600lbs lever action crossbow

I make powerful medieval crossbows and this is no exception at 600lbs in draw weight, but I use a slightly different goats foot lever to span it and span it upside down; the Italian way.
It is also an excuse to get back to my roots and show the workings of the bow, the lever, the spanning method and explain why medieval bows are grossly inefficient and I even get some rather nifty shooting in.
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[@pjhunton]

"If you give me a lever and a place to stand, I can move the world." - That goats foot lever is a class piece of engineering.....those crossbows are pieces of art.

[@mementomori4972]

I don't think that would work...

[@nickgarcia610]

@@mementomori4972I imagine that’s just how they FELT about this new technology at the time not a literal statements 🤣 unless I’m wooshing right now 💀

[@scotty430]

English Warbows were so superior to crossbows though, despite some minor advantages, like shooting from cover, or holding fire while the enemy advances..

[@QuantumHistorian]

A sliding lever so that mechanical advantage increases at the same time as the load is also so damn clever. Working out the ideal curve on them would be a fun exercise - even if in period they just iterated towards the correct design by trial and error.

[@Vespuchian]

The amount of careful study, which probably involved a lot of trail and error, involved in getting that shape is testament to the skill and intelligence of the folks making them. Once you have the pattern it's easy to copy and disseminate, but until then it's a crazy engineering challenge.

[@dashrendar5320]

So cool to see you use it, it was an honor to try it out against the warbow with admin, amazing craftsmanship

[@TheHorzabora]

You both know we want to see more, right? Because we’re all helpless historical LARP addicts. And yes, it is superb - and well *researched* crafting!

[@MeanBeanComedy]

Yeah, you have to do that again, sorry. Non-negotiable.

[@daviddavidson2357]

When shooting that with the bolt going off camera, you really need to add in a Wilhelm scream at one point. The scream itself is so much of an easter egg at this point that you need to do it in at least one video.

[@norandomnumbers]

Man what a brilliant idea! Hahaha, I had a good belly laugh!

[@kingleech16]

Or a curmudgeon yelling “Dang kids with your newfangled crossbows!”

[@Rakadis]

Is it just me or is the sound of the nut rotation really fascinating?

[@euansmith3699]

It is almost like a sound effect added to emphasize the power of the shot 😃😃😃👍

[@markfergerson2145]

@@euansmith3699I think it was the old Ivanhoe American TV show that used a very similar sound effect in the show’s intro, except it was used when an arrow (shot by a regular bow, not a crossbow) hit a tree and vibrated in place. It always struck me that it should not make such a sound as it indicated that the arrow had not hit straight on.

[@hanelyp1]

The sound of rattling in a cage, not spinning cleanly on an axle.

[@mementomori4972]

No, it's just you...

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

Sounds a bit like the burp of crow. Very satisfying :)

[@Nogardle]

Seems like the Italian style of loading has the advantage of being able to put the Goat's Foot on your belt and let it fall free when done loading. Making it much more "Battlefield Ready" without the risk of dropping the lever.

[@lucasco031194]

Yeah that got me thinking you can probably use it while on a horse that way.

[@SEGFC]

Seems like a really bad idea to point the business end at yourself at all. Todd said himself that if the trigger fails the goats foot becomes the projectile.

[@TheCompleteMental]

600lbs? You must be really strong to wave it around like that

[@wamken619]

He's also actually a 10' giant. He makes everything to his size.

[@tylerphuoc2653]

@@wamken619 It's from being around Joerg. Grew him a whole lot

[@ericaugust1501]

he's a smithy. he's developed good upper body strength. comes naturally with the job.

[@patrickporter1864]

What is the range of the bow.

[@ericaugust1501]

@@patrickporter1864 i can answer this, having watched numerous of Tods crossbow vids. so if you talking direct line (a straight level shot) the maximum range of the xbow can't really be used because no one can aim that well. typically, whether xbow or warbow, 25m to 50m is considered 'target shooting' where aim-skill matters. The other type of shooting we could called it 'volley fire' and that can use the maximum distance. I don't know the exact volley fire range of this 600lb xbow, but i'd guage around 150m, maybe 200m?

