been able to know if this was true; and I still don't. So the next best thing is to run it through some trials and practical tests and find out if I think it would be s...
Rapid Fire Crossbows - Medieval and Modern
Переглядів 88 тис.3 місяці тому
Technology changes, circumstances change, but basically people do not. Early humans made art and beautifully crafted objects just as we do now and in the case of these two very different crossbows, they are separated by 400 years and technologically very different but the thinking behind them was very similar, almost identical. We wanted it in 1603 and we wanted it in 2023. Are the bows 'the sa...
10 Medieval Arrow Types - What are they for?
Переглядів 78 тис.4 місяці тому
www.patreon.com/TodsWorkshop Arrows were an integral part of medieval life socially for practice and hunting and of course militarily for war and defence. So it is no surprise they came in a multitude of forms; but what were they all for? Will Sherman is both a friend and amazing arrow smith, so when he made me a sheaf of assorted arrows for my reenacting, it seemed like a perfect opportunity f...
Crossbow or Longbow? What's better for defending your medieval tower?
Переглядів 868 тис.4 місяці тому
www.patreon.com/TodsWorkshop When you are hanging out in your medieval tower and get besieged, do you reach for a crossbow or a longbow? In the hands of skilled archers which will allow you to shoot closer to the base of the tower? And of course the opposite is true; how close should you get to be safe from overhead archers? Joe Gibbs is back shooting his 140lbs longbow and Tod is back (well I ...
500K Subscribers Film and Patreon Announcement
Переглядів 19 тис.5 місяців тому
Check out: patreon.com/TodsWorkshop This channel is nearly at half a million subscribers! What a milestone. To celebrate, I'm planning a special, potentially explosive, film in the new year. I've also just launched a Patreon Page, with lots of extra content for members that sign up. For budget medieval replicas of fantastic accuracy and value todcutler.com For commissions and custom work todswo...
Shooting from Battlements! - How much further does it go!?
Переглядів 1,3 млн5 місяців тому
www.patreon.com/TodsWorkshop If we shoot a 140lb Longbow, a war weight longbow, from a five story medieval tower. Does it shoot further? A simple question and obviously the answer is 'Yes'. But how much further? So Joe Gibbs shoots on a flat field and then from the battlements of a tower that hosted an archery based siege in 1450 - what better place to find out? For budget medieval replicas of ...
Javelin hack to throw like a Pro! (Bonus-Man throws rock)
Переглядів 348 тис.5 місяців тому
Michael Allison is back for the last time this year and we look at Medieval fletched javelins. the Medieval hack to turn an unskilled javelin thrower into one who can throw straight in any conditions and how to use the throwing string that was employed by Vikings, medieval Europeans and 15th and 16thC Irish - amongst others. Using the fletchings allows a bad thrower to throw cleanly and the str...
SMASHING!- Tod Cutler sale advert (but it's good)
Переглядів 25 тис.6 місяців тому
BLACK FRIDAY - 19th November 18:30 to midnight on 4th December 25% for a limited period and up to 50% on selected items For budget medieval replicas of fantastic accuracy and value todcutler.com (please note swords and bundles not included) For commissions and custom work todsworkshop.com 20% off of Sword Scabbards from 19th November - 4th December Orders and In Stock Sword Scabbards! For merch...
What happens if you supersize a dagger?
Переглядів 79 тис.6 місяців тому
I love making historical reproductions of historical weapons, but sometimes I have to change small details of size or proportion to keep my customers happy. This film looks at historical grip sizes and reproduction grip sizes and does that using a new discovery to illustrate my points- the Scottish Swirk; a massively oversized Scottish dagger that is the same size as a sword. Actually I made th...
Roman Plumbata - How far can a Pro throw?
Переглядів 222 тис.6 місяців тому
Plumbata were really nasty fletched throwing darts used by the Late Roman Empire and apparently they could out range javelins, so apparently 80m or so. But can they? My friend Michael who throws Javelin for Team GB came along to see how far he could throw them. We don't know how far they have been thrown in the last 1500 years, but his efforts must be up there. For budget medieval replicas of f...
Amazing Museum - Wild Weapons!
Переглядів 62 тис.7 місяців тому
Amazing Museum - Wild Weapons!
Weird weapons - FOLDING FLICK SPEAR?!
Переглядів 202 тис.7 місяців тому
Weird weapons - FOLDING FLICK SPEAR?!
Wooden Pin Pilum: Is it Pointless?
Переглядів 135 тис.7 місяців тому
Wooden Pin Pilum: Is it Pointless?
Wooden pin pilum
Переглядів 71 тис.7 місяців тому
Wooden pin pilum
Tods vile bollock dagger - My first dagger!
Переглядів 52 тис.7 місяців тому
Tods vile bollock dagger - My first dagger!
Leather Shield - Stabbing, Slashing, Smashing tests - Part 4
Переглядів 83 тис.8 місяців тому
Leather Shield - Stabbing, Slashing, Smashing tests - Part 4
"Impenetrable" leather shield tested with arrows - Part 3
Переглядів 148 тис.8 місяців тому
"Impenetrable" leather shield tested with arrows - Part 3
Roman Plumbata - In the hands of a Pro Thrower!
Переглядів 557 тис.9 місяців тому
Roman Plumbata - In the hands of a Pro Thrower!
Arrows vs Armour 2 - Question and Answer Session
Переглядів 85 тис.10 місяців тому
Arrows vs Armour 2 - Question and Answer Session
Leather shield armour - Part 2
Переглядів 67 тис.10 місяців тому
Leather shield armour - Part 2
AvA2 at the Chalke Valley History Festival
Переглядів 17 тис.10 місяців тому
AvA2 at the Chalke Valley History Festival
Swords for sale - Tod Cutler swords have arrived
Переглядів 46 тис.10 місяців тому
Swords for sale - Tod Cutler swords have arrived
WEIRD WEAPONS - Final Fantasy Sword!
Переглядів 138 тис.10 місяців тому
WEIRD WEAPONS - Final Fantasy Sword!
Arrows vs Armour 2 - Our thoughts 6 months later
Переглядів 121 тис.11 місяців тому
Arrows vs Armour 2 - Our thoughts 6 months later
Making leather shield armour - Impenetrable? Part 1
Переглядів 156 тис.11 місяців тому
Making leather shield armour - Impenetrable? Part 1
How Tight were Medieval Scabbards?
Переглядів 82 тис.Рік тому
How Tight were Medieval Scabbards?

