Hot Whittling A Medieval Crossbow!!

[Mark S]

It's been an extremely hot day today across the entire continent of Australia...many serious fires, loss of property and many displaced persons who have lost their homes.
It is indeed a common occurence here, but this one was a particularly nasty bitch of a day and ofcourse when I say that I don't mean to be offensive to nasty ******* at all, some of which are good friends of mine, but...42C plus most places around here...that's 107F in the old money.
So imagine my surprise when I felt the best way to see out the heat wave was to sit tight and make a 1/10 scale Medieval Crossbow out of a chopstick!..........then go to the beach.

 

[Gaudin]

You will get no sympathy for me, unless a forest fire right next door, I would gladly swap our drich gloomy pissing day for being where you are. Grass is always greener I suppose.

Cool crossbow.
Arms are a bit too bent for the position of string is in - would be ok if string was cocked up. In my opinion of course. Surprising that you chopstick didn't combust in those temperatures

 

[DEL]

As you do Mark...........what a great piece of work.
Was speaking to my oldest boy yesterday....he's in Melbourne and he's finding it pretty horrible and it's about 10 degrees cooler than you're getting.

 

[baronband]

fantastic crossbow....enjoy the beach, i'll just sit looking at the rain outside!

 

[Joe55]

I'll bet that while you were carving that thing you momentarily forgot how hot it was. Stay !

Joe

 

[Mark S]

I'll bet that while you were carving that thing you momentarily forgot how hot it was. Stay !

Joe

That is exactly what happened Joe. I was surprised how effective it was, simply concentrating on that one little job seemed to make the day much more bearable....cheers mate.



Anyway while I'm here I'd like to ask for any info anyone out there may have on evidence for how crossbows were usually slung on the body when not in use. And where on the bow the slings were attached etc....
I'd appreciate any ideas anyone can toss into the mix ...Cheers one and all.

 

[Mark S]

...........Cool crossbow.
Arms are a bit too bent for the position of string is in - would be ok if string was cocked up..........

Thanks Gaudin, I think you're right I going to change that bow string, it's only looped on at the moment.I'll make one a touch longer to fix that, thanks again.

 

[tonydawe]

Mark, I would suggest a crossbow that size would be carried in your top pocket or perhaps dangle off a key chain. Maybe a lovely charm bracelet

 

[Mark S]

Mark, I would suggest a crossbow that size would be carried in your top pocket or perhaps dangle off a key chain. Maybe a lovely charm bracelet

.........I really asked for that one!......and I dare say I deserved it too!......cheers, very good Tony.

 

[Gaudin]

.........I really asked for that one!......and I dare say I deserved it too!......cheers, very good Tony.

You could cast it in silver in fact. May be an idea?

 

[Mark S]

You could cast it in silver in fact. May be an idea?

Yes that would be a nice idea, but I actually made it to go on the back of the Andrea "After the Battle" bust which I'm sure you're very familiar with considering it's become a classic of sorts.
I always intended to change the weapon on that bust but I've only just got around to it now......Surprising how inspiring a stinkin' hot 42 degree day can be.
Thanks again for that tip about the bow string, it seems so obvious now.I've decided it's too thick as well and will replace it with a thinner cord...cheers.

 

[Gaudin]

String is fine- I would say looks just right, depending on period and heaviness of course

 

[Helm]

Mark most Medieval illustrations shown them just carried over the shoulder but I see no reason that something like this modern sling wouldn't have been used

Human nature being what it is nobody will carry anything if there is an easier way to do it. I fabricated a a kind of tube to carry a longbow for my version of that bust

Steve

 

[Gaudin]

Human nature being what it is nobody will carry anything if there is an easier way to do it.

Unless you are Japanese

See, Steve, thats where I would disagree with you - and I think we have on a number of occasions, but I appreciate that we may have different view on accuracy.

There reason most illustration shown them beeing carried over shoulder is becase they were carried over shoulder. There isnt pictures of straps - because there wernt straps, I am not aware of any examples that survived and crossbows that are preserved dont have any indicators of having straps ( or of course, there are and I havent seen them). It could be argued that they could use a rope I suppose.

Another point to consider is that none of early ( and later for that matter) guns were carried this way - which surely would have been a natural tansition if these implements were invented by then .

I totally agree with you that human nature is to find easiest solution - but it is also likely be most successful one - and as a result - most popular - hense most of reference sources would show it. No millitary innovation in those ages could stay exclusive and hidden for long.

 

[Mark S]

Thanks for that Steve, I hadn't realised before I saw this picture how uncool I must look without a crossbow draped over my shoulder.
Man that's it for me, I can see myself walking into a bank, post office or my local pre school with a scoped, 12inch bolt, compound crossbow with a casual thumb hooked into my jeans pocket.
My carefree and relaxed demeanor masking my intense and potent trigger readiness............thanks again for the input Steve.

 

[Helm]

Yup Mark don't forget your matching hat and stone washed jeans for that rugged yet caring man of the frontier look that will bring the ladies running

Steve

 

[FigureLover]

Nice bit of sculpting on the crossbow, will look great on the back of the Andrea kit.
We, over here in the west, got our cool change today, which is a great change from the heat, hope yours comes soon
Ben

 

[Mark S]

...........I totally agree with you that human nature is to find easiest solution - but it is also likely be most successful one - and as a result - most popular - hense most of reference sources would show it. No millitary innovation in those ages could stay exclusive and hidden for long.

Yes, Gaudin, that's why I put that question out there. I seems there's little evidence of this, but I just can't understand how a poor soul who's been committed to battle with a huge wooden Pavise, the crossbow and perhaps a heavy lump of a hand crank could easily get around.But perhaps that's just the point, they didn't get around at all!........Or maybe I'm simply seeing this whole thing through 21 st century eyes, what with the inconvenience of carrying a Ipod, a smart phone, a stupid phone, an MP3 Player, a credit card, a debit card, a library card, a medical card, a video store card, a drivers license card, a frequent flyers card, several gift cards, ten cards that you swear are not even yours, a packet of cherry flavoured ribbed ticklers from 1974 and an unpaid dog license for a dog you can't even remember.............perhaps those medieval crossbowmen had it easy.

 

[Gaudin]

I just can't understand how a poor soul who's been committed to battle with a huge wooden Pavise, the crossbow and perhaps a heavy lump of a hand crank could easily get around.

Well.
If we are talking in battle- Pavise crosbowmen usually had another burly lad to carry shield for them. Unless small one - they were carried on their backs.

I think medieval crossbowmen used a technique or skill that is now lost, it was called ... I think "get on with it"

I wish the knowledge wasnt lost - otherwise I would prescribe it on NHS

 

[Mark S]

Well.
......If we are talking in battle- Pavise crosbowmen usually had another burly lad to carry shield for them.....

Great now I have to have another bust of a goofy lookin' peasant behind him carrying a pavise over his head........this is getting complicated.......cheers