Crossbow metrics

[bigdummy]

This is one for Jonathan Waller especially, if you are lurking round lately, and for Matt and anyone else in the know especially anyone aware of any sources for statistics or academic studies and etc.

What was the typical draw-weight of a Renaissance arbalest? I'd been given to believe 1200 lbs but someone just told me this is rare. I know Alan Williams mentions one test with a 1200 lb draw crossbow but I realized that is the only "hard" source I have off the top of my head.

How much did typical 15th -16th Century crossbow bolts weigh? How much did typical longbow arrows weigh?

I've been told 65 grams for the former and 95 for the latter. Is that correct?

I'm interested in any other metrics available for heavy cranequin or windlass crossbows or arbalests from the 15th -17th Centuries especially the energy, fps, or any other stats.

BD

[admin]

Off the top of my head I don't have any answers I'm afraid, however I'm fairly sure you can find some or maybe all of the answers in The Great Warbow, which I think you own?

[bigdummy]

No I don't. I thought I had a copy but I didn't. I had ordered it along with a slew of other longbow books (4 others to be precise), but it was left off the order and never shipped by Amazon. Apparently the used bookstore they were selling through didn't actually have it. And the price on Amazon has gone up now from $50 to $122. I'm going to have to try to find another way to get a copy.

Why is it all the best sources are perpetually out of print and in high demand? Just like Knight and the Blast Furnace... you have to buy these books when they first become available. I've gotten lucky with a couple of others that have already gone way up. You would think with print on demand technology they could make these available.

BD

[bigdummy]

I think I found another copy on bookfinder.


BD

[bigdummy]

What is the average weight of crossbow bolts and longbow arrows?

I've been told 65g for the former and 95g for the latter but this contradicts some other sources. Now I'm confused.

J

[bigdummy]

I'm still looking for any hard data on period crossbows, particularly for heavy arbalests, cranequin and winch-spanned weapons, as well as ammunition, spanning devices, prod construction, and any other statistics. If anyone knows of any academic articles, detailed auction listings or any other hard data please post a link here or contact me.

BD

[admin]

Have you looked for Ralph Payne-Gallwey's book 'The Crossbow'? I have never read it, but I would think it should contain that sort of info:
http://www.crossbowbook.com/

[fullplate]

contact Tod of Tod's Stuff, he has a lot of information on crossbow bolts.
Phil

[nathan]

here is the exact study you want do by the great mr Tod himself hope it helps all your crosssbow questions i think are covered. ask tod things he knows his stuff and if he dont will likely go test it once you asked.
http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic ... t=crossbow

also dont get the book of the crossbow unless you want to see how they are made its info is not great mainly just dated i guess.

for longbow arrows here you are
http://www.englishwarbowsociety.com/EWB ... TIONS.html

enjoy

[bigdummy]

I've been talking to Todd for quite a while now (I am the one who started that Myarmoury thread) He has done very interesting work but is limited in how far he can take his customers weapons by liability and other factors, and doesn't have any more historical sources than I do (at least than I am aware of) and we still aren't sure about the weight of the bolts. What needs to happen is for Royal Armouries or someone to commisssion a study and hire him to make some really strong prods for that and test them with sensors and against different targets.

In the meantime I'm interested in anythnig anyone else is doing, and still looking for good data on crossbows, notably the late medievel stachel type; crossbow bolts (particularly their weight) and anybody else who may be out there, in Eastern Europe, Italy, North America wherever, who is doing experimental archeology or tests on this similar to what Leo has been doing.

BD