Home > The Archer's Companion: A Comprehensive History of the Shortbow

The Archer's Companion: A Comprehensive History of the Shortbow

A quick look at the shortbow, from Viking longships to the Mongol steppes... and your favorite video games.
Disclaimer: All images serve as visual aids to help explain archery basics and techniques. They should not be interpreted as depictions of actual hunts or training sessions.

Think 'shortbow', and you probably picture a rogue's toy or a beginner's weapon. But there's more to it than that. This little bow has a big history, used by everyone from Vikings to Mongol conquerors. Let's look at the two very different 'shortbows' and why size isn't everything.

Two Bows, One Name

The shortbow gets a bad rap, often seen as the longbow's weaker little brother, a backup for sneaky rogues. 1 But that view misses the point. "Shortbow" is a catch-all term for two totally different weapons.

Comparison of a simple wooden shortbow and a complex composite shortbow.

The shortbow's story is really two stories. First, you have the simple "self" bow, made from one piece of wood, basically a scaled-down longbow. 3 This was the commoner's weapon in early medieval Europe, used for hunting and raiding from English forests to Viking longships. 5 It was easy to make and effective enough, but it had clear limits against armored knights.

Then you have the composite bow, a high-tech weapon made from layers of wood, horn, and animal sinew. 7 These were the signature weapons of horse-riding empires like the Scythians and Mongols. 5 In their hands, the short composite bow packed a punch that far surpassed simple wooden bows. 12

So, don't ask "what is a shortbow?" Ask what it did . Its real strength was its adaptability, perfect for different materials, environments, and ways of fighting. This is the story of the weapon that built empires from horseback and armed raiders in dense forests.

Shortbow vs. Longbow

The best way to get the shortbow is to compare it to the longbow. They both shoot arrows, but differences in size and build make them tools for different jobs. The longbow is for power and distance in open spaces, the shortbow is for convenience and maneuverability in tight spots.

An archer holding a shortbow stands next to a tall longbow to illustrate the significant size difference.

Size, Materials, and Portability

First off, size. A "shortbow" is usually under 60 inches, or five feet, long, and often closer to three feet. 3 4 A traditional longbow, however, is as tall as the archer, often over six or even seven feet. 4 This size difference changes everything.

Simple shortbows use flexible hardwoods like yew or bamboo. 4 Modern recurve bows use fiberglass and laminated carbon fiber. 14 The longbow, needing its length to spread out the stress, was historically made from a single piece of wood (famously yew) and bends into a "D" shape. 13

The shortbow's small size makes it super portable. You can carry it through a thick forest without it getting snagged. 16 You can even use it while kneeling, in a hunting blind, or (most importantly) on a horse. 4 A longbow needs lots of open space, making it a weapon for battlefields, not ambushes. 13

Power, Energy, and Range

A bow's performance comes down to two things: draw weight (how hard you pull) and draw length (how far you pull). 14 This is where shortbows and longbows really differ.

A longbow has a longer draw length. This extended "power stroke" pushes the arrow for longer, transferring more energy. 14 A shortbow, being smaller, has a shorter draw length. 4 So even with the same pull strength, the longbow will always shoot with more power and range.

This means the longbow is a long-range weapon, capable of sending a heavy arrow over 400 yards. 5 The shortbow is for closer fights, accurate at short to medium distances. 4 The arrows are different too, a shortbow needs light arrows, while a longbow uses heavier ones for stability over distance. 4

Physics vs. Feeling: A shortbow might feel 'snappy' and quick, but the longbow's longer power stroke always results in higher velocity and more kinetic energy for the arrow, assuming equal draw weight.

Some people think a shortbow's arrow "shoots out faster" because the draw feels tight and "snappy". 4 That's a feeling, not physics. While the release is quick, the longbow's longer power stroke still gives the arrow higher overall velocity and kinetic energy.

This table breaks down the main differences between the two.

