[solved]Help in identifying

Hi all. New to the site, but I was hoping you may be able to assist me in finding out what kind of crossbow this is. It has the antique look, but missing some components. I am attaching a photograph that is resembles the piece. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

What pics?

Im sorry. Very similar to this.

The item in question is a Stonebow, very likely Germanic in origin. Could be 17th or 18th century. Its lacking a bowstring, otherwise it looks intact.

sorry if I sound like an idiot, but what exactly is the difference between a crossbow and a stonebow? they look similar, but I am certain there are differences.

A crossbow shoots bolts. A stonebow shoots balls, bullets, or just plain small rocks. Most stonebows (like the one under discussion) are fitted with a doubled string that has a pocket in the middle to hold the stone. Think of it as a super-powerful crossbow/slingshot. They were used for hunting birds, rabbits and other small game. Or to quote Sir Toby Belch from Shakespeare's 'Twelfth-Night" "Oh for a stonebow, to hit him in the eye."
For more info, I recommend finding Ralph Payne Gallwey's "The Crossbow, ancient and Modern" Also published as "The Book of the Crossbow". Geezer

Antiquebum, Welcome to the forum!

And Good Day to All! Hope you all like the new forum layout, I'm still polishing out a few bugs and getting the color theme right, if you find anything that looks/feels wonky - Please don't hold your breath, ok?

As for stone/bullet crossbows...

In the Crossbow Books topic there is a Russian book by Y. Shokaver, book is called "Bows and crossbows. The history of weapons."
Inside it is a diagram of a trigger mechanism for this type of bow.


I hear there were two types of stonebows - German and Spanish...there were some variations from region to region since these bows were built in many places other than thw two already mentioned, but very simmilar in many aspects.
As Geezer already mentioned these crossbows were used for hunting small game like birds, rabbits and such. From the book: "This weapon was quite short, about 60-70cm in length and rather lightweight ranging from 2 to 2.5kg ... for horseback hunting even smaller crossbows were used, about 35cm in length. Thge prod(bow) was made of steel and was about 325-460cm in length(shorter than the crossbows shooting bolts). These bows middle measured from 15/8mm to 20x10mm. The draw length wasn't too great either, ranging from 50 to 86mm."

Personally I love this type of crossbow for it's spanning lever(When will the game developers realize it's not only possible, but has already been done for ages).
I also hear from numerous sources that the cheek piece was a small box used for storing ammunition, tools, and various items used for this crossbows maintenance(string wax?)

Ivo

I respectfully re-post an earlier message where I point readers to a book well worth reading. The author throws some valuable light on the stone bow in particular and his conclusions regarding the double string and pouch; and much more good stuff too.

"The Practical Guide to Man-Powered Bullets: Catapults, Crossbows, Blowguns" by Richard Middleton is a good read and full of well illustrated information. ISBN-10: 0-8117-0156-5

Pavise

German first made in the later half of the 16th centuary also manufactured in north Italy.
Size typicaly 62cm long, steelbow 44.8cm long 1.9cm broard and 1.9 cm thick at the middle 1.75 kg.
larger and even smaller bows were made. Looks like they were manufactured / used up to 1750.
there is one in the Livrustkamaren Armoury in Stockholm

Geezer wrote:The item in question is a Stonebow, very likely Germanic in origin. Could be 17th or 18th century. Its lacking a bowstring, otherwise it looks intact.

And a very nice Stone bow it is!
Wonderful mechanics on it!