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

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

» Digitar prodsc
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» Troubleshooting
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» Arab Crossbow
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» Skane/Lillohus crossbow thread
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Jan 01, 2023 12:22 pm

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

» Colletiere a Charavines crossbow
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» Simplified Löffelhotz speedloader
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» 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

» best type of horn to use..
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Jun 24, 2022 6:13 am

» Han Dynasty Chinese Crossbow
by hullutiedemies Fri Jun 17, 2022 1:00 pm

» Drawing of Crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Jun 03, 2022 3:01 am

» "How To Make Everything": Early Crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:41 am

» Black inlay
by stuckinthemud1 Fri May 13, 2022 3:18 pm

» Roller nut details
by drawknife Thu Apr 21, 2022 2:44 pm

» 330#/7" wood bow
by Anatine Duo Tue Mar 29, 2022 11:08 am


4 posters

    profile of medieval composite prods?

    fester
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    fester
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    • Post n°1

    profile of medieval composite prods? Empty profile of medieval composite prods?

    Post by fester Fri Dec 28, 2018 11:03 am

    Did medieval composite prods used in warfare in the high middle ages have any recurve to them?
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    Geezer
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    • Post n°2

    profile of medieval composite prods? Empty Re: profile of medieval composite prods?

    Post by Geezer Fri Dec 28, 2018 11:31 am

    I have never seen an actual example of horn/sinew composite crossbow prods with recurved ends, but they do show up occasionally in period illustrations.  What you see in extant collections is something that looks like a steam-rollered bratwurst.  Geezer/DRW/NWA
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    profile of medieval composite prods? Empty Re: profile of medieval composite prods?

    Post by Geezer Fri Dec 28, 2018 11:34 am

    PS:  you might get some help from publications by Holger Richter.  He seems to be the go-to author for horn/sinew medieval bows. (Holger Richter, "Die Hornbogen Armbrust')
    Geezer.
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    • Post n°4

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    Post by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:21 pm

    Maybe not recurved exactly but there are examples that appear to be reflexed, (perhaps by the sinew pulling it tight as it cured?)
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    Post by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:25 pm

    +1 on the book Geezer recommended, it is very, very, good.
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    • Post n°6

    profile of medieval composite prods? Empty Re: profile of medieval composite prods?

    Post by fester Fri Jan 04, 2019 5:03 am

    I want to build a faux prod but don't want the trouble of dealing with Alchem so a steel prod is out.
    Commercially available glass prods are re-curve so buying one is out.
    That leaves me with building a base prod to form the flat, D-shaped belly of the bow and padding it with foam/ cork then wrapping it up in leather.
    I'm thinking a  wood flat bow with fiberglass laminations front and back would be the way to go but I'm open to suggestions.
    Any Ideas?
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    • Post n°7

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    Post by Armbrustier Sun Jan 27, 2019 5:46 am

    Yes, they were recurved in different ways! 
    The late 14 th c and early 15th c horn bows were built like asian recurves, with stiff ”ears” as nocks. 

    After that type, before the ”regular” horn bows, maybe around 1410-1430, only the short nocks was recurved a bit. That feature can be seen in paintings quite long after that type probably wasn’t used any more.

    Then we have the regular horn bows, and you can still see some recurving in many bows.

    Some time in the late 15th c up to the middle of the 16th c, many older used bows was reinforced with a thick piece of wood, usually oak, and the bows seems to be straight again.
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