Sarmatian Cavalry

[Alanus]

So what would that mean for a saddle?

I was looking at 32" arrows, and maybe a 50lb bow. Symmetric Style, about 52 inches long? Can't remember how long they were unstrung.

Modern horsebows are a little longer than Sarmatian/Hunnic originals but that helps alleviate finger-pinch. There are a number of bowyers making them. I have a couple of Istvan Toth's but they are not archeaologically correct. Never tried an Attilabows model. Lajos Kassi makes good bows but they are too "modern" looking. Of the bunch, Csaba Grozer remains faithful to original designs. He was a member of ATARN early on and conducted researh with Steven Selby. I have several Grozers, but the two I use are the 45lb Hun assymetrical I illustrated and a 40lb Hungarian, both made from horn and sinew. Cheaper models, like his biocomposites, still remain archeaologically faithful. And his Extra #2s at least have horn grips and ears.

What we need, I think, is John Conyard's imput on this matter. Judging from pics of what reenactors are using, a number of the bows are "close but not quite," if you get my gist.:wink:

As for arrows, the important thing is matching them to the bow's draw-weight. For a 50lb bow, a 32 inch shaft is fine. It's weight doesn't over-power the bow, even on a 45-pounder.:grin: