Typical dimensions of late Gothic composite bows

by stuckinthemud1 Mon Jan 22, 2018 11:24 am

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Post n°1

Typical dimensions of late Gothic composite bows

by stuckinthemud1 Mon Jan 22, 2018 11:24 am

First topic message reminder :

Hi guys, my long term project has reached the point where I am ready to build a composite prod. There is too much info out there (ironically) so I need to narrow things down. Any idea on the typical dimensions of a sporting crossbow composite prod of the late 15th century Germanic/saxon/tyroll region, otherwise known as a late Gothic style? Particularly, the thickness at centre??
Thanks in advance
Andrew

by Dark Factor Sat Feb 17, 2018 4:08 am

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Post n°26

Re: Typical dimensions of late Gothic composite bows

by Dark Factor Sat Feb 17, 2018 4:08 am

I have already made composite bows with artifical horn and artificial sinew. It doesn't work the same so you can consider it's another technic, but it works... a real vegan composite bow!

not sure plates have been heated, I don't know how they make this.
Some traditional bows are made with heated horn and sinew (without wood or bamboo). that's possible, but it can twist easier because of the "shape memory" of horn. That's why it's always better to glue horn on a wood plate, it prevent this a bit more.

by Dark Factor Sat Feb 17, 2018 4:13 am

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Post n°27

Re: Typical dimensions of late Gothic composite bows

by Dark Factor Sat Feb 17, 2018 4:13 am

About your question of dimension, as you can see on museum, late medieval crossbows can have a lot of dimension but generally from 70cm to 150 cm... but the shape is always about the same... you just change the scale. do you want to make a long or short crossbow?

by stuckinthemud1 Sat Feb 17, 2018 9:01 am

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Post n°28

Re: Typical dimensions of late Gothic composite bows

by stuckinthemud1 Sat Feb 17, 2018 9:01 am

I asked my horn supplier about plates and he said the heat treatment they use can leave the horn brittle.

The prod, I think, will be 65cm long, 5.5cm thick at centre

by Dark Factor Sun Feb 18, 2018 4:17 am

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Post n°29

Re: Typical dimensions of late Gothic composite bows

by Dark Factor Sun Feb 18, 2018 4:17 am

It seems to be correct dimensions for me even if I think you'll make a 500-800 lbs crossbow!

here a, intereinting topic : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7516
At half page you can see the duke Ulrich V crossbow If you glue all part of picture, you know total length 72cm, so you can know the bow thinkness (maybe more than 5.5 cm)

by kenh Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:55 am

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Post n°30

Re: Typical dimensions of late Gothic composite bows

by kenh Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:55 am

I agree! A 2" thick at-the-center prod is going to have a massively heavy draw weight! I have a friend who makes Scythian style bows which run 75-150# which are less than 1-1/2" thick and 48" long!

by stuckinthemud1 Sun Feb 18, 2018 8:45 am

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Post n°31

Re: Typical dimensions of late Gothic composite bows

by stuckinthemud1 Sun Feb 18, 2018 8:45 am

I'm anticipating 500lbs, but, the main purpose of the exercise is to see what the medieval crossbows could do and what they were like to use; no point in pussy- footing about, hence the opening question; is anyone able to supply accurate dimensions for a late Gothic sporting composite crossbow ?

by Dark Factor Sun Feb 18, 2018 12:37 pm

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Post n°32

Re: Typical dimensions of late Gothic composite bows

by Dark Factor Sun Feb 18, 2018 12:37 pm

I've never found more informations about dimensions or composite medieval prods! sorry... only the pictures and general dimension. but you can find good informations about them.
500ls certainly even if the draw length is very short (not more than 20cm)

by stuckinthemud1 Sat Feb 24, 2018 3:54 am

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Post n°33

Re: Typical dimensions of late Gothic composite bows

by stuckinthemud1 Sat Feb 24, 2018 3:54 am

Well, a large box containing 16 water buffalo horn sections just arrived. Each 'off-cut' is the first 2/3 of a complete horn, back strips and side walls, ranging between 20 and 50cm in length. Very Happy