Turkish Archery Research and Paul E Klopseg

 TURKISH ARCHERY RESEARCH AND PAUL E. KLOPSEG (1889-1991) :

 

The shooting records of Ottoman archers could not be broken by European archers until recently. The most important reason for this was the compound bows used by the Turks. These springs, which took between 5 and 10 years to make, consisted of layers of wood, horn and nerve. In addition, these springs were 'reflex', meaning they would reverse when the beam was not attached. Similar springs were used in countries such as Iran and China.

The longest of the records recorded on the engagement stones in Arrow Square, It was the 888-meter throw that Selim III made in 1798. Curious about these incredible records, Western archers embarked on scientific research on Turkish archery in the first half of the 20th century. Thanks to the newly developed bows based on their work, modern archers finally got their hands on the III. They managed to break Selim's record. Until 1933, the world record belonged to Ingo Simon, who used a Turkish bow team. Simon made his 422m throw in 1914.

Archery lived as a sport in Turkey as well as in Europe after it was completely withdrawn from the battle scene. Especially in Selim III and Mahmud II was interested in archery. Although interest waned after their time, traditional bow making continued until the end of the Ottoman period. Süheyl Ünver tells that he saw the last bow and arrow shop of Istanbul in the Okçularbaşı district during his years as a medical student (1915-1921). In the early years of the Republic, perhaps the last bow master to own this shop had taught at the Istanbul State Applied Arts School. He told the American collector Cameron Stone (1859-1935), who met him in 1928, that this master was no longer manufacturing bows but was busy repairing old springs.

While the arrow shooting record in England was 310 meters, an interesting event in London drew attention to Turkish archery. In 1794, the secretary of the Ottoman Embassy, ​​Mahmud Efendi, made a 423-meter shot in front of the members of the British Archery Association (according to some sources, this distance was 440 meters). Although the English archers were surprised by this shot, Mahmud Effendi said that he was not in shape, that his bow had become stiff from being used, and that it was not an unusual shot since he was not a very good archer. None of the English archers who tried to pull Mahmud Efendi's bow could pull it as much as he did.

Mahmud Efendi donated his bow and hardware (hide and archer's ring) to the Royal Toxophilite Society of England, but these were lost after being stored for about a hundred years. In addition, a record with the signatures of the witnesses was kept about the shooting, but this record has not survived. Archer Ingo Simon, who examined Mahmud Efendi's bow many times before he disappeared, says that the bow is covered with leather.

American physics professor Paul Klopsteg became interested in Turkish archery in 1929 and published his research in his book Turkish Archery and Compound Bow in 1934. Apart from collecting old bows and arrows, examining their examples and historical sources in museums and collections, Klopsteg made experiments by making Turkish type bows, arrows and archer's ring (zihgir) himself, using traditional techniques. In his book, he explains that the Turkish bow is both durable and high in compression strength and flexibility, with nerves glued to its back and thin horn glued to its abdomen. Klopsteg, who was interested in the materials, construction and designs of Turkish bows and arrows, which he studied scientifically, then applied what he learned to new types of arrow and bow designs.

The most important source that Klopsteg used about Turkish archery is II. It was a 278-page treatise on archery written by Mustafa Kâni, one of the state dignitaries of the Mahmud era (Telhîs-i Resâilü'r-Rumât, Istanbul Matbaa-i Amire, 1263/1847, 278 pages). The detailed drawings in this treatise belong to Behçet, the son of Şeyhü'l-Meydan, the archer and arrow maker. Klopsteg had published many of these drawings in his own book. In order to understand Mustafa Kâni's book, Prof. Klopsteg even attempted to learn Old Turkish, but when he realized that he did not have the time and patience for this job, he had to use Joachim Hein's 1925 German translation. However, he says that since Hein is not an archer, a new translation from Turkish to English is needed.

Dr. Klopsteg, who received information from people who did research on ancient Turkish archery in Istanbul, such as Marion Eppley and Cameron Stone, was finally able to visit Istanbul in 1951. He went to Ok Square, which was still open at the time he was in Istanbul, and examined the many engagement stones standing there. It is possible that other engagement stone images other than the one published in Klopsteg's book, who donated his archive to the Northwestern University Library, were found in this archive. He also included a picture of a janissary tombstone with a bow and arrow symbol near the Ok Square in his book. While in Istanbul, he also studied the bow and arrow collection at the Topkapi Palace.

Ottoman bow makers had succeeded in making superior bows thanks to the centuries-old knowledge of themselves and the archers. Klopsteg made important researches on suitable wood types, glues, materials such as horns, nerves, design, construction techniques and shooting techniques for the construction of bows with the same characteristics today. In the same years, he exchanged information with other bow masters and archers who were engaged in making Turkish type bows (for example, Robert Martin and Curtis Hill). Klopsteg contributed to the production of new generation compound reflex bows and arrows, with his research and mechanical physics knowledge, the main starting point of which was the information given by Mustafa Kâni.

Being both a physicist and an archer, Klopsteg was able to unravel some technical points that previous researchers did not understand. An example of this is the use of the instrument called 'trench', which Mustafa Kâni briefly glossed over, just in case his readers knew how. The shield, which plays an important role in the throw length, has been applied to modern bows. In 1989, in Archery Review, these tools, called overdraw shelf or overdraw rest, were called "the most revolutionary accessory" and new types were patented. We find the scientific explanation of the important contribution of the archer ring to the success of Turkish archery in Klopsteg. Today, many tools are used that perform the same task as the release aid.

A technique that does not pass into modern range archery is the abrush arrows that Mahmud Efendi also used. Finding a field large enough to train on is a major challenge for long-distance archers today. That's why most modern archers prefer aiming archery. On the other hand, the ablache arrows, which had a special design for training, would only advance a few meters and fall to the ground thanks to the spiral feathers applied to the head.

In conclusion, Klopsteg's book is an essential resource for understanding ancient bow making and usage techniques. Also, Klopsteg's work shows how modern archery developed in the first half of the 20th century, thanks to those who studied Turkish bows and archery techniques. 

At the beginning of his book, Klopsteg says he was surprised that the British did not take an interest in Turkish archery before the 19th century. During the Hunting Symposium in Turkish Culture, Prof. Dr. Mihai Maxim said that Christopher Columbus mentioned a Turkish bow and arrow in his log. In the part of this text found on the Internet, dated December 26, 1492, he records that Columbus had the king of the natives of the Caribbean island, where he was at that time, make a shooting show with a Turkish bow. It seems that not all Europeans remained indifferent to this weapon.

There have always been those who claimed that Ottoman shooting records were just a myth, and today there are Western archers who think so. As a result of his research, Klopsteg concludes that these records are not legends, and besides focusing on this issue and giving place to what the witnesses say, he focuses on the value of the trip used to measure distances, the measurement methods used, and archer training. The modern bows developed based on what was learned as a result of the examination of Turkish bows also show that the old shooting records are not legendary.