The Armour Archive

Bottom right. Note the hook, on a belt thicker than anyone else's; I think this is for reloading. Thought I'd share this in case it hasn't been noticed before. If this is a useless repost, please let me know.
Close up of the weapon.
-Mag

Yep that is what it is for. Nice pic thanks have not seen that one yet.

Interesting - neither Paris Bibliotheque Nationale MS Lat. 12302 fol. 1 (Frankish, c. 1009) nor the other picture, from Peter of Eboli's late 12th century Liber ad Honorem Augusti - show this detail. Doesn't mean they weren't used, the artist may have just not thought to include them . . .

(Brazen Hijack of Magmaforce's Pics) Almost all the infantry figures on the right of the Picture, both attackers and defenders, seem to be wearing a separate riveted and sewn cloth covered neck collar. The magnified image shows it clearly. The collar does not match the aketons worn. and cannot be part of an undergarment because it is worn over a mail coif. It looks to be buttoned closed.

Has anyone seen this before? And if so what is the consensus view of what it is?

I think pictures of actual crossbow hooks have been posted earlier on the AA, I think it was T-Bob who posted them? Anyway the pics was from Andreas Bichler from Historia Vivens, a reproduction can be seen (scroll down a bit) at
http://www.historiavivens1300.at/biblio ... dteile.htm

/R

Hello All,

Here is my 1300 crossbow and belt in use... by me!

I find it a pain to use with my 150lb prod... I'm strong enough to cock my bow without it. I used a 12-13 oz veg tanned leather( well oiled) and still had to use the heavy brass plates to keep the belt from self destructing.
(I'm not wearing my mail shirt as its about 90 deg in the shade that day and it's ALASKA!!!!)

Cheers,

The other thing that is evident in the picture is the stirrup, the point that a crossbowman would put his foot into and then use the puller/stringer to pull the crossbow string back up with. I have seen illustrations that have three hooks (forget where) and Martin's Arms and Armour mentions it saying "At first the weapon was drawn or bent by hand, but the procedure was soon improved considerably by firing a stirrup in the centre of the bow which enabled the archer to hold it to the ground with his foot and thus use the strength of his arms and his body to draw the string and load the bow.
This arrangement was further improved in the 12th century when the bow was bent by means of a single or double hook hanging from the bowman's belt." The three pronged one, or goat's foot crossbow, made it's appearance in the early 15th century. After this, they then started to use pulleys to wind back the crossbow.