Hello Everyone,

Whipping up a quick topic dealing with an interesting project I had on my mind for some time now.

There are several crossbow building forums out there...We have The Russian Forum(several actually), The Swedish Forum, The French Forum, and of course Us(USA)....perhaps there are others, so you are also welcome to mention them here.

I would like to create something like a small network between us all by providing a links panel with our coat of arms icons serving as links....while other forums already have or are working on their icons, we however still have no coat of arms to date.

Therefore I propose we combine our effort to design this symbol to represent The Arbalist Guild on the Net and other places in the world.

My inspiration for this idea comes from Robin Allen's - Cranequin Fellowship(Guild ) Coat of Arms.



A few details I would like to mention on my vision:

1. It would be a Shield or Crest shape.
2. The Arbalist Guild scribed on it.
3. Employing both medieval and modern crossbow elements.
4. A symbol that this is an Ameican forum, however with a slightly international theme...since we have members from all over the world joining our group.
5. Possibly we can also fit the tools of the trade to help signify that the forum is about crossbow "building".

These are just a few things that I think might help design this symbol and I'm looking forward to hearing your ideas and suggestions.

Thank You,

Ivo

PS: If you wish to show a draft of what you are thinking about, it can be presented in any format/quality.

I'm not bad with the utensils(my avatar was done in my own hand),

Spoiler:

...but on occasion do little lame sketches in MS Paint...so those are more than welcome to help picture your design. Here is a small example of what I sketched up while discussing coat of arms on the Russian forum.(that's my bear in the picture ) with cut and pasted pieces of patent pictures thrown together for a basic idea.



Ok, Hope to hear from you guys...an idea is an idea...might just shoot.

This is a cool idea. Not the most creative person but I'll try to help you come up with something to use for the coat of arms.

Ivo,

I think what you have there is a bit too busy. Here are my suggested changes to your proposal.

Just divide the field per pale, with the modern and traditional crossbow taking up the whole thing. That is to say leave off the isolated bow limbs that make up the lower two quarters.

Leave out the bear (?). He just complicates things.

Move the bandirole up to a place either just above, or just below the shield. It obscures things too much in the middle.

I would post a sketch, but I can't make the image hosting thing work.

Mac

Yep, it's busy o'rite. ...but it's not for our forum...Arbalet.info is a Russian forum...they deal with bows, crossbows, slingshots and everything else that throws things, be they arrows or lead balls...so it's kinda hard for them to settle with just crossbows. While on our end it's all we have...Crossbows.

Image hosting service is back in service. It seems like they were doing some site maintenance yesterday, but all is well now.

I agree with the side-by-side modern/medieval deal...however it's a bit tough to fit them together still. May be I went too modern with a step through riser and past parallel limbs, so that's on my mind.



Tried some stuff with symbols...and touched ends on the ones familiar to Masons...not sure if that's a good idea to use them here, but since I already drew it...might as well put it up for discussion.



Tried to combine them, still very raw and all over the place.

[url=http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=295&u=14665618]

Then there was this one other thought I had...sort of "off the anvil"/"off the mill" theme...again also very raw and needs work...



And last, but not least - something to pin the design to.

These are the shapes that most appealed to me, but I'm always open for more suggestions.



On the above picture is also another version of the two crossbow halves...now that I think about it, perhaps a full view of the medieval prod on top and full modern on bottom would look good...haven't tried that yet.

---

So as you can see I'm kinda working in silhouette format and over all focusing on the simple "black and white" detail and probably gold framing.

Let me know what you think guys.

Ivo

Ivo,

I misunderstood. I thought you were proposing that sketch for this this forum.

I'm sorry....I'll just shut up now...

Mac

Actually... ...I was hoping that people would get in on this and work together to design coat of arms for our forum...I'm asking for your opinions, criticisms, what ever you got...everyone's word counts.

Ivo, I like those sketches... do not have time right now to have a look around at other designs and try to contribute more (except to say, I like it!) but perhaps after I get back... this is the busiest time of the year for me, but, I think it is a great idea and I would certainly wear a patch proudly did we come up with a nice design.

Just a quick sketch. Not too busy. I think it still needs something maybe a border, maybe color?

Looks good cmgower.

Don't think it needs a border all the way around. Maybe just the top and bottom.

