Practice makes perfect if you want to follow in the footsteps of Robin Hood from an early age - and practice makes perfect if you are equipped with the right sturdy bow. This children's bow is just 42 centimetres long and perfectly proportioned so that even the smaller child can keep law and order in the woods. Made from solid beech wood with a velvety smooth finish, the bow has a thick grip and gives the younger offspring the confidence to grip and draw the bow firmly. With the recess in the handle, the small bow also has an arrow guide: it makes it easier to calmly place the arrow and aim at the target - for example the dragon. The latter meanders across the enclosed three-part target, breathing fire and threatening to set fire to Robin's forest. Your offspring can intervene heroically: Three arrows come with the bow to show the dragon who really is master of Sherwood Forest.

Roam the woods as Vicky or Lancelot, carry your own sword or axe, lie in wait with a bow and arrow - children's dreams that take shape in Dominic Vah's "medieval armory". The woodworking company based in Dollnstein in Upper Bavaria produces weapons and shields made of wood, which are characterized by careful workmanship and are close to the historical model: Vikings, Celts, Romans and Knights Templar make children's hearts beat faster. Dominic Vah, who took over the company founded by his parents in the early 1980s in 2002, thinks his idea of transporting children back in time through to the end. After all, Lancelot needs a protective helmet as well as a sword and shield. As a result, the master carpenter and his employees also develop appropriate headgear, drinking horns and felt scabbards to accompany the wooden weapons. They obtain the material for this from other specialist companies, but the products are designed, processed and finished in Dollnstein.

Dominic Vah uses only local raw materials in his woodworking "armory" out of conviction. He was born with a passion for woodworking: Having been able to observe the development of his parents' business from a young age, it seems hardly surprising that he ultimately decided to become a carpenter. He puts his heart and soul into his work - you can tell that when you meet Dominic Vah. As often as possible, he lends a hand in production himself, he says, even if this is becoming increasingly difficult due to the increase in sales tasks. Ensuring the quality is right is the top priority for the master carpenter. He has great confidence in his employees in this respect, and things are very informal at Vah. For Dominic Vah, a good product depends on three factors, he explains: "It's about finding a balance between: How is the toy processed? How close is it to reality? And how do children like it?" To clarify the last question, Dominic Vah has a reliable test authority in the house: his own offspring.

When the current owner of "Waffenschmiede" was still in his infancy, the business was founded based on an observation by his father Albert Vah. In 1977, he was invited to the first Neunburg castle festival as a lantern maker and recognized an urgent need for knightly toys. He and his wife Amalia couldn't let go of the idea - in 1980 they presented a selection of products for the first time at the Kaltenberg Knights' Games. The increasing popularity of historical festivals encouraged the expansion of the woodworking company. In 2002, the youngest son, Dominic Vah, then in his mid-20s, took over the business. Two reasons made the decision to join the company easy for him: his enthusiasm for the craft and the conviction that, although family traditions are an obligation, it is above all worth passing them on.

Please do not aim for someone’s eyes or face.