I am planing to construct a medieval crossbow, and I was wondering if anyone on this forum has any construction drawings or other drawings i can look at. I'm planing to make my own construction drawings but are looking for inspiration from other drawings.
I'm interessted in the trigger mechanism and the general outlay of the bow.

Does anyone know when they started using steel bows insted wooden and composite bows on crossbows?

Ofcourse working and studying in an archaeological museum, i can go look in our collections on some remains of crossbows, but i plan to get some background material before i go searching the archives and collections.

Sincerly
Raymond Sauvage
MA stud. Museum of archaeology ond natural history, NTNU
Trondheim, Norway

You should check with a lokal Medival Crossbow club. I know there are several in Norway, a friend of mine goes there reguarly to compete.

Here´s a site in swedish: http://www.armbagen.nu/armborst/

Another in English: http://www.aclore.com/hol/pilgrimfiles/compositebow.htm

I suspect you are already familiar with Ralph Payne-Gallwey's "Book of the Crossbow", but if you don't have a copy, it has been reprinted recently and is inexpensive. Since about 100 pages are devoted to construction of various crossbow-related bits, it might be helpful.

Martin you may want to read that english site. Many of those materials are hard to come by.

I wil sertanly check out Ralph Payne-Gallwey's "Book of the Crossbow".
Lot's of the pages i havve come across on the internet deals with modern crossbow design,
i'm looking for authentic medieval designs which i can copy i my work.

Regards
Raymond Sauvage

I hope you find it useful. It is an old book, but Payne-Gallwey examined a lot of different types of medieval crossbows (as well as later sporting bows), and has diagrams on many of the inner workings.

If avaliablity of parts is a problem, this page, courtecy of the norwegian boyscouts, is the thing for you...


http://dons.nsf.scout.no/portal/page?_pageid=...ema=PORTAL

Elling Polden wrote:

Quote:

If avaliablity of parts is a problem, this page, courtecy of the norwegian boyscouts, is the thing for you... http://dons.nsf.scout.no/portal/page?_pageid=...ema=PORTAL

No... I don't see undead thighbones or the heart of a wood golem on this page.

David