[@b.h.abbott-motley2427]

Thank you for continuing to explore medieval crossbows. Given that you can span a 600lb prod easily enough, I suspect well-trained & athletic crossbowers in period could manage 800-900+lbs with a lever. It makes me think of period artwork like Lazzaro Tavarone's depiction of Genoese crossbowers in Jerusalem bearing large crossbows & long goat's-foot levers. Crossbows had almost entirely left European warfare by Tavarone's time, but the piece possibly gives a sense of 16th-century military goat's-foot crossbows before they phased out. In theory, a lever-spanned crossbow with a horn prod could probably match the performance of yew warbow.

[@lscibor]

I kinda wonder what could Joe Gibbs span with belt, doubler belt or goats foot just with his strength and 160+ bows experience. Andreas Bichler can apparently do 420 pound fairly easily, while Todd did 470, though with bit more elaborate belt. So I wouldn't be surprised it Joe could do much, much more with a bit of training. Could be cool idea for content.

[@tods_workshop]

Yes I could certainly span more and others much more

[@anachronisticon]

Nice find. They also seem to be very wide and recurved bows, possibly with a longer power stroke. If accurate it implies very powerful crossbows.

[@fallenafh981]

Andreas bichler had a 620 pound composite bow (spanned via crannequin) that shot 151j 😊

[@b.h.abbott-motley2427]

@@fallenafh981 726lb according to the video rather the description, but yeah. If Tod can rather easily span 600lbs with a long goat's-foot lever, it's very likely historical soldiers could have spanned 726lb (or considerably more). & a 726lb composite crossbow already slightly outperforms a 160lb yew warbow.

[@jesseshort8]

Tod lying about draw weights never crossed my mind, I guess some people are just built different.

[@dasiksupahuman]

The only lie is, Tod pretending he is not one of the best content creators on youtube. The man has modesty a monk would study.

[@marcogenovesi8570]

@@mementomori4972 the lever is just sending a signal to the motorcycle to stop itself. The crossbow's power is 100% coming from the man loading it, it's still just a fancy bow

[@alexdenisov7912]

What is the point in lying? Tod also showed in a special video how he measured the draw weight of his previous crossbow.

[@marcogenovesi8570]

@@mementomori4972 the brakes are on the motorcycle, you are just actuating the brakes, the brakes making friction on the disk stop the vehicle. So the vehicle is actually handling the energy dissipation to stop the 500lbs item going at 160 miles per hour. The force you use to actuate the brakes is just used to move the brake arms to go in contact and make friction. In a crossbow the power to load the bow comes from your arm (and back), it can be a crank or a lever, but you are storing your own energy in the bow. If the crossbow was like the motorcycle, it would have something like an airsoft gas cartridge connected to a piston to load the bow when you trigger it with a lever.

[@jesseshort8]

@@mementomori4972It's pretty hard to compress brake fluid. All I was saying was that It never crossed my mind that Tod would lie about how draw weights, I was in no way trying to start an argument here in the comment section.

[@pendantblade6361]

I remember the days when Todd uploaded once every six months. I'm glad those days are gone.

[@tods_workshop]

Thanks, but still not very regular; just too busy

[@catsupchutney]

"well, not for the deer" - true enough

[@ot1625]

"If you're familiar with the channel, you know I don't lie". Very true and the reason I keep coming back. Thank you Tod, for your integrity.

[@vladdracul2379]

5:45 I had a cool pat on my own back that I knew what arrowhead that was. I've watched your videos enough times that I actually learned something and I love it.

[@banastre]

There’s a Lucas Cranach painting, Hunting near Hartenfels castle, and in the lower left corner, there’s a guy using the ‘Italian’ method, even though his bow has no stirrup

[@euansmith3699]

The amount of work and metal that goes into the Goat's Foot is amazing.

