The Theory & Practice of Archery (2nd Edition)

Horace A. Ford (1822-1880) is known as the greatest target archer of all time. He first picked up the bow in 1845, and a mere four years later he won the Grand National Archery Meeting held in the United Kingdom. He proceeded to win an amazing, and unmatched, eleven consecutive championships, and a twelfth "comeback" win. His high score - that of 1271 in the Double York Round in 1857 - remained archery's high mark for over 70 years.

His masterwork, Archery: Its Theory and Practice (2nd Edition), is one of the all-time classics of archery.

Contents Covered:

• Chapter 1 -- Introductory
• Chapter 2 -- A Glance at the Career of the English Long Bow
  • The Anglo-Norman Period
  • Robin Hood
  • Military Achievements of the Bow in the Middle Ages
  • Its Decline and Fall
  • Revival for Amusement
  • First Toxophilite Societies
  • Grand National Archery Society
• Chapter 3 -- Of the Bow
  • Variety of its Form and Material
  • The Flodden Bow
  • The Bows in the Tower
  • The Self-Bow, and the Various Woods of Which It Is Made
  • Yew, Its Quality and Superiority
  • How to Secure Pins
  • The Proper Shape of the Bow
  • Its Correct Length
  • The Backed Bow
  • Various Woods of Which It Is Made
  • The Yew-Backed Yew
  • The Reflexed Shaped Condemned, and Why
  • A Comparison Between Self and Backed-Yew Bows
  • The Carriage Bow
• Chapter 4 -- How to Choose a Bow, and How to Use and Preserve It When Chosen
  • Popular Errors in the Choice of a Bow
  • Most Accomplished Shots
  • Directions as to Strength of Bow to Be Chosen
  • General Principles to Guide Its Selection
  • Reasons Why Bows Are Broken
  • How to Secure Chrysals
  • General Directions for Its Preservation and Repair
  • Of Broken Limbs
  • Concerning Unstringing
  • Weight and Length of Ladies' Bows
  • Care in the Choice and Use of a Bow Recommended
• Chapter 5 -- Of the Arrow
  • Essentials of an Arrow
  • How to Test Its Straightness and Strength
  • Best Kind of Arrow, and Best Materials for Its Manufacture
  • Apparent Antagonism Between the Theory and Practice of Archery, as Regards the Flight of the Arrow, Discussed and Explained
  • The Chested and Bobtailed Arrows Condemned, and Why
  • Various Shapes of the Arrow
  • Its Feathering
  • Its Pile
  • Its Nock
  • Its Length
  • Its Weight
  • How to Preserve the Feathers from Damp, and to Restore Them to Shape When Ruffled by Wet
  • Curious Effects in Different Feathering of Arrows
  • Change of Tackle Whilst Shooting Condemned
  • How to Keep and Preserve Arrows
  • Necessity of Good "Stopping"
• Chapter 6 -- Of the String, the Bracer, and Shooting-Glove
  • The Best Strings
  • Directions in Their Choice
  • How to Make the Loop
  • Its Length
  • Some Directions for Its Preservation
  • The Object of the Bracer
  • Ascham's Idea of It
  • Directions for Its Make, Material, and Mode of Fixture
  • Importance of a Well-Fitting Shooting-Glove
  • Difficulty of Laying Down Defined Rules for Its Size, Shape, etc.
  • Some Directions for Its Manufacture
  • Some Specimens of Good Gloves
  • The Tab
• Chapter 7 -- Of the Grease-Box, Tassel, Belt, etc.
  • The Grease-box
  • The Tassel
  • The Belt
  • The Scoring Apparatus
  • The Ascham
  • The Register
  • The Targets
  • The Stands
  • The Meyler Stand
  • The Quiver
• Chapter 8 -- Of Bracing and Nocking
  • Different Modes of Bracing
  • How to Accomplish It
  • The Proper Bend of the Bow When Strung
  • How to Ascertain It
  • The Ordinary Direction for Nocking Condemned, and Why
  • The Better Mode
  • The Nocking Place
  • The Proper Degree of Tightness
  • A Word to the Young Archer as to Changing the Nocking Part
• Chapter 9 -- Of Position
  • The Standing and Attitudes of the Archer
  • Requirements of a Good Position
  • What to Observe, and What to Avoid
  • The Position of Feet, Heels, Knees, Shoulders, Body, and Head
  • The Grasp of the Bow
  • Waring's Method Condemned, and Why
  • The Opposite Also Condemned
  • The Proper Grasp
  • The Position of the Bow
• Chapter 10 -- Of Drawing
  • Drawing an Essential Feature of Archery
  • Examples of Bad Methods
  • Different Modes Adopted by Good Archers
  • The Best Mode
  • Necessity of Drawing an Even Length, and Inutility of Devices to Attain It
  • Unremitting Practice the Only Way
  • A Common Failing of All Archers
  • General Directions for Drawing
  • Position of Left Arm a Most Important Feature
  • Mr. Waring's Arm-Striking Theory Condemned, and Why
  • Necessity of an Unobstructed Passage of the String Demonstrated
  • Proper Position of the Left Arm
  • The Length of the Draw
  • Drawing to the Breast Condemned, and Why
  • Concluding Remarks
• Chapter 11 -- Of Aiming
  • Prevailing Ignorance on This Point
  • Absence of Scientific Instruction upon It in All Existing Works
  • Curious Expedients Resorted to Obtain an Aim
  • These "Dodges" Condemned, and Why
  • Directions for Its Full and Proper Attainment, and Its Theory Clearly Elucidated
  • The Direct and Indirect Vision
  • The Point of Aim Explained
  • An Example
  • How the Direct Vision Should Be Applied
  • Aiming at Lengths Beyond the Target Distances
  • Shutting One Eye
• Chapter 12 -- Of Holding and Loosing
  • Ascham's Directions the Correct Ones
  • Importance of Loosing
  • Misapprehension Amongst Archers Concerning It
  • Necessity of Its Perfect Command
  • What Is and What Is Not a Good Loose
  • Its Effect upon the Flight of the Arrow
  • Directions for Its Proper Attainment
  • Position of the String upon the Fingers
  • Some Ugly Habits Condemned
• Chapter 13 -- Of Distance Shooting
  • Its Divisions
  • Clout-Shooting
  • The Modern System Considered as a Test of Skill or Strength
  • The Edinburgh Match
  • Justice to Modern Clout-Shooting Not Forgotten
  • Roving
  • Flight-Shooting
  • Length of Probable Range Considered
  • Experiments of Mr. Muir
  • My Own
• Chapter 14 -- Of Ancient and Modern Scoring
  • Best Shots of the Toxophilites
  • Best Scores of Mr. Brady, Mr. Crunden, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Cazalet, Mr. Shepheard
  • Result of Mr. Waring's Arm-Striking Theory
  • Mr. Anderson the "Incomparable" Archer
  • More Modern Archers
  • Shooting at the National Meetings Considered
  • Some Scores of Messrs. Ford, Garnett, Bramhall, Moore, Maitland, Flood, Marr, Heath, Watson, and Muir
  • First and Second Scores of All the National Meetings to July, 1858
  • Concluding Remarks
• Chapter 15
  • Robin Hood
  • Distance, Accuracy and Force of the Shooting of His Time
  • Did He Shoot in a Modern Hat
  • Social Character of Archery
  • Observations to a Young Archer
  • Also to an Old One
  • A Short Address to the Fair Sex
  • A Farewell
• Chapter 16
  • On the Formation, Rules, and Regulations of Societies