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a different type of horn-bow

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loefflerchuck:
This is a bucket list project for me. David, do you know how long the bow part of the crossbow was?

davidjw:
They are around 55-70cm ntn, for the 'handarmbruste' (this is what the cross-sections are from), there is another category of larger 'wallarmbruste' that are around 90-150cm ntn, the book doesn't show any cross-sections for these, but they appear to be much flatter and wider limbed with more reflex as well.

Bjoern Sofeit:

--- Quote from: davidjw on June 05, 2017, 07:56:17 pm ---The images are from the book "Die Hornbogenarmbrust: Geschichte und Technik" by Holger Richter.  There has to be some good reason for the complicated constructions, though it escapes me.  Sure does seem like a lot of work, so I assume it's not for nothing.  Loefflerchuck, you may be on to something, these weren't exactly rapid fire weapons.  Perhaps stability issues are mitigated by only having a 6" draw?

--- End quote ---

There's a very good reason these have so many matching grooves on all sides. Repros of originals that Andreas Bichler did are in the 500-700# range, and the ones with windlasses can go alot higher. Anyone that tried matching grooves knows what a royal pain it is, so this is definitely NOT just for fun. You don't want something that heavy fail close to your face.

davidjw:
Yes indeed structural integrity would be of the utmost importance, especially when it is so close to your face!  I was more referring to the complicated construction of having so many small strips in such wide ranging configurations, as oppose to using fewer larger strips in a simpler configuration. This is what I though seemed like a lot of work for some good reason unbeknownst to me.  Would it increase stability or stiffness?  Or even material limitation due to the type of horn available?  Interestingly, it seems the horn didn't seem to go across the length of the prod in many cases (see photo), perhaps this is an indication of smaller sized horns being used?

kiwijim:
I found this in the Grey Goosewing by E.G.Heath. P. 299-300
In a document dated 1358 describing the materials supplied to Peter the Saracen, arbalist to the King of England.
To make 25 bows of composite construction the document lists 25 pieces of yew, 12 "rams horns" and 4lb of shredded ox sinew.
That could suggest that some of the earlier prods had wooden cores. It may also suggest that each prod had a belly of a single slat of rams horn (and maybe the 25th prod was made from select off cuts?)
BTW, Peter the Saracen was also the maker of the famous crossbow of Ulrich the V, Count of Wurtemburg

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