[@TheFlyguywill]

It’s such an impressive bit of physics and engineering that goes into such a simple looking object. Love it.

[@tods_workshop]

It is simple and a friend bought an original off eBay for £50- amazing! And it is so simple and crude and offers so much utility for the effort of making it.great invention

[@XuroX.]

Not really....like he said it's pretty simple ^^^....

[@foldionepapyrus3441]

Interesting point on the Italian style reload and the stirrup - I'd always assumed the stirrup was just too handy for transport and storage to remove even when you don't normally use it for spanning the bow. Plus as it also allows you at least try to use any of the other spanning methods if the need arises - I expect if you are desperate enough most folks could manage to load sort of weight crossbow at least a few times without the lever and it would be easy to span it with the windlass, which could be useful for folks carrying upper body injuries.

[@stonedog5547]

I always wondered about the stirrup on heavier crossbows too. Kings, Governments and Warlords aren't known for spending any money on weapons for the Rank&File they don't have to*, and the extra fitting of a stirrup on a crossbow you can't span with some form a leverage is one thing that should be dropped..... Until you see that method. *Kings, Governments and Warlords quite often spend extra money on fancy weapons for themselves....... You just have to see a gold plated AK to know this to be true

[@widgren87]

I wonder if it would be worth to design a goats foot lever that stays on the crossbow but "rests" on the stock? Something like thicker hollow legs that runs on the side pins and the one can flip back after the string is pulled an locked... Still, fun video as always.

[@bobrobinson1576]

I was about to suggest that!

[@DH-xw6jp]

He made an IRL version of the Skyrim crossbow that had a built in goats foot, that might be what you are looking for.

[@widgren87]

@@DH-xw6jp He did mention some flaws with that particular design in a earlier video when I asked about that, something about low draw weight. This time I was trying to ask about a way to design the goat foot to stay without changing the draw eight. I just don't know the English, or really what the parts are called in my own language, names for the parts I am thinking of. Oh well.

[@hanelyp1]

The direction of the lever matters to clear the bowstring and path of the bolt when folded. So a level on the underside of the stock. And lifting the string away from the stock is preferred to pushing in. So the lever starts pointed back and moves forward.

[@tods_workshop]

Actually very tricky and then you have to hold up the lever weight too so not all roses. My thinking is that when these were current and tens of thousands of people were making and using them over generations, nobody did it so they would catch on. That to me says it was unlikely to have worked

[@Eric_Viking]

My Tod alert went off. I'm here :-)

[@euansmith3699]

Light the beacons!

[@matthewmccalister5594]

That thing looks like magic!! Man I can't even imagine being around when that was invented it must have been absolutely mind blowing. Mechanical advantage is so cool.

[@tods_workshop]

Imagine the day around 1550 your friends returned from the tailor with pockets in their hose/trousers. Revolution!

[@LJCyrus1]

That Italian method has me wondering if they had goats foot levers mounted on walls somehow, to help span crossbows. I might be wrong about how that would work though.

[@DerLaCroix1]

It does help in the field, when the goat's foot is dangling from your belt, anyway. You just flip your crossbow, attack and reload. For the other way, you'd either need a long rope or have extra steps removing&storing the lever at the belt.

[@Cahirable]

The spanning stand is well attested in artwork in the 15th century. The "haussepied" seems to be the same device, and I've found that as early as the 1290s. Possibly the garroc/garrot is the same kind of device or else a crossbow spanned by the device - some of the accounts from the Clos des Galées in 1339/40 mention both a "garroc" as a type of crossbow and the installation of a haussepied - which may mean the spanning stand dates even earlier. I unfortunately haven't tracked any evidence beyond the 1290s, however. Interestingly, the spanning stand - at least in French accounts - seems to have been used on board ships as a bridge between two-feet crossbows and the larger windlass spanned crossbows. On smaller ships, it was their heaviest weapon.

[@tods_workshop]

@@Cahirablein answer to the OP this comment correct. In answer to Cahirable, great detail, thanks so much and always rather fancied making one.

