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Title
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Composite Crossbow in the Late Gothic Style
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HCA Identifier
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Inv. 1990.370.
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Collection Location
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Basel, Switzerland
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Date
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c.1460
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Location
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Switzerland or Southern Germany
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Description
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The stirrup is made of iron. It is bound directly to the composite horn bow and wooden stock with leather straps. The leather straps go around the bow and through a hole in the stock. The bow is straight and has lost its bowstring. The side of the bow facing away from the user has several layers of animal tendon. To prevent the bow bar from drying out, the crossbow maker applied birch bark. The stock is made of fruit wood, with some bone additions. The trigger is likely iron. There is no cheekplate and no distinguishable cheekrest. In terms of decoration, a small Basel crozier is found on either side of the stock, near the front.
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Source
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Basel Historical Museum
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Crossbow Top Measurements
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Length: 78.5 cm (about 2 ft 9 in)
Width (bow length): 70 cm (about 2 ft 4 in)
