Brief Description:  The English longbow is a massive, self-wood bow measuring 6 to 7 feet in height. Made primarily from European yew, its genius lies in utilizing the outer sapwood to withstand tension and the inner heartwood for compression. This devastating weapon possessed draw weights between 80 and 180 pounds, allowing archers to pierce plate armor and decimate charging ranks at ranges over 250 yards.

Construction and Design:

Wood Choice: While ash and elm were occasionally used for training or by commoners, the gold standard was yew. The stave was meticulously cut from the log to incorporate the pale sapwood and the darker, denser heartwood.

Horn Nocks: The tips of the longbow were typically reinforced with decorative and functional cow or horn nocks to securely hold the bowstring.

The "D" Profile: Unlike modern recurve bows, the limbs of the English longbow formed a 'D' shape in cross-section rather than a flat profile.

Ammunition ("Cloth-yard" Shafts):

Arrow Design: Arrows were typically made of ash, birch, or poplar and measured about a yard long (27 to 37 inches).

Arrowheads: Archers utilized different tips depending on their target. "Bodkin" points were iron, needle-like tips specifically engineered to punch through chainmail and plate armor. "Broadhead" tips were wider and designed to inflict massive trauma and bleeding on unarmored targets and mounts.

Fletching: Feathers, often from geese or swans, were glued and bound to the back of the shaft to provide aerodynamic stability in flight.