Subject: Waidknecht forester/woodsman
Culture: German
Setting: Holy Roman Empire 16-17thc
Object: Armbrust crossbow
* Arlington Museum of Art > A Knight's Tale
"Crossbow German manufacture Late 16th century Wood, bone, steel, cord
Crossbows of this size were made for hunting, and this purpose is evident in the decorative themes applied to the frame. They are typical of the German area of manufacture and were commonly employed throughout the 1600s.
"The steel bow is very powerful. To put it into tension, the simple force of the arms is not enough; for this purpose, a crank handle and gears were used to facilitate the task."
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