Feature Simple Shortbow Traditional Longbow
Average Length 36-60 inches (3-5 feet) 4 66-80 inches (5.5-6.5+ feet) 13
Primary Advantage Portability & Maneuverability 17 Power & Range 18
Draw Length Shorter 13 Longer 14
Energy Transfer Lower (shorter power stroke) 18 Higher (longer power stroke) 18
Effective Range Close to Medium (under 100-200 yards) 14 Medium to Long (up to 400 yards) 14
Arrow Type Lighter & Shorter 13 Heavier & Longer 13
Ideal Environment Confined spaces (forests, blinds, horseback) 4 Open spaces (battlefields, open plains) 13

A Weapon for the Rider and the Raider

In war, the "shortbow" meant two very different things. In Europe, the simple wooden shortbow was a common soldier's tool that was eventually replaced. But on the Eurasian steppes, the high-tech composite shortbow was the key to building massive empires.

The Simple Shortbow in Europe

In early medieval Europe, the simple wooden shortbow was everywhere, used for hunting and war by peasants and townsmen, not knights. 5 It was easy to make from local wood, so it was perfect for militias and levies.

With a range of about 100 yards, it could mess up unarmored troops. 12 But against a knight in mail or plate armor, it was pretty useless. 5 Its main job was to harass the enemy before the heavy infantry and cavalry clashed. 12

Still, it had its moments. Vikings used shortbows on raids, where the small size was handy on a crowded longship. 5 At the Battle of Hastings in 1066, Norman archers famously shot their arrows high into the air to get over the Saxon shield wall, wounding King Harold and helping to break their formation. 5

Norman archers with shortbows firing arrows into the air at the Battle of Hastings.

But the simple shortbow's days were numbered. By the 10th century, the crossbow appeared, which was more powerful and easier to use. 5 Then, by the 13th century, the formidable English longbow showed up. 5 Faced with better options, the simple shortbow was gradually pushed aside.

The Composite Shortbow of the Steppes

While Europe moved on, a much more advanced shortbow ruled Asia and the Middle East: the composite bow. This wasn't a single piece of wood, it was a sandwich of materials. 8 It had a wood core, a strip of animal horn on the belly (the side facing the archer), and layers of animal sinew on the back. 8

This design was clever. When drawn, the horn resists compression and the sinew resists tension, much better than wood alone. 8 This combo stores way more energy. The result was a short, light bow that was as powerful (or even more powerful) than the huge European longbow. 5

This awesome tech made mounted archery the dominant military tactic of the Eurasian steppes. The composite bow's short length and high power were perfect for a warrior on horseback. 5 The Scythians, for example, had highly complex bows, sometimes with a horn strip laminated vertically within the wooden core. 8

Later, Genghis Khan's Mongol armies used these bows to conquer most of the known world. 10 Mongol warriors were expert horse archers, trained since childhood. Their way of war was completely different from Europe's static infantry lines. 5

A Mongol horse archer firing a composite shortbow at full gallop across the steppes.

Steppe horse archers were mobile skirmishers. They'd swarm the enemy, shoot from all directions, and fake retreats to set traps. 5 They destroyed armies with attrition and maneuver without ever getting into a slugfest. The longbow was for foot soldiers holding a line, the composite shortbow was for horsemen controlling the whole battlefield.

The Shortbow Today: Hunting, Survival, and Sport

The shortbow isn't a battlefield weapon anymore, but it's still around for sport, hunting, and survival. Its modern identity is still about being compact and easy to handle. But this convenience comes with some physical challenges that archers need to understand.

For Hunters and Survivalists

For hunters in dense woods, a shortbow is way better than a longbow that snags on every branch. 16 It's also great for hunting from a cramped space like a ground blind or tree stand. 17 It's the practical choice when you need to be nimble.

