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3 posters

    da Vinci crossbow with built-in spanning device

    John Edgerton
    John Edgerton
    John Edgerton
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    • Post n°1

    da Vinci crossbow with built-in spanning device Empty da Vinci crossbow with built-in spanning device

    Post by John Edgerton Sat Aug 22, 2015 1:41 am


    I found on the web some drawings from da Vinci’s Atlantic Codex, folio 155. They seem to show a built in spanning lever for some crossbows. However, the only copies I can find of this are at the Getty Images site at: (http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/crossbow-from-atlantic-codex-by-leonardo-da-high-res-stock-photography/103727705 ) and they are so small and faint that it is difficult to make out detail. Scroll down on that page to see the other five drawings.



    I have tried Photoshopping them, but that was of little help.

     
    Does anyone know of a source of larger copies of these drawings?
     
    Thank you
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    Geezer
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    • Post n°2

    da Vinci crossbow with built-in spanning device Empty Re: da Vinci crossbow with built-in spanning device

    Post by Geezer Sat Aug 22, 2015 9:25 am

    Metropolitan Museum in NY has a 16th or 17th century light crossbow with a wheel lock gun mounted beneath the prod. The museum says the bow has a built in cocking lever.  There's an almost identical bow in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna that also has a gun as well as a stonebow adaptor attached to the string.  I'm under the impression that's another self cocking bow, with a lever built into the bottom.  I've seen drawings, but don't have the details.  Geezer
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    John Edgerton
    John Edgerton
    John Edgerton
    Fresh Blood

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    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 18
    Join date : 2010-01-14
    Location : Newark, California
    • Post n°3

    da Vinci crossbow with built-in spanning device Empty Re: da Vinci crossbow with built-in spanning device

    Post by John Edgerton Sat Aug 22, 2015 3:42 pm

    I continued searching and found that a working replica of this crossbow has been made in Italy by a da Vinci organization. Just to a search for  “Leonardo da Vinci’s Rapid-Fire Crossbow”. There is a press release from Museum Leonardo 3 that has much information and also Youtube videos. 
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    hullutiedemies
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    • Post n°4

    da Vinci crossbow with built-in spanning device Empty Re: da Vinci crossbow with built-in spanning device

    Post by hullutiedemies Mon Aug 24, 2015 12:03 pm

    John Edgerton wrote:However, the only copies I can find of this are at the Getty Images site at: (http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/crossbow-from-atlantic-codex-by-leonardo-da-high-res-stock-photography/103727705 )

    Looks like the Löffelholtz crossbow.
    See forum thread:
    https://thearbalistguild.forumotion.com/t1372-a-selfspanning-crossbow-in-the-loeffelholz-ms

    Some pictures of a reconstruction on German bow-forum:
    http://www.fletchers-corner.de/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=26762&sid=e37b57ff518a2834e40b807934730dac

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    Geezer
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    Geezer
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    • Post n°5

    da Vinci crossbow with built-in spanning device Empty Re: da Vinci crossbow with built-in spanning device

    Post by Geezer Mon Aug 24, 2015 9:38 pm

    This is downright wonderful.  I'm glad to see it.  Geezer
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    Geezer
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    Geezer
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    Posts : 1194
    Join date : 2010-01-12
    Age : 75
    Location : Austin, Texas, USA
    • Post n°6

    da Vinci crossbow with built-in spanning device Empty Re: da Vinci crossbow with built-in spanning device

    Post by Geezer Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:16 am

    The Metropolitan Museum (New York) publication "A Deadly Art, European Crossbows, 1250-1850" has a chapter featuring their self-cocking late 16th century crossbow, as well as the Kunsthistorisches (Vienna) very similar bow.  There are a couple of good-quality photos which should help those who are interested in this sort of piece. The overall setup looks similar to the bows in the Loeffelholz manuscript.
    Those of you who haven't looked at the Met's new book take a look.  They have some excellent illustrations and useful text.  Geezer.
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    John Edgerton
    John Edgerton
    John Edgerton
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


    Posts : 18
    Join date : 2010-01-14
    Location : Newark, California
    • Post n°7

    da Vinci crossbow with built-in spanning device Empty Thanks

    Post by John Edgerton Tue Sep 08, 2015 2:33 pm

    Thanks to everyone for the information.

    John
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