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Title
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Halbe Rüstung mit Reliefdekor, 16th Century
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HCA Identifier
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Document Number/Property ID: AK006576
Inventory number: W 831
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Collection Location
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Deutches Historisches Museum.
Collection: Militaria/1
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Date
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1537
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Location
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Southern Germany or the Alps
In the 19th century, this crossbow was part of the Armory of Prince Carl of Prussia (Prinz Carl von Preußen) (Inv.-NL PC 8566); Berlin.
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Description
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At the tip of the crossbow, there is a small suspension ring obscured by pom-poms. The steel prod has traces of green paint and an unidentified circular stamp. The safety cord has pom-poms attached to it. The prod is lacking its bowstring. Hemp bindings secure the prod to the stock. The stock is covered in bone plates with decorations that are described in a section below.
On the stock, past the nut, there is a bolt clip which has partially broken off. The crossbow has a four-axle lock mechanism. The trigger guard has cord wrappd around it and has two pom-poms. The stock also features a transverse cranequin lug or pin.
In terms of decoration, there are relief carvings on the sides and back of the stock and engravings on its topside. The sides depict chimeras, vines, geometric patterns, flowers and foliage. Farther down the stock, there is a cheek rest at a slight angle. It is decorated with a scene of a man on horseback stabbing a deer with his sword.
On the topside of the stock, the engravings are heavily worn. Nevertheless, it seems that the engravings on the top were added later. The underside of the crossbow features the number “1537.” There is even decoration on the butt of the crossbow. The butt cap depicts a figure in relief.
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Source
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Sven, Lüker, and Jens Sensfelder. Die Armbrust: Schrecken und Schönheit [The Crossbow: Terror and Beauty]. Münich: Hirmer, 2020.
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Crossbow Top Measurements
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Basic Measurements:
Length: 66.0 cm
Width (length of prod): 60.8 cm
Weight: 3.78 kg
Detailed Measurements:
Total string length: 608 mm
String length: approx. 540 mm
Prod cross-section center: 43.2 mm x 13 mm
Outer prod cross-section: 29.2 mm x 9.2 mm
String position: approx. 70 mm
Total length of the crossbow: 660 mm
Stock length: 613 mm
Prod - lock: 212 mm
Stock cross-section at the bow: 59.7 mm x 44 mm
Stock cross-section on the lock: 60 mm x 64 mm
Stock cross-section at the joint: 44 mm 35 mm
Nut diameter x width: 37 mm x 33 mm
Width of the trigger lever: mm
Measurement of the bridling: 4 mm (S) / 1.5 mm (Z)
Weight: 3.78 kg
