Trap Crossbow

Title

Trap Crossbow

HCA Identifier

ARB-1988-001

Collection Location

Périgord, southern France

Location

Corrèze, France

Description

This mole trap crossbow from Château de Castelnaud is planted in the ground using a fork, which is composed of two prongs on the side. The bow has a three-part steel “string” connected to a sliding trident. This crossbow is designed purely for stationary hunting, with a short handle that has a tension-based trigger mechanism. With a thin steel prod and string, this crossbow is purely used to trap small animals. with a sliding trident to impale the target rather than having bolt clips, or bolts at all. The build of this crossbow is simple, having an overall paddle shaped wooden core with metal components only in the trident construct, the limbs and the string (wire?).

From the information given, this type of trap was still in use at the end of the 19th century. It is camouflaged and placed vertically in the path of small animals such as moles, weasels, martens, and stoats. After tensioned, it is held in careful balance by a wooden stick until an animal passes between the prongs of the fork, in which it will spring and impale it (Ethnological Guide 2).

Materials: Ferrous alloy, wood

References:
Catalogue of the study gallery of the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions in Paris, Ethnological Guide 2. Gathering, hunting and fishing, pp.33-34.

Source

Château de Castelnaud

Link:

Data and images courtesy of:
https://castelnaud.omeka.net/items/show/7

Crossbow Top Measurements

57cm