Grex Rialto Conference

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Grex Rialto Item 17: Crossbows
Entered by bnm on Thu Aug 11 13:35:36 UTC 1994:

I have delusions of constructing a reproduction of a 15th/16th
century crossbow.  That is, I'm intending to use a metal bow
as opposed to wood or composite wood/horn.  Have any of you
given this a try?  I'm re-reading Payne-Galwey's seminal work
on the history and construction of crossbows.  (You siege engine
folks will also find something of value in this work.)

Sorry to trouble the rest of the SCA arts and farces sort of folk,
but there isn't a conference entitled "Ancient Weapons" or
perhaps "Period Warmongering". ;)

8 responses total.

#1 of 8 by kentn on Thu Aug 11 22:10:14 1994:

I think you put your item in the appropriate cf, Brett.  This is
interesting and I'd be interested in how your project progresses.

#2 of 8 by kami on Sun Aug 14 06:48:08 1994:

I have a friend out east who has made several wooden cross bows.  He or one
of his other friends might have some input.  Remind me in mail to send you
the address if I don't get to it right away.

#3 of 8 by arwen on Wed Aug 17 01:13:05 1994:

I have a friend right here in Lansing who has not only made some historically
accurate crossbows, but she has sold them as well.  I will ask her if she is
willingg to let her phone number out.  She is an SCAer.

#4 of 8 by bnm on Thu Aug 18 02:28:12 1994:

She'd be interesting to talk to.  Do you happen to remember the type
of bow she used?  I'm pretty well set on steel, but some of
the early bows were made of wood or wood/horn.  Also, since I'm
the insane sort, I'm going to use as close to period tools as
I can.  That is, no bandsaw for the wooden parts, no resorting
to a lathe to make the nut (the notched cylinder that holds
the string taught before firing).  Yes, I'm a masochist...

#5 of 8 by pegasus on Mon Dec 12 06:14:39 1994:

A member of the Cynnabar group plans to approach the Washtenaw Sportsman Club
about using crossbows for target practice. I have contact info if you're
interested.

        Pattie

#6 of 8 by bnm on Sat Dec 17 05:20:22 1994:

I'd be interested in hearing if the WSC lets them use crossbows.  I might
be confusing this particular club with another, but it seemed that you
had to go through some sort voting among the members before you were
allowed access to the club.

On a different note, I have managed to get a copy of Payne-Galwey's
"The Crossbow".  (It only took since about last June to get it
from the publisher.)  I intend on building the military crossbow
(the one that cocks with a windlass, not a cranequin or goat's
foot lever.)  Once I get it built, I will want a place where I
can safely excercise it.  If the WSC let's folk from Cynnabar in,
then I might be able to go there as well.  Do you happen to know
if the crossbows that they're planning to use are reproductions
or are they modern variety?  Also, would you happen to know
what sort of "pull" the crossbows they're using have?  This
will dictate what sort of a range they might need.  It could be
that a range set up for archery would be insufficient, if
the bolts would go right through the backstop.  I have seen some
nasty modern varieties of crossbow that had 175 lb.+ pulls.

#7 of 8 by rme on Mon Jan 2 05:14:27 1995:

But don't forget to take into account the length of the draw.  A 175-lb
xbow is impressive; until you realize it only has a 6" draw.  As compared 
to a 50-lb recurve with a 30" draw.  ( I believe it is straight multiplication
to see which is more powerful xbow = 1050 and recurve = 1500)

RE

#8 of 8 by pegasus on Tue Jan 3 19:50:26 1995:

The word is that YES, crossbows can now be used for archery practice at
the Washtenaw Sportsman Club. Practice is every Sat. at 12noon (or slightly
earlier). The Washtenaw Sportsman Club is just off of Mich. Ave, right at
the Exit for I-94. It's on a side road (emmet perhaps?) that winds around
quite a bit.  See The Citadel for a much better description/map. <grin>

        Pattie

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