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Polish Archers

6 posts2008live thread
jbl
I am new to this forum and am trying to learn more about my Polish heritage and history through archery and I was wondering if the Polish used bows similar to the Asian style "horsebow" or English style "longbow"?
Bede
Poland was a crossroads for archery culture. There is evidence for bow use going back to antiquity. In later times, asiatic composite bows were used, but wooden self bows had a long history too.

There are several Polish members of this forum doing serious research into archery and I am sure they will provide you with help.

Poland is also a repository of Turkish and steppe bows because of the numerous wars and the liking that Polish nobles had for collecting weapons. Quivers and bow cases are in major Polish collections from the sixteenth century onwards. Major pieces in the Oriental style were made in Lvov.
Stephen Selby
There is an enthusiatic group of Polish traditional archers, many based around Krakow. They are very knowledgeable. There is a good collection of weapons used against the Turks in the Fortress Museum in Krakow.
gt1cm2
Hi JBL,

I too have Polish ancestry (great grandfather) and have found TradArcher off this forum to be great for information, perhaps send him a PM?

Cindy
TradArcher
Hi JBL, Hi Cindy

No problem, just PM me and I will answer ASAP.

All the best from cloudy Warsaw
Janek
Andrzej Abratowski
And greetings from sunny Krakow to :D
If you are interested in general view of Polish Archery I cam send you an article "Bow in Poland" published in JSAA

Andrzej