Hi, everyone.
My continued thoughts into truly medieval construction techniques and materials has me now pondering screws and bolts. We tend to be pretty liberal in our use of screws and threaded rods in constructing medieval replicas and medieval-style replica crossbows, for lock plates, for bolt clips, and for lock and trigger components.
My understanding is that the screw is a very ancient invention, but wasn’t much used up until the 18th century as a fastener (wine presses, for one thing), when machinery was developed that cut uniform screw threads that made them economically possible and abundant. And my reading on medieval and all the way back to Roman and Greek siege machinery and artillery shows that metal fasteners tended to be rivets for facing wooden components with iron plating, and other reinforcing in key areas of high stress.
That seems to be true of the earlier crossbows, as well, such as the riveted reinforcement just behind the prod socket. But, did they ever use screws, and if so, were they all hand forged and cut by the bow makers? I have noticed that nails were used in some instances, such as for fastening down bone or ivory facings.
Maybe Mac or Geezer may have some thoughts about hardware in general, and how it was crafted and used. Thanks in advance for any insights or thoughts into the Medieval Home Depot
Dane
My continued thoughts into truly medieval construction techniques and materials has me now pondering screws and bolts. We tend to be pretty liberal in our use of screws and threaded rods in constructing medieval replicas and medieval-style replica crossbows, for lock plates, for bolt clips, and for lock and trigger components.
My understanding is that the screw is a very ancient invention, but wasn’t much used up until the 18th century as a fastener (wine presses, for one thing), when machinery was developed that cut uniform screw threads that made them economically possible and abundant. And my reading on medieval and all the way back to Roman and Greek siege machinery and artillery shows that metal fasteners tended to be rivets for facing wooden components with iron plating, and other reinforcing in key areas of high stress.
That seems to be true of the earlier crossbows, as well, such as the riveted reinforcement just behind the prod socket. But, did they ever use screws, and if so, were they all hand forged and cut by the bow makers? I have noticed that nails were used in some instances, such as for fastening down bone or ivory facings.
Maybe Mac or Geezer may have some thoughts about hardware in general, and how it was crafted and used. Thanks in advance for any insights or thoughts into the Medieval Home Depot
Dane