Does anyone recognize this work?

I think this one was made by MAXIMUS.PL:
http://forum.arbalet.info/viewtopic.php?t=8161&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=255
few pages back, there's some pictures of uncomplete work..

This looks to be the work of some one at New World Arbalest.



This is the link to their website: http://www.crossbows.net/stock.php

PS: This is very strange, they are located in Austin, Texas(USA) and not Poland.

From what I see here and what I found online by following the above link it can be safely said that this is the work of David R. Watson also known as Iolo and/or his apprentices

Alaska wrote:This looks to be the work of some one at New World Arbalest.

This is the link to their website: http://www.crossbows.net/stock.php
PS: This is very strange, they are located in Austin, Texas(USA) and not Poland.

Hello everyone: Geezer here, I just signed up. There's nothing strange about it at all. The crossbows in question were from my shop, New World Arbalest, in Austin, Texas. The prettiest one was made by my apprentice, 'Dirty' Burdwood. Since she came on board, the overall finish of my work has improved markedly. You can always tell bows from my shop by the capital 'I' in small brass tacks on the butt. Geezer/DRW/ NWA.

So, then MAXIMUS.PL is just pretending to be a maker of this crossbow?

I have seen some lovely work out of Poland, but as for Maximus, I don't know the guy.
But I do know my apprentice 'Dirty' Burdwood made the bow in question.... and the quiver as well. It's based on one of the the Maximilian I bows from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Length approx. 30 inches, the bow-irons for mounting the lath came from Alchem Corp. in Ohio. The steel lath was made by Darkwood Armory, in Laurel Mississippi. The Stock is cherry, the lockplates 22 gauge steel, bent and blued by hand. The trigger (tickler) is 3/8 inch mild steel bent and blued in my backyard forge. Dirty has been working with me for a little over 1 year and has grown immensely in the craft. She has a large number of photographs of the crossbow building process as we practice it on her flickr page... listed under crossbows and the name randyhoyden. Perhaps we can convince her to join this forum
Geezer/DRW/NWA

Geezer here. I quote: *
*
*
*
*

Geezer here: I just visited the site listed below. ALL of the photos on this site were lifted from my apprentice 'Dirty' Burdwood's flikr pages. I can't read the text, so I don't know what is said there, but I assure you, all the photos were taken in my shop and most of the work is Burdwood's craftsmanship.
It's most curious.... Geezer/DRW/NWA

Re: Does anyone recognize this work?

Post Regerald Yesterday at 8:31 pm
I think this one was made by MAXIMUS.PL:
http://forum.arbalet.info/viewtopic.php?t=8161&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=255
few pages back, there's some pictures of uncomplete work..

Hi folks!

I am the Apprentice to David Watson of New World Arbalest. That bow, and quiver, is indeed mine, that I made for a Ponce De Leon living history group in Fla. It is one of the nicest bows I have made thus far. I have been apprentice to David for over a year now, and loving every moment of it...

Here is my flickr site with the bow on it...there are photos of it being made.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swifthoundbows/sets/72157622262033595/

Looking forward to talking crossbows muchly!

Lightly/Dirty.

Regerald wrote:I think this one was made by MAXIMUS.PL:
http://forum.arbalet.info/viewtopic.php?t=8161&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=255
few pages back, there's some pictures of uncomplete work..

I did a google translation of the website above.
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.arbalet.info%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ft%3D8161%26postdays%3D0%26postorder%3Dasc%26start%3D255&sl=ru&tl=en

After reading most of the translated forums, it appears that was a case of someone posting pictures of things that they liked. I didn't see anything that looks like MAXIMUS.PL was trying to claim credit for the workmanship.

It might have been nicer if he had credited the original photographer (I took the pictures, posted of Flickr), or the creator or the crossbows (Lighty/Dirty), or the shop that they came out of (New World Arbalest / David Waston/ Iolo / Geezer).

-- Silly Person --

Silly Person wrote:
I did a google translation of the website above.
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.arbalet.info%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ft%3D8161%26postdays%3D0%26postorder%3Dasc%26start%3D255&sl=ru&tl=en

After reading most of the translated forums, it appears that was a case of someone posting pictures of things that they liked. I didn't see anything that looks like MAXIMUS.PL was trying to claim credit for the workmanship.

It might have been nicer if he had credited the original photographer (I took the pictures, posted of Flickr), or the creator or the crossbows (Lighty/Dirty), or the shop that they came out of (New World Arbalest / David Waston/ Iolo / Geezer).

-- Silly Person --

Yes, I also noticed that he didn't directly say that it was him who create it.. But words like
http://forum.arbalet.info/viewtopic.php?t=8161&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=240&sid=65e1948d165dd7a4fa512f388c1abab5
"I was occupied by some works, here's more photos" lead directly to assumption that this work belongs to him, and people started to congratulate him for finishing nice work, and ask more questions like "what was the sort of wood did you use?". In case, he answered like "stock made of Iroko wood", and did newer say that it wasn't his work..
I wondering that someone do this, I just don't see any sense..

Before we get into calling anyone a liar(even thou it is a fully deserved accusation in Maximus'es case) I can see both sides to this situation. Even thou Maximus was not fully honest with us about these photos...personally I would like to thank him...I'll explain.

