1708 AD - One of the most notable incidents involving archery in Sikh history relates to the death of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th Guru and a co-founder of the Sikh religion. In 1708, 2 Pathan assassins attempted to kill him. One stabbed him in the chest, but the Guru responded with his sword and beheaded the attacker. The other Pathan was dealt with by the Guru's guards. The Guru's wounds were tended to by a Dr. Cole, I believe. Now, around this time, Guru Gobind Singh Ji had received a gift of a new, powerful bow. While his wounds were healing, he could not resist the temptation of trying the new bow out. Sadly, drawing the bow re-opened his chest wound and it began bleeding profusely. As a result, he died in October 1708, but by then the Sikh faith was well established.
Sikhs were known to hunt game for sport and as a means of sharpening their martial skills.
It is evident from historical records and paintings, that short recurve bows were used, probably shot using a thumb ring.
(This article was kindly supplied by Harjinder S. Obhi of London, England.) 1798 AD - The Sultan Selim, witnessed by the British Ambassador, shot an arrow 889 metres ( 972 yards ). A record not surpassed for nearly 200 years. 1872 AD - Ephraim Morton of Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA is granted a patent for his wood-handled bow with steel rod limbs. Each limb has two spirals. 1879 AD -  | The First Tournament of the National Archery Association held in Chicago, USA. | 1896 AD - 25th. March - First Olympic Games of the modern era held in Greece. 1900 AD - Archery in Olympic Games - also in 1904, 1908 and 1920.
Women were allowed to compete in the Archery event in 1904 and 1908.  | Ladies competing in the 1908 Olympics with longbows. | 1911 AD - Dr. Saxon Pope meets 'Ishi' (a Yana Indian) and learns the art of hunting with a bow.
1913 AD - "Robin Hood" - silent movie.
1920 AD - Archery in Olympics. Archery did not reappear until 1972.
1922 AD - "Robin Hood" - movie staring Douglas Fairbanks as Robin Hood.
1931 AD - FITA (International Archery Federation) is formed.
1934 AD - The state of Wisconsin is granted the first bow hunting season in the USA.
1937 AD - Bow sights are first used at the NAA National Tournament, USA with a 'sighted' archer, Emil Pikula, winning second place.
1938 AD - Ben Pearson is credited with beginning the mass production of Archery beginning in March of 1938- I believe his company to have been the largest manufacturer of archery equipment between 1939 and 1967- which (at periods) during that time frame employed around 8oo employees. Ben Pearson was among the first inductees of the Archery Hall Of Fame in 1972 (he passed away in 1971), also he is in several other halls- National Bowhunters Hall of Fame - The National Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame- Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame - Arkansas Outdoor Sportman Hall Of Fame - Arkansas Bowhunters Hall of Fame- also received the Compton Medal of Honour in 1967 from the National Field Archery Association.
At http://hometown.aol.com/tradbowmd/a_heroes.htm you can find a partial list of his attributes.
(This article kindly supplied by Ben Pearson Jr.)
1939 AD - James Easton experimented with making aluminium arrows.
Howard Hill's bow hunting exploits covered in films and magazines.
1941 AD - Larry Hughes used aluminium arrows to win American National Championships.
Henry Bitzenburger invented his famous fletching jig.
1942 AD - Hoyt Archery Co. is started by Earl Hoyt Jr.
1946 AD - Easton's first trademarked aluminium arrows "24 SRT-X" produced.
1951 AD - Max Hamilton introduced 'Plastiflech' vanes to replace feathers.
1953 AD - 'Bear' designs and sells first working recurve bow.
1956 AD - 'Pistol grip' developed by for bows by Hoyt Archery Co.
1958 AD - Easton develops "XX75" aluminium arrow.
1961 AD - 'Torque Stabilizers' introduced by Hoyt Archery Co.
1966 AD - Easton develops "X7" aluminium arrow.
IFAA (International Field Archery Association) founded.
1969 AD - 30th. December - Holless Wilbur Allen is granted the patent on his invention of the Compound Bow which he had designed 3 to 4 years earlier. Mr. Allen was a keen bowhunter who was disappointed with the hunting bows of the day and so decided to design a new type of bow for hunting. His original design had 'wheels' that were triangular shaped.
