Crossbows review please
 

Hi everyone,

I have pictutres of two crossbows here. I will appreciate information on their origin, age, maker if possible, whether used for hunting or military and most importantly their authenticity and value. Thank you and stay well.

vantique,

Thanks for posting your interesting crossbow.

Please note, we do not permit discussion of value.

Ian

Nice crossbows you show us, antique. Military ?
Perhaps if we move this thread to the European forum we will have more interested members to comment on them.
And remember, we don't discuss prices here.

After "Sir Ralph Payne-Gallway, The Crossbow", I think this is a sixteenth century sporting crossbow.

Interesting that the claws section of the winder (cranequin) in the first crossbow are an 'articulated' piece. This is not seen in other crossbows out there.
Also its stock wood looks 'too impecable' ... but i don't know :o.
As for maker, you should have a thorough search everywhere, looking for tiny marks, including on the cranequin; letters, shields, symbols.


.

I'm far from an expert on these, but from the ones I've glanced over in auction catalogues and looking at the replica's Todd Cuttler builds... These aren't giving me a warm feeling.

For starters, the craneguin looks fixed to the stock and too small compared to period ones. The proportions of the stock are peculiar and both of them look "unfinished" as opposed to aged.

Another quick test is to undo one of the screws holding the various parts to the stock, a modern machine cut thread is a real giveaway.

Robert

nk you so much guys! 👍

Guys, don't you find the second one looking more like a genuine piece ?
vantique, could you show us pictures of it in different positions ?

It is quite possible they may be remounted or restocked old bows and components. I wouldn't write them off in their entirety.
Regards
Richard