Color would be good. Just make sure to pick colors that are contrasting. If the trad crossbow is brown then the modern crossbow should be blue or green (just suggestions)? and the back ground Or or Argent (gold or silver). Just my take on the color scheme. The goal is to have something that stands out,

Cmgover, looking good! I think we could use the same logo on the Wiki front page.

Haven't book on in a while...really short on time these days, but I agree- looks good.

Still needs a bit of work though...Mac wanted to post some pics, but needs some help with picture posting, so lets also wait for him.

Also...We might need to add a few minor details to hint it's a crossbow building forum, Perhaps wings with files, calipers, and other building/measuring tools instead of feathers? ...this is kind of a joke suggestion and possibly an overkill, but I'll see what I can conjure up tonight.

As for Wiki version, perhaps we can modify it a bit to give it a little bit of encyclopedia theme. Perhaps a similar composition "rising" out of a book?

I'll be back in the morning with a few ideas drawn out.

Ivo

Have you looked up the heraldry of some of the real medieval crossbow guilds for ideas.
The charges on a coat of arms should be identifiable at a good distance.
Letters are almost never used as charges. so no A G
Colours in heradry are strongly contrasting to increace visibility. colours(red, green, blue) are not put on colours and metals(silver/white, gold, black) are not put on metals. brown is not used as a field colour just for charges.
You can add the tools of the trade without adding too much clutering detail by using them in the full acheivment of arms. That includes the helm its crest and mantling above the escusion (shield) The suporters to either side of the escusion (usually animals) and the motto below.
I like the Pavaise shape and the crossed crossbows. crossed charges are rare and usually from the 17C or later.

Hello from a newbie - brought here by information that you were considering a "coat of arms"

May I comment? testhero has a very good knowledge of heraldry but does not mention one important thing, The College of Arms does not look at all kindly on those who "assume" Arms to which they are not entitled. To be "legal" in heraldic terms anything which give the impression of an achievement of arms (shield, helm, crest, supporters, mantling, motto etc) should not be used on what is in effect a badge. Sorry folks. Incidentally "Coat of Arms" refers to the surcoat worn over armour, with the Arms on it to which that person is entitled. The "Acheivement" is the name given to what you are discussing. And a "Crest" is that device which is attached to the top of the helm. Only a Grant of Arms - from the College of Heralds and with their design - allows someone to use Arms of any kind. And believe me that costs a lot of money !

Stick with a roundel or an oval and avoid helm, crest and such like and you will be fine

Good Day to All and Vee, welcome to the forum.

Very interesting development Tethero, Vee.

Vee, I can't be sure of where you are from since you haven't specified it in your profile, but considering you mention the College of Arms and your knowledge of the regulations applicable to the rights to Arms, I assume you are from the region where these regulations are in effect?

The Arbalsit Guild was founded on US soil. Perhaps this may be the circumstance under which we do not fall under the College of Arms jurisdiction?

What ever the case, I would like to stick with the tradition to some extent and to house our group under one seal, signifying us as an organized community of masters preserving their knowledge and their apprentices pursuing the art of the crossbow building.

From what I've read, heraldry is a whole language and symbols tell a whole story of the bloodline...which is fascinating to say the least . If in US, or anywhere in the world for that matter, one was put together a coat of arms...It would have to be done right... There I totally agree with you Vee.

Considering I do not want to bring my own blood line into this and would rather consider you guys my family of Arbalists...I think we can start by telling our story and compiling this coat of arms...now doing it correctly will require a little more research on various symbology rather than just "assuming" something. So if you guys know anything related to our trade it would be great to hear about it...we're making history here.

Thanks Everyone...this is the reason why I love this community so much, you guys are A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!

Ivo

I was just looking at the College of Arms website. They will 'devise' arms for U.S. Companies/Groups but I don't believe they can grant arms to a U.S. group. As long as we don't copy an existing coat of arms or existing logo then they don't have much say. In the U.S. Titles of Nobility and the like have no meaning, in fact short of an order of congress we (being U.S. citizens) can, unfortunately, not be given Titles and the like.

I do understand that it is different in Great Britain and other European countries. Depending on the country it may depend on how it is used. Making a logo and calling a "Coat of Arms" may be different than designing something and trying to use it in an official capacity (what ever that is)

That is one thing I have enjoyed about this forum and others is hearing from people in faraway lands and different customs. I tend to forget that even today in some places Titles are still important and have a legal standing.


I should add that I do like the Pavise shield but I agree with Vee about not have a helm. It would be too much.