Overview

One of the most devastating weapons of the Middle Ages, the crossbow fired a 12-inch bolt capable of piercing all but the strongest armor. This fascinating illustrated study traces its use in both medieval and modern times as a military and sporting weapon. It also covers related weapons, including balistas, catapults, and the Turkish bow. Over 240 illustrations.

Full Product Details

Author:   Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey
Publisher:   Dover Publications Inc.
Imprint:   Dover Publications Inc.
Edition:   New edition
Dimensions:   Width: 2.10cm , Height: 20.80cm , Length: 27.80cm
Weight:   0.921kg
ISBN:  

9780486287201

ISBN 10:   0486287203
Pages:   400
Publication Date:   28 March 2003
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

"""PART I THE HISTORY OF THE CROSSBOW, WITH NOTES COMPARATIVE ON THE LONGBOW SHORTBOW AND HANDGUN"" I. THE MILITARY CROSSBOW II. THE SPORTING CROSSBOW III. THE GENERAL DIMENSIONS OF CROSSBOWS IV. THE BOLTS USED WITH CROSSBOWS V. THE RANGE OF THE MEDIAeVAL CROSSBOW AND HOW IT COMPARED IN THIS RESPECT WITH THE LONGBOW VI. THE SHORTBOW AND LONGBOW IN RELATION TO THE CROSSBOW VII. THE HANDGUN IN RELATION TO THE CROSSOBOW VIII. SUMMARY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MEDIAeVAL HANDGUN IX. A SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF THE CROSSBOW PART II THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF CROSSBOWS: MEDIAeVAL X. ""THE PRIMITIVE CROSSBOW, WITH A BOW OF SOLID WOOD WHICH WAS BENT BY MANUAL POWER ONLY"" XI. ""THE THIRTEENTH AND FOURTEENTH CENTURY CROSSBOW, WITH A COMPOSITE BOW (OF YEW, HORN AND TENDON) WHICH WAS BENT BY HAND, OR BY A THONG AND PULLEY, OR BY A METAL CLAW ATTACHED TO THE CROSSBOWMAN'S BELT"" XII. HOW THE BOW OF THE PRIMITIVE CROSSBOW WAS ATTACHED TO THE STOCK BY A BRIDLE OF CORD OR SINEW XIII. HOW THE CROSSBOWMAN PLACED THE BOLT OF HIS CROSSBOW ON THE STOCK OF HIS WEAPON SO AS TO GIVE THE BOLT A FREE LOOSE AND CORRECT FLIGHT XIV. THE VARIOUS CONTRIVANCES EMPLOYED IN THE THIRTEENTH AND FOURTEENTH CENTURIES FOR BENDING THE BOWS OF CROSSBOWS WHICH WERE TOO STRONG TO BE BENT BY MANUAL POWER ONLY-THE CORD AND PULLEY XV. THE VARIOUS CONTRIVANCES EMPLOYED FOR BENDING THE BOWS OF CROSSBOWS (continued)-THE CLAW AND BELT XVI. THE VARIOUS CONTRIVANCES EMPLOYED FOR BENDING THE BOWS OF CROSSBOWS (continued)-THE SCREW AND HANDLE XVII. THE VARIOUS CONTRIVANCES EMPLOYED FOR BENDING THE BOWS OF CROSSBOWS (continued)-THE GOAT'S-FOOT LEVER XVIII. ""THE FIFTEENTH-CENTURY MILITARY AND SPORTING CROSSBOW, WITH A THICK STEEL BOW WHICH WAS BENT BY A WINDLASS AND ROPES AND DISCHARGED A BOLT"" XIX. ""THE CONSTRUCTION OF A POWERFUL CROSS BOW, SUCH AS WAS USED IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY FOR KILLING DEER WITH A HEAVY NON-POISONOUS BOLT-THE STOCK"" XX. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CROSSBOW (continued)-THE REVOLVING NUT AND ITS SOCKET XXI. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CROSSBOW (continued)-THE TRIGGER AND LOCK XXII. ""THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CROSSBOW (continued)-THE STEEL BOW, THE BOW-IRONS AND THE STIRRUP"" XXIII. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CROSSBOW (continued)-HOW TO FIX THE BOW TO THE STOCK XXIV. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CROSSBOW (continued)-THE GROOVE FOR THE BOLT XXV. