An ornately decorated hunting crossbow dated to 1557 in Germany. It possesses a wood and horn and steel inlay illustrating floral patterns and battle scenes and ivory woodcuts that depict characters of the Old Testament figures such as David and Bathsheba and ancient Roman heroes. It contains a wooden single axis nut, secured with a “nut thread” or nussfaden. Other components include a metal cranequin that spans the crossbow, a metal stirrup used to assist with spanning, a wooden prod and stock, and a hemp bowstring.