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<blockquote data-quote="aspqrz" data-source="post: 7260380" data-attributes="member: 19485"><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Bows vs Swords</strong></span></p><p>If you believe the typical FRPG (AD&D for example), a Longbow costs 75 gp and a Sword 25 gp … 1.5 and 0.5 pounds of gold respectively at their nominated 50 gp per pound. And that's a 16 oz pound, not a 12 oz Troy pound. </p><p></p><p>At a historical conversion factor of 8.5:1 for silver:gold in the medieval west that's 17 Troy pounds (roughly) and 5.67 (roughly) … or 4080 pennies for the bow and 1360 pennies for the sword. </p><p></p><p> 4080 pennies = 16320 Farthing Loaves = 195,840 (16 oz) pounds weight = ~87.4 tons of bread! </p><p></p><p>1360 pennies = 5440 Farthing Loaves = 65280 (16 oz) pounds weight = ~29 tons of bread! </p><p></p><p> Just a tad overpriced! </p><p></p><p> What did Bows and Swords actually cost? </p><p></p><p> Anyone who tells you with a straight face that a chunk of wood costs more than a chunk of metal in medieval times … well, I have this deal in shares in the Sydney Harbour Bridge, cash, small bills, nonconsecutive serial numbers, please. </p><p></p><p> Over 400 years and with changes to smelting tech making metal cheaper around the 13th century, it's hard, but the following ranges seem representative … </p><p></p><p>Longbows: 6d to 2/6d. Mostly in the range 1/- (12d) to 1/6 (18d) in the 14th century. </p><p></p><p>Arrows? A Sheaf of 12, depending on the arrowhead and other factors, 3d to 1/-, and in the range 6d-8d in the 14th century. </p><p></p><p>Long Knives, rather like the Saxon Scramaseax, around 9d by the 14th century, probably 1.5 to 2 times that before the mid 13th century when metal was more expensive. </p><p></p><p>Short Swords or Falchions (sorta like a Machete, and designed for slashing attacks against targets either wearing no armour or no metal armour), around 3/- (36d) by the 14th century, again, probably 1.5-2 times rhat before the mid 13th century.</p><p></p><p>Bastard Swords (Hand and a Half Swords, intended for attacks against targets wearing metal armour) around 9/- by the 14th century, and, likewise, 1.5-2 times that before the mid 13th century. </p><p></p><p>Knight's Swords (either the same as Bastard Swords in the 14th century or a Longsword at any period), around £1 upwards by the 14 century and proportionally more expensive earlier.</p><p></p><p>These prices are, of course, for reasonably new weapons – older (worn) or simply older style weapons cost significantly less second hand … and anyone whose social class demanded a fancier weapons could pay way over the odds at any time (not the difference between the Bastard Sword and Knight's Sword … one is for those who simply want a killing tool, the other for those who want a pretty killing tool that enhances their social status!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="aspqrz, post: 7260380, member: 19485"] [SIZE=3][B]Bows vs Swords[/B][/SIZE] If you believe the typical FRPG (AD&D for example), a Longbow costs 75 gp and a Sword 25 gp … 1.5 and 0.5 pounds of gold respectively at their nominated 50 gp per pound. And that's a 16 oz pound, not a 12 oz Troy pound. At a historical conversion factor of 8.5:1 for silver:gold in the medieval west that's 17 Troy pounds (roughly) and 5.67 (roughly) … or 4080 pennies for the bow and 1360 pennies for the sword. 4080 pennies = 16320 Farthing Loaves = 195,840 (16 oz) pounds weight = ~87.4 tons of bread! 1360 pennies = 5440 Farthing Loaves = 65280 (16 oz) pounds weight = ~29 tons of bread! Just a tad overpriced! What did Bows and Swords actually cost? Anyone who tells you with a straight face that a chunk of wood costs more than a chunk of metal in medieval times … well, I have this deal in shares in the Sydney Harbour Bridge, cash, small bills, nonconsecutive serial numbers, please. Over 400 years and with changes to smelting tech making metal cheaper around the 13th century, it's hard, but the following ranges seem representative … Longbows: 6d to 2/6d. Mostly in the range 1/- (12d) to 1/6 (18d) in the 14th century. Arrows? A Sheaf of 12, depending on the arrowhead and other factors, 3d to 1/-, and in the range 6d-8d in the 14th century. Long Knives, rather like the Saxon Scramaseax, around 9d by the 14th century, probably 1.5 to 2 times that before the mid 13th century when metal was more expensive. Short Swords or Falchions (sorta like a Machete, and designed for slashing attacks against targets either wearing no armour or no metal armour), around 3/- (36d) by the 14th century, again, probably 1.5-2 times rhat before the mid 13th century. Bastard Swords (Hand and a Half Swords, intended for attacks against targets wearing metal armour) around 9/- by the 14th century, and, likewise, 1.5-2 times that before the mid 13th century. Knight's Swords (either the same as Bastard Swords in the 14th century or a Longsword at any period), around £1 upwards by the 14 century and proportionally more expensive earlier. These prices are, of course, for reasonably new weapons – older (worn) or simply older style weapons cost significantly less second hand … and anyone whose social class demanded a fancier weapons could pay way over the odds at any time (not the difference between the Bastard Sword and Knight's Sword … one is for those who simply want a killing tool, the other for those who want a pretty killing tool that enhances their social status! [/QUOTE]
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