quiver position
which is better? with the arrows facing forward,or backward,insofar as speed of nocking is concrned?
Thanks,
Nick
Thanks,
Nick
Except in closed quivers, where the points were uppermost, all traditional Asian quivers had the arrows facing backwards. The modern form of open quivers came into use before the eighth century and were always used facing backwards by horse archers.
The technique for rapid drawing and nocking of the arrow depended on grasping the arrow below the fletching and slapping it against the grip of the bow, holding it in place with the bow hand, and sliding it forward with the drawing hand to nock it on the string.
My guess is that, if this was not the fastest method, it was the most practical fast method in hunting and battle from horseback. Until the development of shorter open quivers, the usual method of rapid shooting required arrows to be held in bow hand or the drawing hand. These techniques died out except in formal shooting after the spread of the short open quiver (examples are the Persian, Turkish and Manchu quivers).
The technique for rapid drawing and nocking of the arrow depended on grasping the arrow below the fletching and slapping it against the grip of the bow, holding it in place with the bow hand, and sliding it forward with the drawing hand to nock it on the string.
My guess is that, if this was not the fastest method, it was the most practical fast method in hunting and battle from horseback. Until the development of shorter open quivers, the usual method of rapid shooting required arrows to be held in bow hand or the drawing hand. These techniques died out except in formal shooting after the spread of the short open quiver (examples are the Persian, Turkish and Manchu quivers).