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Title
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A western European bullet crossbow, circa 1700
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Collection Location
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Private collection
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Date
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c. 1700s
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Location
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Europe
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Description
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This crossbow featured a bare steel prod, marked "L W L" on the inside of both limbs, held to the stock in the center by two wedged iron clamps. The prod is strung with a string with spacers and a bullet pouch. Integrated into the fine grained wooden stock is an iron cocking lever with a mushroom-shaped handle and cocking box, containing ansingle-finger nut lock and a button release on the bottom; a locking mechanism is located at the rear of the lever end. A forked sight is aligned with the foldable rear sight and two diopter holes. The fine grained wooden stock is partially engraved bone inlays on the top, featuring an owl motif, the monogram "MVM" and the year "1698" on the front, as well as brass fittings that had a swiveling iron ring with a hook at the front.
Hermann Historica notes that this crossbow is a very rare, beautifully preserved ball-barreled crossbow with an interesting mechanism. This type of ball-barreled crossbow originated in Spain and spread to the Netherlands and England following the Spanish fashion.
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Link:
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https://www.hermann-historica.de/en/auctions/lot/id/896520
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Crossbow Top Measurements
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49.5cm
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Crossbow Side Measurements
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75.5cm
