Main Discussion Area > English Warbow
Crossbows outrange Longbows?
Yeomanbowman:
In 1901 Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey shot a 3 oz bolt from a siege crossbow 450 yards over the Menai Straits several times. The stock was a replica but the prods were original 15th century steel ones from Genoa. They had a pull of over 1/2 a ton!. However, the weight in the hand was on 18lbs and he said could be shot without a stand by a fit man. According to him the crossbows at Agincourt were made with steel prods.
Cheers,
Jeremy
Justin Snyder:
Well paint me stupid.... I always thought of a crossbow as a weapon more suited for defending the castle in siege warfare. In an open field battle I want the longbow. ;)
bow-toxo:
Two mediaeval sources claim that a longbow would shoot farther than a crossbow unless the crossbow were big enough to be a problem to carry.
Yeomanbowman:
Erik, what period are these sources, please? Gerald of Wales implies that xbows were a little more powerful. As you know he was familiar with the Welsh elm bow and the Aglo-Norman xbow.
bow-toxo:
--- Quote from: Yeomanbowman on April 25, 2009, 06:45:16 pm ---Erik, what period are these sources, please? Gerald of Wales implies that xbows were a little more powerful. As you know he was familiar with the Welsh elm bow and the Aglo-Norman xbow.
--- End quote ---
I have to apologize. I have searched my notes and can't find the references. They were mediaeval ones. What aas the quote fron Geaald of Wales ? I'm not familiar with it. He was of course writing just when the crossbow was becomimg very popular and Richard Lionheart was about to go on crusade and hire lots of crossbowmen in Italy.
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