Unusual Small Crossbow

[Matchlock]

I found this older French site

http://www.webarcherie.com/forum/ind...lete-ancienne/


The crossbow seems to be quite small and possibly belonged to a well-known group of 16th c., mostly North Italian, crossbows which characteristically have steel tillers and were presumably used by assassinators, carried hidden beneath a cloak.
Of course it could also be a trap crossbow installed in the open.

They threw steel bolts and, like our sample in discussion, were equiped with a bow-'string' consisting of three steel links.

The tiller of this crossbow however seems to be of wood, with lateral iron reinforcements; the rear end terminates in a scroll pointing downward, which is also often the cas with the said Italian crossbows.
It is accompanied by a goat's foot sapnner.



Any inputs?


So-called 'assassin's' crossbows in the Musée de l'Armée Paris and the Doges' Palace Venice attached lelow, one of them signed in full by the maker and dated 1562.


Best,
Michael

[Atlantia]

Hi Michael,

Do you remember Eric's:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15016

[Matchlock]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Hi Michael,

Do you remember Eric's:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15016

Brilliant, Gene,

Thanks a lot!

I rembered posting in it and was searching for that but did not succeed!

Best,
m

[Atlantia]

You're welcome Michael.

All the best
Gene

[Matchlock]

Like the guy who originally posted this I am wondering about the use of the blunderbuss-like mouthed opening of the bolt housing, which also seems to have been equiped with a sort of bead foresight ?!

Any thoughts?

[fernando]

Resembling a cable thrower device ?

.