КОМЕНТАРІ

  • @tris03.
    @tris03. 7 годин тому

    en ningun caso se efectuan simulaciones en condiciones de combate. Los modelos estaticos y los tiradores no reproducen en absoluto las condiciones de combate descritas. Ni siquiera los mas antiguos tiradores en japon lo hacen. Asi, llegar a conclusiones como las de los videos es falso y solo sirve para mayor gloria de los que intervienen. Poneos a simular situaciones de combate a ver como apuntais y resolveis la situacion......

  • @BlitzHUB_Ky
    @BlitzHUB_Ky 8 годин тому

    GUN

  • @trickedouttech321
    @trickedouttech321 12 годин тому

    great video

  • @Cold-Blooded-Jay
    @Cold-Blooded-Jay 13 годин тому

    Farther*

  • @izysly6924
    @izysly6924 14 годин тому

    Sulphur ,arsenic, yeah ,sulphur dioxide gas combined with the garlic smell of burning arsenic is nothing nice .

  • @robertspickler1385
    @robertspickler1385 15 годин тому

    👏 BRAVO Amazing

  • @H.hipster
    @H.hipster 16 годин тому

    with a better script this video could have been 15 mins long

  • @TheEmosesnepho
    @TheEmosesnepho 17 годин тому

    Is it even reasonable to believe the Native Americans used fire arrows, as is depicted in the western movies? Or was that more Hollywood fiction?

  • @permrussiatoday
    @permrussiatoday 17 годин тому

    I liked the show, but seriously you doubted the advantage of the elevated position!?

  • @binder946
    @binder946 23 години тому

    thank you mr tod do you also do costumes of that time ❤

  • @DungEater007
    @DungEater007 23 години тому

    Seeing how they got really creative on making these is there a separate angle where they got creative in how to counter them? using chemicals to maybe neutralise them or devices they invented would be interesting to learn about.

