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Les Howie
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 Posted: Sat 01 Apr, 2006 12:48 pm Post subject: Please help me understand crossbow forms |
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While many of the crossbows in the gallery have very simple forms with a straight course for the quarrel to follow, others have the most extraordinary "gooseneck" between the latch and the bow, for example:
http://www.myArmoury.com/albums/photo/2464.html
Can anybody explain how this works  ? Where does the quarrel rest? What path does it follow when released? I have no idea how this bow would function  , but there seem to be many examples in the gallery.
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Dan Dickinson
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Sat 01 Apr, 2006 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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That would be a stone-throwing crossbow.
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Les Howie
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| Posted: Sat 01 Apr, 2006 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Dan Dickinson wrote: | | That would be a stone-throwing crossbow. |
Would it militarily useful, or is it just effective for birds, small game and varmints?
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Matthew K. Shea
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| Posted: Sat 01 Apr, 2006 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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Pellet crossbows wouldn't have been useful in a military context, or we would see more & earlier examples of them, I'd imagine. As far as I know, they were used primarly against those things you suggested -- birds and small game. They were desirable for the fact they wouldn't damage the animal's pelt the way having a bolt sticking through it would.
Proud member of the Academy Of European Medieval Martial Arts.
"Those who live by the sword live a good, long time!"
~Minsc, in Baldur's Gate II
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This is a standard topic