What does a fletcher do?

The English longbow was the most devastating weapon on the medieval battlefield, it always surprised me that the French never trained their own men at arms in the use of them

Trisha, they mean that there’s a legend saying that during the Hundred Years War (1337–1453), where the English’s superior use of the longbow gave them early victories, eg at Crécy, the French would chop off the index and middle finger of their English prisoners to stop them firing their bows. So the English used the V sign to demonstrate they hadn’t been captured. No historical evidence of course but it makes a good story!

Of course they were in demand, arrows were much easier to drag from war to war than a trebuchet or ballista.

J, and led to the English two fingered salute (the ‘V’ sign) to the French, to indicate the bowman had a forefinger and a middle finger to draw back the bow and fire the arrow

Weapons manufacturing has been profitable for many people and has continued to be so down to our day.

Fletcher is a surname Like Cooper is for a barrel maker

The French outsourced their missile weapons by hiring foreign mercenaries. A large number these were crossbowman from Genoa, Italy.

Wife got excited when I said I was looking up flights on the net : Didn't have the heart to tell her it was dart flights -

Geordie4Life, It is also said that is where the proverbial "flipping the bird" or "giving the middle finger" came from the English. They would hold up their middle fingers to show the French that they could still use their bows to fire/loose/shoot at them; to "pluck" them. Through time the "PL" became "F" and thus a new way of hand gesture and word to communicate to others! 😉Thank you Mr. Wuhl.

J, They used their middle finger to "pluck" the bow's string when firing. At least the "plucking" was only one way. Check out "Assume the Position with Robert Wuhl" (2007) & "Assume the Position 201 with Mr. Wuhl" (2007). We believe you might enjoy them.

This comes from dealing with the feathers

Jackie, I heard its the reverse when the English would cut off their French counterparts’ fingers.. hence using the reverse V-sign as a taunt to them (…and everyone else!) up to this very day!

I have read a great deal about the Middle Ages and I remember about the fletchers.

Geordie4Life, I don’t know what you mean