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CORSSBOW (continued)-THE BOW-STRING XXVI. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CROSSBOW (continued)-HOW TO FIT THE BOW-STRING TO THE BOW XXVII. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CROSSBOW (continued)-THE WINDLASS XXVIII. ""THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CROSSBOW (continued)-THE BOLT OR QUARREL, AND HOW IT WAS ARRANGED ON THE STOCK OF THE CROSSBOW"" XXIX. THE SLURBOW XXX. ""THE SIXTEENTH-CENTURY SPORTING CROSSBOW, WITH A THICK STEEL BOW WHICH WAS BENT BY A CRANEQUIN"" XXXI. ""THE CRANEQUIN, AND HOW IT WAS APPLIED TO BEND THE STEEL BOW OF A CROSSBOW"" XXXII. ""THE SIXTEENTH AND EARLY SEVENTEENTH CENTURY SPANISH SPORTING CROSSBOW, WITH A STEEL BOW OF MODERATE STRENGTH WHICH WAS BENT BY A CRANEQUIN"" XXXIII. ""THE SIXTEENTH-CENTURY STONEBOW, WITH A LIGHT STEEL BOW WHICH WAS BENT BY MANUAL POWER ONLY"" XXXIV. ""THE SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY STONEBOW, WITH A THICKER STEEL BOW WHICH WAS BENT BY A LEVER FIXED IN ITS STOCK"" XXXV. ""THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURY SPORTING AND TARGET CROSSBOW, WITH A LIGHT STEEL BOW WHICH WAS BENT BY A WOODEN LEVER"" XXXVI. THE SIXTEENTH-CENTURY IMPROVED LOCKS WHICH WERE FITTED TO SPORTING AND TARGET CROSSBOWS THAT DISCHARGED BOLTS PART III THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF CROSSBOWS-(continued) : MODERN XXXVII. THE BULLET-SHOOTING CROSSBOW-ENGLISH XXXVIII. THE BULLET-SHOOTING CROSSBOW-ENGLISH (continued)-THE BASTARD-STRING XXXIX. THE BULLET-SHOOTING CROSSBOW-ENGLISH (continued)-HOW TO MAKE AND FIT THE BOW-STRING XL. THE BULLET-SHOOTING CROSSBOW-ENGLISH (continued)-THE LOCK AND THE SIGHTS XLI. THE LARGE BOLT-SHOOTING CONTINENTAL TARGET CROSSBOW XLII. THE SMALL BOLT-SHOOTING TARGET CROSSBOW AS NOW USED IN BELGIUM XLIII. BELGIAN TARGET CROSSBOW (continued)-THE LOCK XLIV. BELGIAN TARGET CROSSBOW (continued)-THE SIGHTS XLV. BELGIAN TARGET CROSSBOW (continued)-THE LEVER AND HOW TO USE IT TO BEND THE BOW XLVI. THE BULLET-SHOOTING TARGET CROSSBOW WITH A BARREL-AS NOW USED IN BELGIUM XLVII. ""THE POPINJAY, WITH NOTES ON THE ANCIENT COMPANIES OF CONTINENTAL CROSSBOWMEN"" XLVIII. THE CROSSBOWMEN OF DRESDEN-PRIVILEGIRTE BOGENSCHUTZEN-GESELLSCHAFT XLIX. THE CHINESE REPEATING CROSSBOW L. ARROW-THROWING PART IV A TREATISE ON THE SIEGE ENGINES USED IN ANCIENT AND MEDIAeVAL TIMES FOR DISCHARGING GREAT STONES AND ARROWS LI. INTRODUCTORY NOTES ON THE SIEGE ENGINES USED IN ANCIENT AND MEDIAeVAL TIMES FOR DISCHARGING GREAT STONES AND ARROWS LII. THE ANTIQUITY OF BALISTAS AND CATAPULTS LIII. THE EFFECTS OF ANCIENT SIEGE ENGINES IN WARFARE LIV. THE DISTANCES TO WHICH ANCIENT SIEGE ENGINES CAST THEIR PROJECTILES LV. ""THE CATAPULT, ITS CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT"" LVI. ""THE CATAPULT, ITS CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT (concluded)"" LVII. ""THE BALISTA, ITS CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT"" LVIII. THE TREBUCHET LIX. THE SPRING ENGINE INDEX APPENDIX (separately-paginated)"

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Sir Ralph William Frankland Payne-Gallwey (1848-1916) was an engineer, historian, and artist who wrote many books on military history.

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