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Crossbows outrange Longbows?
Jaro:
Actually Gerard of Wles wrote that cited phrase in latin and it reads precisely as "nearly width of palm".
Jaro
kwijim - 600# with lever cranked crossbow? That is something like science fiction. Also pulley on hook reduces the weight required 2x but lenghtens what is necessary to draw by the same factor. That sets limits for 75 kg normal man into semthing like 100 kg of pull, if he isnt too short (like me) and can get the string to crank into the nut.
kiwijim:
Jaro,
An average man can load a 200lb crossbow with his arms. With the help of a simply pulley, and average man can double that draw weight and load a 400lb crossbow without too much trouble. Your legs are stronger than your arms and can draw proportionally more. Add the strength of you legs and a pulley, a 400lb draw is easially obtainable. There is no science fiction to it.
Goats foot levers usually have a loading ratio of roughly 1:4. At this ratio a 600 lb crossbow requires about 150lbs of leverage to span. This is not difficult if you place the butt of the tiller on the ground and push the goatsfoot down. As an example, Swiss target crossbows usually draw about 250-400lb and are loaded with a foward-mounted goatsfoot lever. Sometimes by women, so even you could do it! No science fiction here either.
But dont take my word for it. Do a goggle search on 'the crossbowmans den'
Robin Allen has made some beautiful medieval replica crossbows there, including a goatsfoot loaded crossbow drawing over 500lbs
regards
James
Jaro:
An average man can load a 200lb crossbow with his arms. With the help of a simply pulley, and average man can double that draw weight and load a 400lb crossbow without too much trouble.
200 lb is about 90 kg and that is pushing and no average man cannot do it - since the string is short and the angles bad. I have actually made medieval german crossbows, suposse I know what Im talking about. I can do it, but I m very strong since I shoot heavy bows.
I hate to dissapoint you but on the page you sugested me to search is not a single medieval crossbow.
Anyway if we were to talk about composite bows, they have construction limits at about 400#, for a field crossbow, but that would be in mid to western european area such as german loaded with cranequin.
The survey of czech medieval crossbows from 15. century does point to the fact that they did not appear to be very strong for field use.
The problem is that steel prods, which are so wanked in terms of drawweight are horribly inneficient short crank and that they went into use (as to replace more costly composite prods) only because of being easier to produce, not because they shot better and sadly, for most part at the time, crossbow was already replaced by cheaper and more reliable arquebuis. That is last third/ end of 15. century.
Would you point me to actual medieval crossbow replica and citation of source which is it copiing, since this is sort of my field and what I usually see is steel prod/ steel nut/steel fitting of prod (which is completelly out of the picture) etc, with stock shape which does not appear to be similar to any medieval crossbow I have seen.
Jaro
Jaro:
That is we have steel prods quite soon in 15. century, but the configuration so usually copied steel prod/steel nut/ bolt groove/ steel montage of prod is not typical for medieval crossbows and I dare say some of these aspect did not appeared sooner than 16. in case of steel spanners or montage of prod to stock 17. century.
Medieval crossbows, shall we talk about them are entirelly different sort of animal, if you follow.
J.
kiwijim:
Hi Jaro,
I also make crossbows, not low weight medieval replicas, but heavy crossbows- with draw weights starting at 200lbs. I can tell you, as an absolute fact, that 200lb prod is well within the capabilities of the average man.
Remember, many of the better quality hunting crossbows, like Excalibur, have draw weights over 200lb.
Regards
James
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