It's practical for survival, too. You can make a simple shortbow more easily from a branch ("stave") than a longbow. 18 It's also versatile, powerful enough for medium game, but also gentle enough to "poke" at small targets like fish or birds without destroying your arrow. 18

In Modern Archery

The old composite bow's recurved limbs live on in modern sport archery. A recurve bow, with tips that curve away from the archer, stores more energy than a straight-limbed bow. The fancy Olympic recurve bow is the high-tech version of this, made from carbon fiber and aluminum. 15

An Olympic archer at full draw with a modern, high-tech recurve bow.

Barebow archery takes it back to basics. Archers use a recurve bow with no sights, stabilizers, or other gadgets. 15 It's all about instinct and form, much like how historical shortbows were used. Even high-tech compound bows are getting shorter, driven by the same need for a handy, maneuverable bow in the field. 17

Stacking and Finger Pinch

But a short bow isn't all easy living. It has two main ergonomic challenges: stacking and finger pinch. Both are a direct result of the bow's small size.

Stacking is when the bow suddenly gets much harder to pull in the last few inches of the draw. 26 This happens because the string angle gets too sharp, making it inefficient. 28 Short bows are more likely to stack, especially for archers with a long draw, which can really mess up your accuracy. 2 27

Finger pinch is exactly what it sounds like. The sharp string angle on a short bow literally squeezes your drawing fingers together against the arrow. 2 This can be painful and lead to a sloppy release. A finger tab or shooting glove can help, but the sharp angle is a reality of short bows. 29

The Shortbow Trade-Off: The shortbow's portability comes at a cost. Archers must contend with stacking (a sudden increase in draw weight) and finger pinch (the sharp string angle squeezing the fingers), which can affect comfort and accuracy.

So, you have a trade-off. The longbow offers a smoother, more forgiving shot. 16 The shortbow offers convenience and portability. You have to pick what's more important for what you're doing.

The Shortbow in Fantasy and Gaming

Today, the shortbow's identity has been shaped more by fantasy and video games than by history books. In these worlds, it has a very specific role. It's the weapon of the quick, the sneaky, and the clever.

The Shortbow in Dungeons & Dragons

The classic shortbow stereotype comes from games like Dungeons & Dragons. For game balance, weapons get different stats. The shortbow always does less damage (a six-sided die, 1d6) and has a shorter range than the longbow (an eight-sided die, 1d8). 31

But it's about who can use it. The shortbow is a "Simple Weapon," meaning almost anyone can use it, especially classes that aren't pure fighters, like Rogues, Bards, and Monks. 35 The longbow is a "Martial Weapon," reserved for Fighters and Rangers. This makes the shortbow the weapon of characters who use wits and speed, not just muscle. 38

A fantasy illustration of a nimble halfling rogue with a shortbow, lurking in the shadows of a dungeon.

Game rules for smaller races like Halflings and Gnomes also play a part. They often can't use big "heavy" weapons like longbows, so the shortbow is their go-to. 1 This cemented the popular image of the nimble Halfling archer.

In Video Games

Video games ran with this idea. In Old School RuneScape , the shortbow fires significantly faster than the longbow. This makes it better for damage-per-second (DPS) against weak opponents, reinforcing that fast, skirmishing style. 40

Video games also add magic into the mix. In RuneScape , the "Magic Shortbow" is a popular mid-level weapon you can upgrade by "imbuing" it. 43 In games like Baldur's Gate 3 , you can find magical shortbows that do cool things like frighten enemies or let you cast spells like Haste . 47

This consistent depiction creates what you could call "The Great Flattening" of the shortbow's history. The two real-world shortbows, the simple self-bow and the high-tech composite bow, get merged into one. The pop culture shortbow is just a weaker, faster version of the longbow.

The super-powerful composite horsebow, which was technologically superior to the English longbow, is mostly forgotten in this new definition. It might pop up as an "exotic" weapon in some games (like Pathfinder's "composite shortbow"), but it's not what people think of. 34 Gaming has given the shortbow a cool new identity, but it's one tied to rogues and halflings, not Mongol conquerors.

A Legacy of Adaptability

The shortbow is more complex than its reputation suggests. Its story is all about adaptability. Judging it just on power and range misses the point, its real value was being the right tool for the job.

