I have a few questions for any medieval crossbow enthusiasts here.

1) Did they ever cover steel crossbow prods with something like waxed linen (noticed a medieval steel crossbow on Todstuff with a linen covered prod) or paint the prods to rust proof them?

2) Same question for composite crossbows, I know they used birch bark and I have heard of leather and parchment being used. Tod has a bunch of composites with linen covered prods. I have also heard of these composite prods being covered with snake skin?

3) Has anybody ever tried to create a fake composite prod, i.e. of steel or wood/fibreglass and then beefed it up to look like a 14/15th century composite prod? What did you use for the padding?

I want to try to build a 14th century bow but with a wood/fibreglass prod, mainly because I know that stuff and it does not snap clean through and fly about my ears when it breaks. Also it freezes a lot where I live and quite frankly the idea of a snapping steel prod flying around my ears is not very appealing. So clearly I'm wondering about period correct ways of hiding the fibreglass.

When I was just a kid learning to fire a bow, my first was a fiberglass beginners bow. I eventually wrapped the whole thing in hemp cord and did the grip in leather. It looked great, and the mods didn't affect it's function at all. The hemp cord will be 'fuzzy' when first wrapped. I cured this by spraying it with hairspray, then setting it alight. The spray burns off quickly, and leaves the cord nice and smooth. I then sprayed it with a matte clear coat, and it stayed perfect. :) ....McM

I am quite sure that the ones Tod makes, and also most of the other composite crossbows on the market are all steel or fiberglass dressed up like composite. I sadly haven't seen any real composite crossbows for sale at all. So for your question 3), Yes, and I think just fabric?

Kristjan Runarsson wrote

Quote:

1) Did they ever cover steel crossbow prods with something like waxed linen (noticed a medieval steel crossbow on Todstuff with a linen covered prod) or paint the prods to rust proof them? 2) Same question for composite crossbows, I know they used birch bark and I have heard of leather and parchment being used. Tod has a bunch of composites with linen covered prods. I have also heard of these composite prods being covered with snake skin? 3) Has anybody ever tried to create a fake composite prod, i.e. of steel or wood/fibreglass and then beefed it up to look like a 14/15th century composite prod? What did you use for the padding? I want to try to build a 14th century bow but with a wood/fibreglass prod, mainly because I know that stuff and it does not snap clean through and fly about my ears when it breaks. Also it freezes a lot where I live and quite frankly the idea of a snapping steel prod flying around my ears is not very appealing. So clearly I'm wondering about period correct ways of hiding the fibreglass.

1. Yes they covered steel bows sometimes and painted them, notably off the top of my head one in the wallace, but this was covered in parchment.

2. you have to cover composite bows to keep the moisture out, so birch bark, snakeskin and parchment are normal, not sure if they used linen, but I do for cost reasons.

3. I use steel as the basis for my 'faux composites'.

Regards

Tod

Paul,

Did you catch his name? I have not heard of anyone really doing composite crossbow prods.

Best,

RPM

Andreas Bichler from Austria is building composite crossbows. But he doesn't sell them, maybe he makes some for his very very close friends. Still they work fine: Medieval Crossbows

Sweet Paul, Lets go to Switzerland! ;)