[Dan D'Silva]

Hello everyone.

I've been thinking of putting together an archery set (bow, arrows, bowcase, quiver and belt) based on the kind used in Safavid Iran. I'm specifically thinking of late in the period, c. 1700, although I know the army had largely switched over to gunpowder by then.

From what little I can find, going by period artwork, it looks as though the Safavids used similar equipment to the Ottomans, which makes sense, but obviously similar isn't the same as identical (if you compare the Ottoman and Safavid swords, for instance). So basically what I'm looking for is whether there were any features peculiar to the Safavid/Qizilbash/Turcoman equipment in this period.

[Sean Manning]

Have you tried M. Khorasani's books? The Moroccan manuscript on archery was probably copied at the start of Safavid times but composed a hundred years or so earlier. Also the Asiatic Traditional Archery Network on Facebook and Bede Dwyer.

There are also the manuscripts, printed books, paintings, and keepsakes from Sir Robert Shirley and brothers' time in Iran. There is a decent chance that the British crown still owns some archery sets for example, like the Austrian Republic still has some 16th and 17th-century armour from the Hapsburgs' imperial colleagues in Japan.

[Dan D'Silva]

Thanks. I've looked at Manouchehr's book but the lowest price I can find it for is nearly $150, and I'm on the fence about whether I can justify the expense just for the reference materials for one project (though it may prove useful in the future).

I'll definitely check with ATARN and see about contacting Bede Dwyer.

[Sean Manning]

Khorasani's Arms & Armour from Iran definitely has Safavid bows, arrows, quivers, and bowcases with thirty pages of analysis of archery equipment.