Correct me wrong, but medieval mail and plates were better than current replicas.
Ancient warbows had problem with transferring power if i i remember right. Also i know you underestimate protective value of aketon.
What crossbows, with crane or not ?
You messed up things.
- In fact, you're wrong about current replicas being worst. Modern middle grade steel is far better than ancient high grade steel. In terms of homogenity, percentages, mass distribution, hardness, elasticity, etc... I'll try to find an article I read a few months ago about demistifying the Japanese's Katanas (and in which they make a test to both steals) and post it in the Historian subforum, if you want to.
- Ancient warbows were all but homogen in terms of power, elasticity, etc... you only know how powerful your bow is AFTER finishing it. So you had some were low quality bows, and some very high quality ones. From what I read about ancient bows, and specialy about english Long Bows were that they had from 140 to 180Lbs of draw tension. I have (and it's impossible to have due to wood decomposition) any information about they're elasticity and recovery speed. But you can figure out, with the reported 300 yards range that they should have have a satisfying recovery speed.
That associated with their high draw tension is enought to say that far most efficient than what we do now (but only because we pruprosedly do low powered bows,.. but that's another discussion). So I would just answer that they were good enought to do they're job.
- The Hacqueton was in fact very effective, but you seem to believe that every comoner had one under his battle-stealed rusty mail coat ?
- About the Crossbow, in fact, they were a lot, I am speaking about the more powerfull ones, not one construction type in particular. Say 200Lbs to speak about a middle powered one.
- I do ? Well, I love to learn, I would be pleased if you tell me were I did and what's the correct points.
Sorry for flooding this topic, were out of context, that was just to awnser ! I'll be in Historical Subforum.