[@Cahirable]

@@tods_workshopIf you ever do, see if you can get in contact with Thom Richardson. He came across a reference to materials for making one in the Tower records, although he wasn't entirely what it was. I also suspect that E 101/17/6 and E 101/165/1 contain - along with detailed information on what was needed to construct a springald - some information about a spanning bench. Unfortunately my paleography skills aren't up to much more than reading chronicles in a gothic/textura hand. Richardson might be willing (or might even have already looked at them) to help you out.

[@bl4cksp1d3r]

You remind me again that I still have to finish my 110lbs crossbow that I started in 2020 x.x

[@JohnFleshman]

I am a big fan of the rolling nut trigger system. Ive even built a functional crossbow with 90 lb fiberglass limbs using a slight variation on it. I only modernized the actual trigger part. Its got a heavy trigger pull but I trust it not accidentally firing as easily so its a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

[@zumbazumba1]

Rolling nut is good but there is much more modern system with a hook that looks like reverse number '7 .The more force you put on it the trigger pull force remains same .Instead of one big leaver like on rolling nuts system it uses smaller bar to distribute force evenly and then you have classic pistol trigger .Force is applied differently ,instead of pushing into trigger it pulls small bar forward.Key is in 2/3 distance ratio of small bar that looks like this --O---I When done with needle bearings you get extremely smooth trigger.You can even put automatic safety on it . I wish i could send you a link to design but youtube doesnt like links.

[@JohnFleshman]

@@zumbazumba1 Thanks but the one I built has a modern style trigger and I dont want a super easy trigger pull or extra shit for a safety. It works great and Im still hitting my target every trigger pull.

[@JanoTuotanto]

Just little physics nitpicking - It is not the power of the string that goes up with cube of thickness. It is the stiffness. The maximum safe draw length is reduced as thickness reversed, so the draw weight goes up as thickness squared and the potential energy will directly depend on the thickness. And if there are two bows both surviving the same draw length, the thinner one is under strained and less efficient.

[@QuantumHistorian]

I'm interested, do you have a link for further reading about the physics going on here?

[@randomg0at]

@JanoTuotanto: Surely it depends what you mean by efficiency. Typically when you are talking about energy, it means the ratio of useful energy that you get out (in this case the kinetic energy that the bolt end up with) to the energy that you put in (in this case the energy that Todd is putting in when he spans the crossbow). So, you could have a thin bow that takes you 2J to draw that gives a bolt 1J of energy. That has an efficiency of 50%. Then you could have a thick bow that takes 4J to draw and gives 2J to the bolt. This one is obviously the stronger bow, but the efficiency is also 50%.

[@randomg0at]

Linguistical nit-picking: It's worth bearing in mind that physicists and engineers have a set of jargon words that mean very specific things within the field - strength, stiffness, toughness, hardness, power, work, efficiency, elasticity, plasticity, yield - that can have broader meanings in normal speech. Power means a specific thing in physics and engineering, but can also mean 'peak force during the draw' in common parlance. Usually the usage in common parlance predates it's use in technical jargon.

[@randomg0at]

​@@QuantumHistorian, you could search for Euler-Bernouilli beam theory. However, it is likely to come up with something a bit mystifying unless you are keen on maths. Tomorrow I'll see if I can find something that explains it in a more accessible way.

[@randomg0at]

Having said that, beam theory might help with the general ideas, but the mathematics of bows is surprisingly complex for a bendy stick with some string attached.

[@christhesmith]

Archeology: What it is Todd: What they are

[@Nerezza1]

Little bit deeper and little bit thicker is sometimes all you need

[@01ZombieMoses10]

The Italian method that you described honestly looks like mostly a safety measure. Aside from having more leverage ("work smarter, not harder" always means safer as well when it comes to physical work), it also means if there is any mechanical failure at maximum draw, the things flying apart are aimed at the ground. Sure, if the goat's foot goes flying out in front of you, it isn't going to harm anyone you care about - probably -, but it's awfully hard to get it back when it's lying out in front of the firing line.