See also the new archery history website for pictures of this first compound.
1970 AD - Compound bows and release aids make their national debut at the Vegas shoot and accepted in competitions by the NFAA.
1971 AD - Andy Rimo introduces the 'Flipper' arrow rest.
Pete Shepley starts PSE archery company.
Flex Fletch starts manufacturing their first soft plastic arrow vanes.
1972 AD - Archery reappears in the Munich Olympic Games for both Men and Women.
1974 AD - First dual prong arrow rest invented by Freddie Troncoso.
1982 AD - 12th. Commonwealth Games - Brisbane, Australia. Archery Event shot over 4 days. Neroli Fairhall from New Zealand, a paraplegic, shoots from her wheelchair. She wins first place in the Women's double FITA event.
Cam wheels for compound bows first appear.
3-D Archery is introduced.
1983 AD - Easton develops carbon arrow.
1988 AD - Olympic Games held in South Korea. The Teams Event was added into the Archery Competition.
1985 AD - FITA adopts Grand FITA Round for Olympic Games.
1990 AD - The Olympic Round elimination format adopted at Olympic Games to increase public interest.
1991 AD - "Robin Hood:Prince of Thieves" - movie staring Kevin Costner as Robin Hood.
( The shooting of an arrow end to end is still referred to as a 'Robin Hood' and if anyone doubts that it can be done, the author has shot one and kept the arrows as a trophy.)
1992 AD - | 
| Barcelona Olympic Games. The Spanish two times Paralympic medallist, Antonio Rebollo, shoots a custom made Easton flaming arrow out of a Martin Mamba Recurve bow to ignite the Olympic Torch at the Opening Ceremony. The inspired Spanish Men's Team won the gold medal. |
Matt McPherson starts Mathews Archery Co. manufacturing compound bows with one cam technology.
The ASA (Archery Shooters Association) is formed to promote 3-D Archery.
1995 AD - World Target Archery Championship, Jakarta, Indonesia.
First time the Compound Bow division was included in the competition.
1996 AD - Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. The mens gold medal is won by Justin Huish. In the teams event, the USA Mens Team won the Gold Medal, South Korea won Silver and Italy won Bronze. (Australia won fourth place.)
The South Korea Womens Team won Gold, Germany won Silver and Poland won Bronze.
1997 AD - World Archery Championship, Victoria, British Colombia.
South Korea won both the Mens and Womens gold medal for Recurve bows.
1999 AD - Sydney International Golden Arrow Competition. 120 archers from 30 countries competing at the Olympic Archery Venue, Homebush Bay, Sydney, Australia. One of the competitors is American film star and Oscar winner, Geena Davis.
2000 AD - September - Sydney Olympic Games - Archery Tournament.
Men's Individual - Gold, Simon Fairweather (Australia).
South Korea still dominates Womens individual and Team places.
2001 AD - Mens FITA Compound Bow Record of 1402 shot by Clint Freeman of Australia.
2002 AD - Mens FITA Compound Bow record now 1414. Shot by Roger Hoyle of the U.S.A.
The Record FITA score consisted of; 345 for 90 metres, 355 for 70 metres, 354 for 50 metres and a perfect 360 for 30 metres.
Win & Win Archery Co. of Seoul, Korea release composite carbon & aluminium recurve bow riser and composite titanium & carbon recurve bow limbs.
The Arc System recurve bow limbs have a 's' bend draw force curve.
Discovery of a secret escape tunnel under Nottingham Church dating back to the 12th Century may be the same tunnel used by Robin Hood and his men to escape the Sheriff of Nottingham. A medieval document has a story about Robin and his men being surrounded by the Sheriffs soldiers at the church, but when the soldiers broke down the church doors, Robin and his men were no-where to be found. This may mean that the story of Robin Hood really is true
2003 AD - Developments in materials technology will see the production of lighter and stronger bows as well as lighter and stronger arrows. Arrow speed will increase giving better accuracy over the longer distances
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