In medieval Europe, the simple shortbow was perfect for raiding in forests or on ships where a longbow was useless. It wasn't a knight-killer, but as the Battle of Hastings showed, it could change the course of a battle.

On the steppes, it became the composite bow, a high-tech engine of war. It packed huge power into a small frame, perfect for a horseman. This system of horse, rider, and bow created empires and represented a whole different philosophy of warfare.

Today, that adaptability lives on. It's the choice for hunters in thick woods and survives in sport as the Olympic recurve. But its convenience requires skill from the archer to manage the physical challenges of stacking and finger pinch.

And in fantasy, the shortbow is now the iconic weapon for the agile and resourceful. It's the tool for rogues, scouts, and halflings, characters who triumph through cunning and speed rather than brute force.

From a raider's simple yew bow to an empire's composite engine, the shortbow's story is one of supreme versatility. It's a reminder that the best weapon isn't always the biggest or the strongest. It's the one that's right for the job.

Works cited

  1. Through various editions of D&D, why would you use a shortbow rather than a longbow?, https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/208564/through-various-editions-of-dd-why-would-you-use-a-shortbow-rather-than-a-long
  2. Regarding Short Bows : r/Archery - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/Archery/comments/ns7z6x/regarding_short_bows/
  3. www.completeguidetoarchery.com, https://www.completeguidetoarchery.com/shortbow-vs-longbow/#:~:text=Shortbows%20are%2C%20well%2C%20short.,Or%2C%20they%20can%20recurve%20shortbows.
  4. The 7 Key Differences Between Longbows and Short Bows - Extra ..., https://extraarchery.com/differences-between-longbows-and-short-bows/
  5. History of archery - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_archery
  6. Did the English longbow replace an earlier shortbow? : r/AskHistorians - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/tvslny/did_the_english_longbow_replace_an_earlier/
  7. Tag: shortbow - Military History Visualized, http://militaryhistoryvisualized.com/tag/shortbow/
  8. Composite bow - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_bow
  9. Composite Bows: Weapon of Ancient Nomadic Equestrian Cultures | ODINSON ARCHERY, https://odinsonarchery.com/composite-bows-weapon-of-ancient-nomadic-equestrian-cultures/
  10. Bow and arrow | History, Construction & Uses | Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/technology/bow-and-arrow
  11. How did the Mongols make their Mongolian composite bows? Did they make their composite bows out of horn or a different material? - Quora, https://www.quora.com/How-did-the-Mongols-make-their-Mongolian-composite-bows-Did-they-make-their-composite-bows-out-of-horn-or-a-different-material
  12. The Bow in Medieval Warfare | Encyclopedia.com, https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/bow-medieval-warfare
  13. The 8 Real Differences Between Longbows & Short bows - Archers Hub, https://archershub.com/the-8-real-differences-between-longbows-short-bows/
  14. Shortbow vs Longbow - The Complete Guide to Archery, https://www.completeguidetoarchery.com/shortbow-vs-longbow/
  15. Archery Bow Types & Types of Archery, https://archerygb.org/about/types-of-archery
  16. short bow vs. long bow accuracy? - Trad Gang.com, https://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?topic=60935.0
  17. Short Bows vs. Long Bows – Does Axle-to-Axle Length Really Matter? - Bowhunting.com, https://www.bowhunting.com/article/short-bows-vs-long-bows-does-axle-to-axle-length-really-matter/
  18. Survival Bow [Long Bow vs Short Bow] Which is better? : r/Bowyer - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/Bowyer/comments/1jzlr86/survival_bow_long_bow_vs_short_bow_which_is_better/
  19. en.wikipedia.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_archery#:~:text=Medieval%20shortbows%20were%20structurally%20similar,were%20often%20ineffective%20against%20armour.
  20. How a horn composite bow is build - Custom hornbows by Medicinebows, https://medicinebows.com/2016/08/02/how-to-build-a-hornbow/