[@thefatefulforce8887]

Always entertaining and informative. Thanks Tod.

[@Eulemunin]

The goats foot lever is an amazing example of a cam and follower. Very impressive bit of engineering.

[@DouglasMilewski]

If you're hunting and you get one shot, I guess that prep time doesn't really matter, and I also suppose that out-of-shape sportsmen would prefer an easier method.

[@sergeykomarov2203]

Dear Tod, knowing your love, in order not only to enlighten your subscribers, but also to entertain them, I suggest the following: announce a fundraiser for the purchase of a used car on which you can test darts, spears, arrows and, of course, your favorite catapult. I wonder how an old weapon can pierce glass, tires and metal.

[@pjhunton]

100%, that would be awesome to see......take a little inspiration from Top Gear and do a caravan too :D

[@shinjiikari1021]

Similar to how kentucky ballistics does sometimes?

[@sergeykomarov2203]

@@shinjiikari1021 Kentucky Ballistics makes stuff for kids. The way they mess with each other is annoying. Tod is a serious man who has golden hands.

[@maryrose2676]

No need for a full used car.

[@sergeykomarov2203]

@@maryrose2676 Haha, of course, a new Porsche would be the best option.

[@hellequingentlemanbastard9497]

I read some 10 years back Naval officers accounts from the Napoleonic Wars, and in one, someone claimed that men from the Orkneys had brought their Crossbows with on board the ship they had signed up with. If this was just a tall tale I cannot say, but I found it interesting at the time. And why not, much quieter on a "cutting out" expedition where stealth is vital.

[@tods_workshop]

Interesting

[@keganjones9063]

My ~500 pound munitions grade bow with the regular goat's foot is already decently powerful but this is an interesting upgrade, almost to the cranequin hunting bow level. I still plan on getting a cranequin bow from you eventually just because I like cool mechanical devices but to be honest I shoot the Balestrino you made for me earlier this year the most often.

[@Fazoer]

Thanks Tod for the continued great content.

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

Torque advantage is remarkable. I had a Gamo cf-20 air rifle and I bet it was harder to cock than that 600lbs bow.

[@GrandAdmThrawn]

Another great episode, thank you.

[@brunoesteves5544]

what if you stacked more of the things on the side where the lever hooks, further back on the stock? Meaning that after drawing back the string the first time, you could move the leaver back and keep drawing. Would it be possible to increase draw length and strength, or have we information that this was ever done? Seems like a cool idea to me. Great video, love your crossbow builds!

[@Conquerthemall]

It would be so cool to see you making one of this again and your thoughts 😊

[@hulkthedane7542]

Enjoyed it, as always. 👍👍👍

[@oneshotme]

Great video Tod I very much enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@douglasbaker4562]

Simply fascinating! I've never seen an actual reloading of a crossbow before, only the Hollywood movie nonsense. Thank you very much for the education on how these actually function!

[@tods_workshop]

Glad to help

[@schlingellore258]

Building these things so that they really fit is a craft by itself

[@markfergerson2145]

Also, look at the curve of the hooked bits. They are why the leverage changes from hard to easier as you draw. Someone put some serious thought into that, and probably used formal geometry to optimize that curve. Just another example of how dumb medieval people were. /s

[@comicmoniker]

Tod, are you aware of any crossbows, maybe for sport or as a nobleman's gimmick, that used a "lever action" more similar to later lever action rifles? Where the lever is integrated directly into the body of the crossbow? I've doodled some ideas of how I think such a mechanism would work (maybe in a fantasy setting) but I'd be interested to see if anyone tried that historically too

[@nunyadayumbusiness591]

look up the "chinese repeating crossbow" for a historical version, it's even magazine fed.

