pre 1900 arrow rests or shelves???

[perry]

I was recently asked if their is any examples or evidence of arrow rests or shelves being used pre 1900 by an archer keen to have a try at IFAA's classic bow division . I guess he is not comfortable shooting off his hand and the rules state he must produce historical evidence before he can shoot a type of bow in this division

Had a quick  poke around myself and can not find any referances , can anyone help .

regards Perry

[adb]

I don't know for sure, but I'd guess archers would have been shooting off the fist <1900. You can easily purchase a glove for your bow hand to prevent fletching cuts. Very common in the UK, even to this day. If you need a glove supplier, shoot me a PM... I have a friend in the UK who makes them.

[armymedic.2]

i ahave a used a plain old weight lifting glove before, works great.  if your grip is contoured then your hand is in the same spot everytime, very accurate.

[Hillbilly]

I f you wrap the front of your fletching, it won't cut your hand.

[perry]

Thanks fella's , not sure myself why this fella wants to find out about pre 1900 bows with arrow shelves or rests when shooting off the hand works so well . I agree that there must have been individual's either putting layers of leather to form a shelf or padding out the top of their wrapped grips like we do today .

The way the full rules read the archer has to prove if equipment was used so I am sure it would exclude using gloves on the bow hand unless one could supply historical evidence .

I suspect when IFAA drew up this  division for pre 1900 equipment they could not find any conclusive evidence so they included the clause - Its upon the archer to prove historical accuracy . Their are no sub clauses where they list any evidence at all .

At least its encouraging that these governing bodies are recognising pre 1900 archery technology at all .

regards Perry