Posted on 05/17/2014 7:51:52 PM PDT by null and void
How to create medieval weapons with modern tech
Do you have a castle that you need to storm, or a siege you need to lay upon your enemies? Are you sadly bereft of the medieval weaponry it would take to accomplish those tasks?
Well don’t despair: luckily, you live in the age of the Internet, which means somebody knows how to make things like self-igniting flaming arrows for all your siege needs, and that somebody is completely willing to share that information with the world:
First things first: materials. As a denizen of the modern age, you only need four things to create self-igniting fire arrows—a ball of steel wool, an ordinary nine-volt battery, a slingshot and, well, arrows. Attach the steel wool to the arrow, stick the battery on the base of your slingshot, and start shooting: when you draw back the slingshot’s elastic, the battery and steel wool meet, igniting the wool and subsequently the arrow.
[Video at source]
While the guy in the video is using a slingshot, this technique should work just as well with a regular bow or crossbow, although you’d probably have to modify it a bit.
I’m going to leave you with a small disclaimer: since you probably don’t have the mad archery skills of your medieval ancestors, and you’ll be shooting flaming projectiles, please experiment with this in a very large, completely empty area where you can’t set anything important on fire, like the land or houses or yourself.
But while you’re in that large, empty area, by all means see if you can look this badass:
Looks scary. I think I’d need 4 or 5 stiff drinks to work up the courage to try something like this.
Whew! So the Indians can't use this to attack Rin-Tin-Tin's fort. You had me worried there.
You can stick strike anywhere matches into the barrel of an empty BB gun and, fire it, the match will explode or light on impact. Not quite the distance of an arrow, though.
Much fun.
Would be a good entry for that cable show “Outrageous Acts of Science”
Looks scary. I think I’d need 4 or 5 stiff drinks to work up the courage to try something like this.
Have six drinks so you can ask someone to hold the last one while they watch what you are about to do.
Useful for bear attacks ...
Are you suggesting we attack bears with flaming arrows or are you expressing concern that bears have bows with flaming arrows and might use them in an orchestrated attack?
Ha ha ha look up “steel wool poi” and see very scary stuff.
Here is a starter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKSAcO3yPdU
Lots of mischief with steel wool.
But we (Indians) can use flaming marshmallows on arrows to attack Rin Tin Tin’s fort. So you may want to worry.
Hev Fun Stormin de Kessel!
Uh-oh! But I don’t think you’d ever hurt Rinty.
Think I’ll use a Flame-O-Phone instead!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZY9_Xr5XPA
Well, we do have the right to arm bears.
Too scary! /s
Oh I wouldn’t hurt him. I could always keep a good dog.
Throw in a diaper and a skateboard and you got an episode of Jackass.
It always pays to be prepared. Although bears using flaming arrows are rare, just when you think they’ve gone into hibernation a well-armed pack sends a swarm of arrows your way.
This could be of some fun at the TCMS event...
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