[@tods_workshop]

Look up Loffenholz crossbow

[@tods_workshop]

And of course the Rivers Bos that I featured a few months back

[@comicmoniker]

@@tods_workshop of course, how could I have forgotten the dread mobility scooter reivers bow! Thanks

[@mikeyboy1234567]

Great video as always Tod. It got me thinking on the logistics of firing and reloading. Mass fire and reload vs firing line by line to maintain constant fire, or mass fire with a dedicated reloader and a dedicated shooter.

[@W4iteFlame]

Simple and easy to understand design

[@lady_draguliana784]

I like that their oblong shape perfectly matches what you'd expect from a Cam on a compound mech. Both use torsion, leverage, and variable radii to create a mechanical advantage!

[@MrARock001]

I had always assumed that the stirrup was a holdover and kept because it's useful for resting your xbow end-down without worrying about getting dirt and junk in the bolt's path.

[@ApfelJohannisbeere]

As always lots of fun and lots to learn ^^

[@TheIconsofsin]

I can't comment this this enough, i absolutely adore your content and when i have the money i will be getting a dagger and crossbow from you

[@tods_workshop]

Thanks

[@AbenZin1]

Someone needs to reupload this video with comedy sound effects for whenever Tod shoots something off screen.

[@pyrrhus55]

Hi Tod, love all your work. I wasn't sure the best way to bring this up was as it isn't really relevant to this specific video, but posting here as it is the most recent. I was reading a brief account of the battle of Towton 1461 and the idea of the Leeward battle line. Apparently the Yorkist commander Fauconberg, upon noticing the strength and direction of the wind deployed his archers in such a way that their arrows fell in the centre of the Lancastrian army, but return fire from the Lancastrians fell short. Not only that but the Yorkists were able to gather these arrows and shoot them back. Awesome tactics from Fauconberg. I wonder if this is something that would be demonstrable by Jo with his longbow and just how strong the wind would have to have been for this to really have made a difference. Sorry if this is the subject of another vid, but I didn't see it and perhaps someone could signpost me if it has been. Cheers 👍

[@tods_workshop]

I woke up one morning a couple of years back to a howling gale and went and filmed a film…..go back to look for my Towton film

[@CarlosRodriguez-dd4sb]

The moment you hear Tod use the 'sportscar / truck analogy' you shared long ago *big smile*. I still think it would be interesting to mount a force sensor /accelerometer of some sort to understand how hard the arrows/bolts hit. I know you can just estimate from speed mass, but some force might be lost from breakage etc.

[@sanityormadness]

Can't help but think - you're spanning the bow by jamming it into your hip (or thereabouts), either via the stock or the lever. If you're doing it a few times, that's one thing. But if you're shooting a few *dozen* bolts, either for practice or battle... you're going to end up with a mighty bruise in that area.

[@tods_workshop]

Agreed. This was probably considered as I have certainly thought the same on stone bows which often pull back into the chest and a chest plate would help greatly

[@davidgreathead9583]

I think the world needs a t-shirt of Tod doing a thumbs up saying 'Still got my thumb'!

[@jordanezell5132]

well done

[@Huron375]

love that "tung" sound!

[@ewanrollo5562]

I'm glad you explained the power difference in performance between old and new bows. Ive used a modern 130lb crossbow, and i'm sure it would easily shoot through someone's head even 30 - 40 meters away. Even with a bit of a thin armor helmet.Sorry that's a horrible way to describe it, but It made me wonder why they made such heavy bows in the past.

[@gvii]

I really need to get around to ordering one of those shirts.

[@nickdavis5420]

So cool !

[@fallenafh981]

Fascinating results. You could easily span andreas bichlers 620 pound composite crossbow, and that already had a more powerful shot than the really heavy long bows (151j vs 131j on a 160 pound longbow) for not a huge decrease in speed.

[@thecocktailian2091]

Strangely awkward removing the lever after cocked. Looks like the Italian way of cocking is the way to go. Really cool bit of kit.

