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Title
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German Crossbow
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HCA Identifier
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A1042
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Date
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1683
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Location
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Germany
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Description
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"Crossbow, the steel bow of unusual size and strength; it is secured to the tiller by two powerful straining screws. Bow-string of twisted cord; small loop at the top for suspension.
Stock or tiller veneered with ebony inlaid with antler, the latter richly engraved with scrolled foliage, with hunting scenes along the sides, and near the butt with an achievement of arms; at the top is the date 1683. The arms (quarterly 1-4, two lions passant; 2-3, two bends; on a shield of pretence an arrow in bend between two mullets; crest: three ostrich feathers) are those of the Counts von Promnitz of Silesia. The stock is furnished with a foresight (permitting of lateral movement to allow for windage), a nut of horn, a pin for the claw of the cranequin, a safety-catch, trigger-guard and slight folding-trigger. There are two shallow notches at the top for the thumb to rest in when the piece was being discharged."
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Source
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Collection The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN
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Crossbow Top Measurements
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Length: 78.7 cm
Span: 82.2 cm
Weight: 8.45 kg
Thickness: 1.6 cm, maximum thickness of bow
Width: 5.3 cm, maximum width of bow
