Hornbogenarmbrust, Late 15th Century

Title

Hornbogenarmbrust, Late 15th Century

HCA Identifier

Document Number/Property ID: MI008102
Inventory number: W 3966

Collection Location

Deutches Historisches Museum, Germany
Collection: Militaria/1

Date

1475-1480

Location

Central Europe

Description

At the tip of the crossbow there is a small suspension ring. The prod is composite. There are fragments of birchbark remaining on the surface of the prod. There are also traces of paint on the prod. The prod has a bowstring that has remnants of waterproofing on it. Hemp bindings secure the prod to the stock. There are remnants of waterproofing on the bindings. The stock is made of fruitwood. It has been carved into a complex sinuous shape.
The top of the stock is covered with bone plating. The nut, made of antler, is secured to the stock with a nussfaden or nut thread. Behind the nut, there is a partially broken bolt clip.
There are elongated plates of bone inlay on the sides and underside of the crossbow. They end in sharp tapers which point towards the prod end and butt end.
The book “Die Armbrust” refers to thin strips of horn around the nut socket and strips of horn on the underside of the crossbow, but these are not visible in the photo. It also refers to delicate leaf designs in dark horn on the underside of the stock, which are not shown in the photo.
The crossbow has a single-axle lock mechanism and a trigger lever.
There is some damage by the butt of the crossbow.

Source

Sven, Lüker, and Jens Sensfelder. Die Armbrust: Schrecken und Schönheit [The Crossbow: Terror and Beauty]. Münich: Hirmer, 2020.

Link:

Information and images courtesy of Deutches Historisches Museum [German History Museum] and the book "Die Armbrust: Schrecken und Schönheit"

Deutches Historisches Museum - Hornbogenarmbrust

Crossbow Top Measurements

Basic measurements:
Length: 75.0 cm
Width (length of prod): 70.5 cm
Weight: 3.96 kg

Detailed measurements
Total string length: 705 mm
String length: approx. 600 mm
Center prod cross-section: 62 mm x 51 mm
Outer prod cross-section: 47 mm x 37 mm
String position: approx. 30 mm
String diameter: 14 mm (S) / 1 mm (Z)
Total length of the crossbow; 750 mm
Length of stock: 715 mm
Prod - lock: 245 mm
Stock cross-section at the prod: 79 mm x 37 mm
Stock cross-section at the lock: 70 mm x 67 mm
Stock cross-section at the butt: 46.5 mm x 35 mm
Nut diameter x width: 39 mm x 35 mm
Width of the trigger lever: 9.5 mm
measurement of the bridling: 5 mm (S) / 1 mm (Z)
Weight 3.96 kg