[@bobster852]

Interesting to hear that the Italian style is easier. On video it looks so awkward. I'm trying to picture soldiers doing that in a stressful situation and can imagine all kinds of fumbles and mistakes. You have to rotate the bow at least twice before it's ready. Once to point it in to your stomach/hip, then again to place the bolt. Noting that my crossbow knowledge consists entirely of Tod's workshop videos.

[@reactionaryprinciplegaming]

You should hook the goat foot to a fish scale so we can see how much force you have to put on the lever and what does the curve looks like.

[@tods_workshop]

Good idea. That should be possible

[@MrShinyObject]

God, i would love that 400 lb one. Goat's foot levers are so cool.

[@davidjensen2411]

Pretty cool! 😎

[@QuentinStephens]

It's very clear that the Italian method of drawing the string is far safer as you don't put your hand on the stock during the process, only after the bow is armed.

[@AdlerMow]

If you rest it's stock on the ground and use your weight and both arms to cock it, you can make an even more powerful bow. If you do, put a brass guard or spike on the stock so the wood don't rest directly on the ground.

[@Atanar89]

Stirrup is also useful for stationary spanning devices. Which you should definitly made a video about.

[@frederickheard2022]

It’s the GOAT of crossbow loading devices

[@sambo170a]

Visit San Marino in Italy if you can and enjoy the vast collection of ancient crossbows in the local museum

[@funwithmadness]

So... Similar to difference between a modern high speed bullet and a .45ACP. The 45 is relatively slow moving, but hits really hard do its mass. (Assuming I remember that correctly.)

[@Sightbain.]

Leveraging the bow also reduces the potential injury of a misfire as nothing would get launched down range or into your hand.

[@jagrench62]

Thanks Todd love your Archery vids . Although I worked during the plandemic I saved the lockdown vids. This is a great video too. Thanks again.

[@tods_workshop]

I made the lockdown vids rather obviously during that period and it was a fun way to spend some of it

[@Sn0wc4t]

While I fully realise that Tod knows what he's doing (and that there's no bolt loaded at the particular moment), watching the bow spanned while pointed at his crotch has me twitching like crazy. >X.X

[@SB-qm5wg]

You span that crossbow really quick and effectively.

[@cam-inf-4w5]

If the back curved like an mg42 buttstock you may get more purchase with your thigh and spread the tension over a wider surface. Itd be really cool if you pulled down the foot thing on the front underneath as a on board permanent goats foot. Itd be doing the same thing, but underneath. But build it where the tines at rest are far away from the string so it doesnt damage the string when firing when the string passes the resting point to shoot the bolt. Or even have the tines pass in a clockwise way slightly coming up and inch before grabbing the string so the string simple cannot hit the tines when firing. By grabbing from under the bow could stay upright the whole time mostly and the trigger would never get pressed or hooking on clothes or fingers bc now you belly is against the flat top and sides, trigger stays down, dangerous end (though no bolt) stays pointed out, the little brushguard thing now can be used in 2 different ways to load and you wont have to do any hooking the goatsfoot on even though that looks really fun too and i like the two pegs showing them belonging to eachother like a codependence that makes them better lol Sorry for any typos i just woke up lol

[@HeathenRekkr]

I’d love to get one. I have an English longbow but the crossbows can a bit expensive due to crafting them I imagine.

[@Fuilleverte]

There is an old Physics Maxim. "Give me a long enough lever and I can move the world." Therefore the longer the pulling lever the less strength it will take to span the crossbow

[@firespark8455]

Would be cool to see you test these or some more powerful crossbows on mail, especially since you have the benchmarks from arrows vs armour 2 to compare it with a powerful longbow.

[@tomtruesdale6901]

Great video Tod, I wonder how many shots you could get off if there was a helper loading the bows as you were shooting? Think something like that happened during castle sieges?

[@BootsontheTable]

Interesting video thanks. How would they have manage the goats foot in the field? It’s all very well having a table but in battle?