  • @lmm9607
    @lmm9607 День тому

    you should have just used ChatGPT to tell you what the distance was going to be from 5 stories up.

  • @joelmckinney16
    @joelmckinney16 День тому

    Thatched roofs

  • @Kr-nv5fo
    @Kr-nv5fo День тому

    Could a length of rope, about one palm long and maybe partially frayed, work as fletching and additional leverage?

  • @GardenArcher7625
    @GardenArcher7625 День тому

    Did you know, If the knights wanted to destroy (e.g.) a gate, they would bring some pigs and burn them, because the pigfat burns so hot it can destroy the gate and even crack stones, because the water inside the stones will evaporate from the pig-fire.. I think they were not stupid..

  • @manawa3832
    @manawa3832 День тому

    movies make it seem like fire arrows are lighters on a stick. but you showed that they were really blowtorches on a stick. frightening weapon.

  • @robertthebruce-geniusofban647

    Very intriguing, I enjoyed this!

  • @RollingExistence
    @RollingExistence День тому

    Love your videos

  • @waxwars9183
    @waxwars9183 День тому

    You missed with dirt and the water…..at least dunking the water worked. 3 times a charm

  • @cheeks7050
    @cheeks7050 День тому

    Hollywood sucks

  • @onegrail9398
    @onegrail9398 День тому

    I wonder how often panic and not being ready for it lead to things like having to abandon a shield immediately before being assaulted with another assault

  • @PJSproductions97
    @PJSproductions97 День тому

    This brings me back to physics class. There's a billion problems about projectile motion that discuss how x and y velocity are independent, so surely starting higher would result in a longer shot. Some even factor in drag from the air. I almost wish you had done the math first and then seen how close you were to your calculated number!

  • @Joakim-oi6gt
    @Joakim-oi6gt День тому

    The arrowheads barely look sharp, almost rounded, why? Feels like a smaller head and sharper would have higher chance of penetration, no? 😮

    • @StonesSticksBones
      @StonesSticksBones День тому

      For the same reason why you don't use a wood chisel as a cold chisel, if it's smacking into steel plate it can't be too fine a point

    • @Joakim-oi6gt
      @Joakim-oi6gt 23 години тому

      @@StonesSticksBones aaaah i see, sounds logical tbh! Thanks

  • @onegrail9398
    @onegrail9398 День тому

    @Tod's Workshop Any interest in the current conflict in Crimea? There are amazing things happening in the field of innovations of weapons tec. This is a link to an amazing video about local drone production with wild hornet brand by a fundraising group i associate with 69th sniffing brigade ua-cam.com/video/ZFtY0ZWHlec/v-deo.html. A youtuber with a channel 90% the size of yours (Jake Broe) just did a 1 week fundraiser that raised 1million 140k that will be used to get 30 vehicles and a crapload of drones(nearly 1000) to Ukrainian military units that have requested vehicles for things like medical evacuation.

  • @brettiskra605
    @brettiskra605 День тому

    Like lawn darts.

  • @redakroma1
    @redakroma1 День тому

    Some people just don't seem to realize that some item can be "perfect" and still be a piece of rubbish. Todays items are built to look good but ultimately break down in anywhere from 1 to 20 years because if they didn't no one would need to buy another one. Then a capitalist society would eventually fail.

  • @user-zf4qs2jy3n
    @user-zf4qs2jy3n День тому

    More on the dirk please. What is the proper grip and use? I'm somewhat familiar with Fiore dagger master but I do not believe I've come across any dirk material. I assume this would be a peasant class weapon?

  • @RugoGaming
    @RugoGaming День тому

    200 enemies, 1000 arrows shot, 1 death. Sheesh, and you call them "archers?"

  • @user-oi2rd8yl2u
    @user-oi2rd8yl2u День тому

    What is your view on the Greek Fire Constantinople used in naval battles against Arabs ?