  21. Bow and arrow - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_and_arrow
  22. scythian bows : r/Bowyer - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/Bowyer/comments/13l7v0x/scythian_bows/
  23. SCYTHIAN BOW FROM XINJANG - ATARN.org, https://atarn.org/chinese/Yanghai/Scythian_bow_ATARN.pdf
  24. Mongol bow - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_bow
  25. Short vs. Longer Bows: There's Strength in Length, https://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/content/articles/deer-hunting-gear/short-vs-longer-bows-theres-strength-in-length
  26. www.reddit.com, https://www.reddit.com/r/Archery/comments/16oufdq/bow_stacking_and_force_draw_curves_explained/#:~:text=Definitions%3A,more%20than%205.5%25%20per%20inch
  27. Archery Stacking - What is it and why should I care?, https://archeryboss.com/guides-info/archery-stacking
  28. Archery/Bowyer Tips and Tricks: What is "Stack" - YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nHR0OmDVnc
  29. What is Finger Pinch in Archery?, https://legendarchery.com/pages/finger-pinch
  30. Hook & Finger Placement | Archery Tips - YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsGntR7Plc8
  31. Shortbow - Equipment - D&D Beyond, https://www.dndbeyond.com/equipment/17-shortbow
  32. shortbow vs longbow :: Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous - Enhanced Edition General Discussions - Steam Community, https://steamcommunity.com/app/1184370/discussions/0/3203748716336081364/
  33. Shortbow | D&D 5th Edition on Roll20 Compendium, https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Shortbow
  34. Shortbow – d20PFSRD, https://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/weapons/weapon-descriptions/shortbow/
  35. Whats the differences between Longbow and Shortbow? :: Solasta: Crown of the Magister General Discussions - Steam Community, https://steamcommunity.com/app/1096530/discussions/0/3551679689870956159/
  36. Is there any reason to use a shortbow over a longbow in any situation? : r/DnD - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/46sn1y/is_there_any_reason_to_use_a_shortbow_over_a/
  37. Bows simple vs martial - Rules & Game Mechanics - Dungeons & Dragons Discussion, https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/rules-game-mechanics/171130-bows-simple-vs-martial
  38. what's the point of short bow and ligtht crossbows? : r/Pathfinder_Kingmaker - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/Pathfinder_Kingmaker/comments/1m2m2w2/whats_the_point_of_short_bow_and_ligtht_crossbows/
  39. Shortbow vs Longbow (help me make a useful shortbow) : r/RPGdesign - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/RPGdesign/comments/x3zd1q/shortbow_vs_longbow_help_me_make_a_useful_shortbow/
  40. Shortbow vs Longbow! Once and for all, I need your collective knowledge on which is best! - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/2007scape/comments/1xwssn/shortbow_vs_longbow_once_and_for_all_i_need_your/
  41. Main differences between shortbows and longbows? - RuneScape - GameFAQs, https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/562728-runescape/49909803
  42. What's the difference between a regular short bow and a comp bow? : r/2007scape - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/2007scape/comments/bgxhy6/whats_the_difference_between_a_regular_short_bow/
  43. Don't use a magic shortbow! #oldschoolrunescape #osrs - YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSFXbvGAz_o
  44. Magic Comp Bow VS Magic Shortbow VS Magic Longbow : r/2007scape - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/2007scape/comments/2z6unk/magic_comp_bow_vs_magic_shortbow_vs_magic_longbow/
  45. Magic shortbow : r/ironscape - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/ironscape/comments/r8e3nn/magic_shortbow/
  46. Magic Shortbow x5,000 OSRS Item - Runescape - RPGStash, https://www.rpgstash.com/runescape/magic-shortbow-old-school-.html
  47. Shortbows - bg3.wiki, https://bg3.wiki/wiki/Shortbows
  48. Is +1 composite shortbow better than +1 shortbow in every way? - Paizo, https://paizo.com/threads/rzs4nfzr?Is-1-composite-shortbow-better-than-1