[@tods_workshop]

It has a hook on it, but I can put all sorts on the table so it was just there

[@cam-inf-4w5]

If a man hand a wall to press against you could build a super easy to load or super strong one like a map compass and essentially body slam a wall lol and bear hug the crossbow Using your weight not strength to load it. Another good idea would be a butt stock and two long tusks out the front specifically for castles so you just press against the wall/corner/floor next to you with two simple rods on rails in a square u shape Or extend the foot thing and make it a slider so you stand on the foot thing and press your opposite shoulder into it, pull up to reset which its already under your foot, and fire. It may be front heavy idk could be balanced. You couldn't really fire out a thin vertical crack, but thats for archers. A horizontal crack would be great for crossbows.

[@BobT36]

Nice shirt, Todd! ;)

[@tods_workshop]

Thanks-all the best people wear them

[@Undead_Raven]

hearing you say why 600 lbs cross bows are limited by the speed the arms return not the weight of the projectile, Everything about crossbows I've known for a long time clicked into an understanding

[@Thorstein31]

The hand pull looked quicker. but either way a real satisfying clunk when it engages!...now goat foot for the trebuchet....

[@Evan-rj9xy]

3:04 I like big bows and I cannot lie

[@Jon-tsuki-geri]

Wow ❤ your crossbows bro, would love to see you make identical one with modern prong at modern draw length for experiment, cheers.

[@TheOhgodineedaname]

Hi Tod, Been a while since i've commented. Regarding field use of windlasses. I believe there's only a single depiction of a windlass in the field in medieval art. It's the late 15th century illumination for the battle of agincourt in Froissart's chronicle.

[@genesisSOC]

I'd really like to see the power/penetration difference at varying distances of the longbows vs. the crossbows.

[@shawnfisher9976]

Love your channel. Tod the nut is loud as it spins. Was there any effort or design that made it quieter? Felt or leather as a washer or something?

[@nils1966]

Would be really interesting to see some actual chronograph results measuring the speed of the bolt and the actual power.

[@ThomasRonnberg]

I wonder if the stirrup is like a bipod to rest against fortification while taking cover

[@Tsnafu]

Have you clocked the speed Tod? How does the foot/poundage compare to the lockdown longbow (or modern rifle rounds?)

[@danielberger1176]

with the reversal of the goats foot, you could have it fastened to your belt.

[@rauchgranate5648]

Cool video, nether fought that a goats foot leaver can draw 600 lbs. While talking about crossbows, I have seen in the new KCD II trailer a horn crossbow without a nut. Question is, was there any other divises to hold a sting, or is it just a game thing.

[@joed899]

Looking at how far the bolt protrudes the front of the crossbow, to me it seems the stirrup is to guard the bolt and stop the bolt being hit. It could also be a carry handle for marching.

[@TamasMateffy]

What’s the speed and weight of bolts used for the 600 pound crossbow? Like mid ideal weight and speed of it?

[@rakeshmalik5385]

Probably needs more power. -- Homer Simpson Great video as usual :) I had not realized that they used massive springs in medieval crossbows. Your channel is always great for learning new things :)

[@Lee-vk1xy]

If you haven't done a series on the bolts including how heavy they are and how fast they are moving as well as terminal effects that would be interesting at least to me. By the way after watching the first video of yours it wouldn't even have occurred to me to question the draw weights.

[@allanstewart4135]

Nice 👍 video again Tod. - my query for you could you mount your six hundred pounds cross bow or higher poundage on a swivel are for saying carriage defense ( your the second man on the Rideing bench could be easier to function if traveling away from bandits. Just thought I could do a video and explain and see if it's feasible. Regards Allan .

[@davidworsley7969]

"in my left hand -(where my thumb's moving)" Ah, now the American viewers are up to speed.

[@stonedog5547]

Question for the house: I know that the strength of a beam is based on its dimensions (depth and width) and its weight by its cross-sectional area (depth x width), this is why you can chamfer the corners off something like a trebuchet arm and end up with a lighter beam but with the same (approximate) strength....... How does this work for blade springs, such as crossbow limbs? Less mass=faster action