Steve Ralphs - Archery in films

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JimN
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UK East Mids Area Rep (NFAS-Trad)
Outstanding Contribution Award Winner
Posts: 891
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Location: Derbyshire

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:56 am Post subject: Steve Ralphs - Archery in films

Following on from the 300 film thread, I've just been randomly browsing around and came across this bloke. Now, this isn't a recommendation as I have never heard of his bows before but I thought people might be interested in the films he has worked on:

Quote:

Henry V : Sole Bowyer and Archery consultant

Prince of Thieves : Archery Supplier

Braveheart : Sole archery supplier/archery consultant

13th warrior : Sole archery supplier/consultant

The Mummy : Supplier /consultant

7 years in Tibet : Archery supplier/consultant

Gladiator : Sole archery supplier/Consultant/cameo actor/archery coach

Building the Impossible BBC : Supplier/consultant/contributor

The Importance of being Ernest : Supplier/archery coach

Troy : Sole archery supplier/ coah/consulatant

King Arthur : Sole archery supplier/consultant/archery coach/armourer

Tales of The Bow : Supplier/ presenter /consultant

Timeline : Sole archery supplier/ coach/consultant/film armourer

Kingdom of Heaven : Sole archery supplier archery coach/consultant

Scrapheap Challenge/Scrappy Races : Judge and consultant

Eragon : Sole archery supplier/ coach/2nd unit armourer

Apocalypto : Supplier

The Golden Compass : Supplier

He's even got an IMDB page here.

_________________
Jim

Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
Bring me my Arrows of Desire;

Club: Black Arrow Field Archery Club
Bow: Internature Viper AFB (45# @ 28")
Sight: Staring maniacally
Arrows: 31" POC
Accesories: Silver patent leather slingbacks

segolden
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Posts: 2410
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Location: Willcox, Arizona, USA

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:25 pm Post subject:

Ralphs does good work, according to my Goong Do friends, though it can sometimes be hard to get hold of one of his bows until after a movie commitment is over. I heard about him just after King Arthur came out, when he was selling some extra bows left over from the film. The movie bows are quite interesting, low poundage but dressed with "costumes" of their own to give a different cultural feel for various scenes and characters. _________________ "For I have drawn Judah taut and applied [My hand] to Ephraim as to a bow." Zech. 9:13 http://www.freenations.freeuk.com/ http://www.melaniephillips.com/

Club: none
Bow: Quinn Comet XL, Grozer Horsebow, KG ELB, Two Rivers R/D
Sight: DAS Kinetic SRF
Arrows: Easton X7 Eclipse 1916's, GT XT Hunter 3555's
Accesories: Sims SRS stab, enhancer & Limbsavers; Dawgware side-quiver

Awaiting MBLLC Phoenix bow

Haywain
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UK S/W & S Central Area Rep (NFAS - Trad)
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Posts: 309
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Location: Farnborough, Hampshire

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:03 pm Post subject:

Ralphs is very knowledgeable, But I thought that his tests of Longbow / Arrow against armour in "Tales of the Bow" weren't carried out very well. Especially when you take them in context with the tests carried out by the UK Defence Research Agency. Granted his time was limited for the program, but the results were misleading to say the least. Ralphs own tests showed that a solid piece or plate metal would only allow the tip of a short armour piercing arrow to penetrate (no idea what the size of the arrow was, or the weight of the bow because this wasn't given - nor even what approximation of plate armour they were using). The UKDRA tests were carried out using 140lb bow and an approximation arrow fired at various thicknesses and types of armour to approximate the armour used in those periods - even at a 30degree deflection the arrows were penetrating sufficiently to have caused a serious wound. _________________ The perfect stance = a beer in each hand

Club: Fleet Ibex
Bow: Blackbrook Zeta 45 @ 27
Sight: Mark one eyeball
Arrows: POC 5/16 40/45 4"shield fletch and a field point
Accesories: Batmans utility belt

segolden
Moderator

Posts: 2410
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Location: Willcox, Arizona, USA

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:22 pm Post subject:

Actually, that's not surprising with tests by individuals and small groups. If you don't have the resources, compromise can sneak into the data from places you never expect, something we ran into when my group did this. We tried to make up for various factors, but I never was satisfied with the results. A lot of research has this problem, particularly when the project starts out with a preconceived notion about the conclusion, but I'm not going to apologize for inadequate research, either. I've gotten to where I distrust anything that appears in the media simply because they've got their own ax to grind most of the time, and you never know what ends up on the cutting room floor. _________________ "For I have drawn Judah taut and applied [My hand] to Ephraim as to a bow." Zech. 9:13 http://www.freenations.freeuk.com/ http://www.melaniephillips.com/

sunmouse
Junior Poster

Posts: 63
No Commercial Interest
Location: Rhondda, S Wales

Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 4:54 pm Post subject:

I noticed on his links page that he names Rob Matliss' company Interknife as one of his links. We've bought knives from Rob Matliss and he's one of the best. Good stuff, well-made and will do nice commissions, especially if you want a REALLY GOOD knife to do jobs properly.

Club: Blandy Jenkins
Bow: Win and Win Pro Accent & Samick Agulla
Sight: Shooter and Arten Olympic and Shibuya dual click
Arrows: Easton 1813 Plat plus and Easton 1616 blues
Accesories: KAP limbs

Bickerstaffe and Ash self bow.