Forum: Author Hangout

The low, dull whistle of death slipping past your ear.

Is there a sound when someone shoots an arrow from a bow? How about when the arrow is traveling through the air? Can you hear it if it passes by your ear?

The type of bow matters quite a bit. The bow that many people think of most often is a "Self Bow" aka a "Short Bow" such as is used at many summer camps; or by the Lakota, Iroquois, or Chippewa and other tribes of the Western Hemisphere. Traditionally made of wood, many are now plastic. They typically have a 20 to 60 pound "pull weight" and are only pulled to mid chest or so. These types of bows would have the "twang" sound, at rather close range.

Passing arrows have a "Zzzzzzz" sound, similar to, but distinctly different from bullets.

The type of arrowhead and the type of fletching will make a distinctive difference. Some arrows, based upon their fletching will spin. These are more likely to make a "whistling" noise; more notable the closer they are. Bolts, fired from crossbows, and some types of arrows don't spin.

Passing close by your ear, in addition to the "buzz/whistle" you may hear a "whoooosh" of displaced air. Arrowhead/Fletching/speed of the arrow/bolt will have a significant effect upon the noise made.

Recurve Bows, Longbows, "Composite" Bows all have significantly greater (potential) Pull Strength; lending more Power/Velocity; likely to result in a louder and "deeper noise of a passing arrow. Pully Bows and Crossbows may produce a mechanical noise as well, although some can be effectively "silent" is well lubed/maintained (and depending upon materials).

Unless there is no ambient noise, you aren't likely to hear any noise from a bow, unless you are very close to an archer.

You are not likely to hear an arrow until it is passing you, and then you might hear it impact (presuming it missed you). Bullets, even from an archaic black-powder flintlock smoothbore musket travel much faster than an arrow. Modern firearms usually fire supersonic bullets. That means the bullet is already Past you before you hear it; if you hear the weapon fired, the bullet is still likely to be past you before you hear the report!

Situations and the power of a bow would vary significantly.

So, a fur trapper in the 1700's traveling upon a river in a canoe, might never hear either the bow fired, nor the arrow in flight, unless it tears though the birch-bark skin of the canoe, or impacts a bundle of firs.

But a Roman Speculari might hear the "twang" of a recurve or compound bow fired by a Scythian scout: fired with more power and velocity, the Roman is more likely to hear a distinctive noise of the arrow. "Zzzzz" or perhaps a "whistle" if very close.

Wearing a "full helm" that covers his ears, a French Knight won't likely hear the sound of an English (or Welsh) Longbowman firing, nor even the passing of an arrow. A footman, with exposed ears might hear either; in particular the passing of an arrow.

Elven Longbows? Is there magic?

Very powerful bows, including "pully bows" and some crossbows may make a "Thrummmming" noise rather than a twang. Depends upon the material, and other factors. Some may be virtually silent.