The Arbalist Guild

Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

Crossbows - Everything about Building, Modding, and Using your Crossbow Gear

Latest topics

» Colletiere a Charavines continuing experiment
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Aug 11, 2023 1:04 pm

» Cocking - how
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Aug 03, 2023 4:24 am

» Questions around heavy crossbow lath buildin
by stuckinthemud1 Wed Apr 26, 2023 1:10 am

» Arab Crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Tue Apr 25, 2023 7:57 am

» prod angle, and lever trigger for sale anyone?
by stuckinthemud1 Mon Mar 20, 2023 5:54 am

» flexible string
by jasper1978 Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:25 am

» [solved]Skane/Lillohus crossbow thread
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Mar 19, 2023 7:44 am

» jens sensfelder
by jasper1978 Wed Mar 08, 2023 11:58 pm

» 400lb Windlass crossbow bolts weight and accuracy shooting high.
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Mar 05, 2023 2:53 pm

» Codex Löffelholz crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Tue Jan 24, 2023 4:14 pm

» Digitar prodsc
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:42 pm

» Troubleshooting
by Andy. Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:29 pm

» Wood Prods
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 30, 2022 12:47 pm

» Colletiere a Charavines crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 30, 2022 8:54 am

» Simplified Löffelhotz speedloader
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 09, 2022 4:05 pm

» Fiberglass H-bows
by c sitas Sat Nov 12, 2022 8:44 am

» Bad Antler
by drawknife Sat Nov 12, 2022 3:48 am

» Anyone make their own bolts?
by Juniper Mon Oct 17, 2022 8:20 am

» Josef alm in English
by Juniper Sat Oct 15, 2022 4:22 am

» Qin/Han lock drawings
by kenh Fri Sep 23, 2022 8:16 pm

» stirrup dimensions?
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:49 pm

» Skane/Lillohus lockbow information needed
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Aug 14, 2022 6:23 am

» need help contacting le musee Dauphinois Grenoble
by stuckinthemud1 Sat Aug 13, 2022 3:22 pm

» Low Draw Weight Build
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Aug 12, 2022 3:09 pm

» Trigger testing Rig/Jig?
by ora8i Fri Aug 12, 2022 1:13 pm


3 posters

    da Vinci crossbow with built-in spanning device

    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°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
    • Back to top
    Geezer
    Geezer
    Geezer
    Master Crossbowyer
    Master Crossbowyer


    Posts : 1194
    Join date : 2010-01-12
    Age : 75
    Location : Austin, Texas, USA
    • 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
    • Back to top
    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°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. 
    • Back to top
    hullutiedemies
    hullutiedemies
    hullutiedemies
    Workshop Savvy

    Did you see my tool collection?


    Workshop SavvyDid you see my tool collection?


    Posts : 202
    Join date : 2012-07-03
    Location : Fennoscandia
    • 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

    • Back to top
    Geezer
    Geezer
    Geezer
    Master Crossbowyer
    Master Crossbowyer


    Posts : 1194
    Join date : 2010-01-12
    Age : 75
    Location : Austin, Texas, USA
    • 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
    • Back to top
    Geezer
    Geezer
    Geezer
    Master Crossbowyer
    Master Crossbowyer


    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.
    • Back to top
    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
    • Back to top
    Sponsored content

    Sponsored content


    • Post n°8

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

    Post by Sponsored content

    • Back to top

      Current date/time is Wed Oct 04, 2023 5:03 am