  • @remembertostayhydrated
    @remembertostayhydrated День тому

    You can hold crossbow with its limbs vertically, put it on your shoulder (like an RPG), hold bolt with your thumb or even flat of your hand, and shoot that way at any angle up to vertically down

  • @ct1762
    @ct1762 2 дні тому

    I'd think the last thing a captain in the Navy would want is to sink or burn a ship they could be towing to a friendly port eating a plum duff counting their prize $! interestingly these fire weapons largely disappeared by the late 17th century, probably for this very reason. that or muskets and guns where just so much more effective without sinking a prize.

  • @damijanruzic9128
    @damijanruzic9128 2 дні тому

    Put modern limbs and arrows on medieval crossbow and see, hahaha 96lo lb of draw with modern limbs...

  • @hikelfin5941
    @hikelfin5941 2 дні тому

    Me watching without my glasses and can't see anything: Wow he's really accurate

  • @TheWonderingSou1
    @TheWonderingSou1 2 дні тому

    The problem is there are grown adults who believe that everything told about medieval times were true. All of this shit is fantasy and dumb humans mistaking it as truth..

  • @metagen77
    @metagen77 2 дні тому

    Obviously it is not "too slow" since it propells lighter things just fine. You need to simply add more "bungees" lmao

  • @PuppyShooter
    @PuppyShooter 2 дні тому

    I am super late to the party, but a note I can make about battlefield use is the ''Smoke generating areal denial''. Shoot a volley of 200 smoke arrows into the enemy;s line could create a lot of chaos and break formations. A scattered army is easy picking. Same way we use tear gas in modern day to subdue riots.

  • @robertanthonybermudez5545
    @robertanthonybermudez5545 2 дні тому

    how about layer upon layers of silk?

  • @user-re2qy9gm4v
    @user-re2qy9gm4v 2 дні тому

    Das haben die Bogenschützen früher auch gemacht , Gefangene ohne Lösegeldwert wurden an einen Baum gebunden und , dann hat man die Rüstung Systematisch auf Schwachstellen geprüft , vorzugsweise mit Inhalt denn , man wollte ja sehen was man erreichen kann . 😮

  • @Keck_YT
    @Keck_YT 2 дні тому

    unreal demonstration, cheers to all involved

  • @CanIHasThisName
    @CanIHasThisName 2 дні тому

    Maybe the effectiveness of the needle bodkin would be better if it was flatter with slightly sharpened sides. I think that the flat flesh bolt cuts a large enough hole in the fabric for the rest of the head to go through. The needle point only cuts a small hole and then has to force the fabric to stretch. Hence why it was so difficult to pull out - it was effectively stopped by the fabric not being able to stretch any more.

  • @thedeeznuts
    @thedeeznuts 2 дні тому

    I am no scientist or mathematician but my common sense tells me that because he is so elevated up and how "light" the arrow is, the wind would carry it much further than loosing it on even ground. This was a very informative video non the less and I am glad you all put it to the test to let us know, thank you!

  • @googlehepimizifisliyor2968
    @googlehepimizifisliyor2968 2 дні тому

    This gem needs more than a million views, the production quality is insane.

  • @zoran69ser
    @zoran69ser 2 дні тому

    crossdres to operate crossbow

  • @allan_0307
    @allan_0307 2 дні тому

    Save your culture Brits...Let them assimilate with your values and culture and not overshadow.

  • @GGdeTOURS37
    @GGdeTOURS37 2 дні тому

    TY very much from France! (your ancien targets lol)

  • @andyvonbourske6405
    @andyvonbourske6405 2 дні тому

    you can defend your post or you can put out the fires but you can't do both. the more dilemmas you can give your adversary the better . during sieges the woman often had the job of preventing those small fires before they got out of control .

  • @SuperDrPancho
    @SuperDrPancho 2 дні тому

    @akiratorres8949

  • @mecha-sheep7674
    @mecha-sheep7674 2 дні тому

    I wonder what would result from a crossbow using medieval material (wood, steel, rope...) but modern design.

  • @drakeboorhoes1131
    @drakeboorhoes1131 2 дні тому

    This is my favorite sword you sell I want to buy it so bad, I need to ask how long until it can be made if I order it ? I’m as of right now waiting 2 years already for an Albion 12-18 months for a Steven lock wood and 2 years plus for a scabbard from dbk .