The Crossbow
Chapter 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
Fig 29. - Bolts for Crossbows and How They were Arranged
on the Stock.
For centuries the makers of crossbows endeavoured, in one way or another,
to reduce the friction of the bolt as it was driven by the bowstring along
the groove of the stock. Their evident intention was to imitate the poise
of the drawn arrow of the ordinary bow, which, being merely held by the
fingers at one end, and lightly balanced on the archer's hand at the other,
was but slightly retarded by friction when released.
These efforts of the crossbow-makers to decrease the friction of the
bolt of the crossbow against the stock, as the bolt was driven forward
by the bow-string, may be traced in all mediaeval crossbows or their bolts.
The methods employed are described in fig. 29. See also fig. 88, p. 137.
I. Is the side view of the fore-end of a crossbow stock, which in this
case is straight. The head of the bolt, however, lifts up the shaft, and
in this way prevents its frictional contact with the stock.
II. The stock, also intended to be straight. As the shaft of the bolt
is enlarged near its centre of length, it rests at that part only on the
stock, with the result that friction is reduced when the projectile is
shot forward. |