Thanks to Maximus we were able to get a close look at these beautifully made crossbows and it only goes to prove that this work belongs to a highly skilled craftsman who is worthy of respect. This is not just my opinion, in fact if we follow links shown by Regerald we can see how many compliments were sent this crossbow lady's way...and I can not put a limit on it...Lightly this is a beautiful crossbow and an inspiration to us all. :flower:


This topic will serve a double purpose...

First to give credit to the person who truly deserves it...and to complement on her level of craftsmanship.

Second to make an example of that forum member's (whose name I no longer choose to pronounce) attempt at plagiarism...the world is a small place and such things are revealed sooner or later.

Lightly, again you have my respect.

Good Day,

Ivo

Hello everyone. It's really good, that now we know the real author of this crossbow. Thanks Geezer for answer the question and ofcourse, Lightly! Great work and very interesting photos! :!: :!: :!:

p. s. Sorry for my English

Thank you, Ivo, for your very kind words! And for the rose, how beautiful!

I will say that altho I may have the talent and skill to make these beautiful weapons, it is my Master, Geezer, (David) that I thank for his patience and teaching ability. I am lucky to have found him, and convince him to let me be his apprentice!
He has 25+ years of research and experience behind him, and I hope to take advantage of that knowledge and maybe catch up in 15 or so years.

I am also glad that my photos were displayed up somewhere, regardless of whether that individual was simply admiring them, or claiming the work, as it brought Geezer and I here.

It is flattering to think that someone might wish to claim my work, and easy enough to prove that it is mine, so no harm done.

Always;
Lightly

Hey Lightly -

Nice work.

I've got a Wyvern Medeival bow.
Very nicely done and shoots well also.

I took it apart and took a ball peen hammer to the tickler (trigger) and to the stays, and pounded them full of shallow hammer marks on all surfaces.

I figure that the guys making these things back in the bad ol days had no real way of producing a nice smooth flat steel product...!
Then I just use a preservitive oil to give it all a somewhat darkend....almost black corroded look.
Looks good this way.

Mike

Lightly wrote:Thank you, Ivo, for your very kind words! And for the rose, how beautiful!

I will say that altho I may have the talent and skill to make these beautiful weapons, it is my Master, Geezer, (David) that I thank for his patience and teaching ability. I am lucky to have found him, and convince him to let me be his apprentice!
He has 25+ years of research and experience behind him, and I hope to take advantage of that knowledge and maybe catch up in 15 or so years. ...

Lightly,

I'm very glad you have such a great time making crossbows. I see this combination rarely - a great teacher and a great student...with your skill and vision and Davids experience and teaching ability you will have no problem catching up and even surpassing many artists and craftsmen...Personally I will try to find as much information on technology and try to break it down to usable degree to help everyone here enjoy this art even more.

Mike,

I hear Wyvern does great work and have seen a few of his crossbows...I'd love to see his crossbows here at the Arbalist...especially in great detail

Dear Mike,
I looked at Wyvern crossbows, but, did not see any medieval ones? Just the fiberglass bows. Am I looking in the wrong place? I am always curious to look at other medieval bows...

Thanks!

Lightly.

Lightly -

I haven't been to his web sight lately so I don't know if he's advertizing them any longer. Or even building them.

I know the modern bow sales have taken up much of his time these days.
Too bad because they are nicely done. My only concern is the roll nut either expands or the wood is expanding. The roll nut gets tight in its groove/home. I like the idea of having a more compatable material as the guide for it like the one pictured above.
I may try a different material myself.
It does shoot well though.

Mike

"My only concern is the roll nut either expands or the wood is expanding. The roll nut gets tight in its groove/home." (Mike)
The problem of roller-nuts that swell, or stocks that swell, making the nut too tight in its socket is an old one. Years ago, when I made lots of wooden rollers, I soaked them in liquid paraffin for a few hours before assembly. That lubricated the nut and prevented it from absorbing water on humid days. You could do the same with bone, but I doubt it would make much difference. Of course a very good oil or varnish finish on the stock can slow its absorption of water as well. In fact, the easy way to avoid having this problem is to build the bow with a little extra slack in the nut-socket, particularly side-to-side. Even so, if you take your roller-nut bow out on a rainy day, eventually the roller will get tight... unless it was sloppy-loose to begin with. Of course, a nut that is loose, side-to-side will be less accurate. A millimeter of slop in the lock can mean 100 mm. of difference in the target.
Some years ago, I had an 18th century crossbow in my shop for repair. The customer wanted the prod re-bound and some minor repairs to the lock. (crossbow made by J Harnisch, a well known Saxon bowyer) I noted this bow had the remains of leather pads on both sides and in the bottom of the nut-socket. I suspect the pads were once saturated with some sort of light oil or fat. The oil would make the pads swell, keeping the fit fairly tight. When the humidity and temperature went up in summer, presumably the oil would be forced out, leaving the nut well lubricated and still free to spin. Presumably when the humidity goes down and the nut gets loose, you add more oil. At least that's the theory. It could work.... maybe.
Geezer.