how do torches and fire tipped arrows work?

[SERIA]

Hey guys! I'm trying to write a short story about an artisan who uses things that is nothing more than "science" to us... but "magic" to the people in his medevil word.

I have most of it wrapped up, but I'm trying to get some details about torches and flame tipped arrows, so I was hoping you guys could help me out.

just a few questions:
1) what is the real name (term) for "flame tipped arrow"
2A) what is the name of the flammable stuff that is applied to the arrowhead?
2B) is it the same stuff that medevil torches are made out of?
3) if no, then what is that stuff called?
4) what are they made out of?

I just don't want to sound like a bumbling baboon when I tell the readers that the character just "shrouded the arrowhead in 'flammable stuff' made from 'who knows what'." ^_~

thanks for any help you could give me ^_^

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

As I understand it, they used to stuff the heads of torches with tow (the short fibers of flax) which burns like tinder, and soak them in resin or oils so they would continue to burn. They also used pine knots or branches, which are high in resin (or pitch). There were probably other ways of making torches as well, but those are the ones I know.

I've never heard flame-tipped arrows called anything but fire arrows, but there may be a more specific name for them. They were tipped with resin, bitumen (which is a tarry substance, but I think it's a kind of petroleum), or, depending on the period you're thinking of, they might have used black powder.

Thinking about it some more, I may have heard of wax or tallow being used on the torches, too.

 

[chrispenycate]

Over time, and by region, different techniques of 'torch' were made, developing from simple lumps of flaming wood from the fire to quite sophisticated metal units that would probably have been classed as oil lamps if they had been a different shape.

Similarly, fire arrows went from ordinary arrows with a flaming scrap of oil-soaked rag wound round them, short range, inaccurate and easy to extinguish, to tubes full of what was probably 'Greek fire' and involved naptha (petrolium) and selpetre (saltpeter), and couldn't be put out with water in the Byzantine era.

But it's not really science he's selling, is it? More technology or (I suppose) natural philosophy. Unless he had developed the scientific method independently, rather than by the series of iterations and errors in this timeline.

 

[Pravuil]

For the sake of curiosity, what are these flaming arrows being used for?

 

[mygoditsraining]

One suggestion for a natural progression for any Conneticut Yankee looking to wow King Arthur's court would be the use of primary explosives (explosives that trigger with friction or heat) instead of pre-burning arrowheads or things of that nature.

Mercury fulminate wasn't discovered until 1800, but the methods of producing it, and extracting mercury from cinnabar, are relatively straightforward - you can pick up details on both quite readily from chemical literature (for a slightly archaic methodology, at least to our minds, try the text of Workshop Receipts by Ernest Spon - it's available online for free due to lapse of copyright). The development of blasting caps/primers in medieval times would be a massive technological leap forward in terms of arms, but also would result in a real change in local industry.

Using the example of cinnabar, it would become a valuable commodity. Although the mining and extraction processes are simple enough to implement, they are very very dangerous due to the exposure of people to mercury vapour. Not many serfs would survive the mines, and fewer would come away from the furnaces untouched by the metal's effects. the development of explosives and shell/bullet technology would turn the medieval world on it's head - but at what cost to the holder, and the people around him?

 

[The Judge]

For the sake of curiosity, what are these flaming arrows being used for?

Shooting at the flaming** bad guys?

J

** 'flaming' to English readers of a certain age signifies a bowdlerised version of another 'f-ing adjective...

 

[Trebuchet]

I don't think I've ever heard a name for fire arrows other than 'fire arrows'.

There are two ways for them to work:

1) The 'hasty' way: wrap a scrap of cloth soaked in flammable liquid (pitch, tar, bitumen, naptha or even just alcohol at a pinch), notch on bow, fire.

This has the disadvantage of the posibility that that speed of the arow will put out the flame, depending on the liquid you use.

2) the 'planned' method.

Find blacksmith/fletcher. Have blacksmith make arrowhead like this (this looks a bit 2D, there are actually four of the curved bits making a cage). Have fletcher attach to arrow shaft. Make filling (in this case, only pitch or some kinf of bituminous tar, mixed with sawdust or flax strands. The mix is about 3 parts sawdust/flax to 1 part tar/pitch. It has to be easy to pick up and fill the arowhead with, without it oozing out in the time it take to light, notch and fire.) Fill arrow head. Notch. Fire.

Incidentally, you usually have lit braziers standing at intervals along your line of archers so thay can light the damn things. Also, mind your hands. Sticky stuff on hands near fire not good.

You can also do a similar thing with catapults, and either fire balls of burning pitch/flax mix, or just clay pots of oil. The clay pot method gets you a greater spread of burning pain, the balls of fire give better accuracy and heat if you're firing at a specific target.

Hope that helps!