Schnepper and medieval crossbows

[@flamebeard10339]

So I don't know if I missed it, but I would like to see a close up of the mechanism on the schnepper bow.

[@tods_workshop]

Yeah - sorry about that, I didn't want to takeout apart, but the drawing in Payne Gallweys book shows it well and I have shown this before here kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCtYnWiaqyImqM

[@flamebeard10339]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCtYnWiaqyImqM with time stamp for anyone interested 7:45-8:15 is the basic explanation

[@angrypotato_fz]

@@tods_workshop Thank you, that's exactly what I was looking for!

[@farmerboy916]

Yeah... I watched the video and don't understand how the release works apart from seeing it pop down and up? during the shooting, let alone the internal system.

[@simonfagerholm4806]

@@tods_workshop great explanation in the other vid!

[@matthayward7889]

2:10 always wondered why the trigger bars were so long! If I had the means, I’d own one of everything Tod makes 👌

[@tods_workshop]

So would I, but I have to sell the stuff to make a living

[@alanmackinnon3516]

Total agree, love all his stuff.

[@johnnytrigger5512]

Thats a work of art, beautiful

[@sbvera13]

@@tods_workshop It's always the cobbler's children that go barefoot.

[@ivyssauro123]

Same!

[@Alastair510]

What a terrific craftsman Tod is, it shows in every piece.

[@tods_workshop]

Thanks

[@commander31able60]

it's a suppressed, competition crossbow with a match-grade trigger and adjustable sights.

[@peter4210]

all it's missing is Galileo's telescope, a Shooting stick( monopod) and a bayonet.

[@commander31able60]

@@peter4210 could also go with a tactical lantern

[@viridisxiv766]

@@commander31able60 with a shutter for blinding your opponent.

[@davidegaleotti94]

You mean the custom Glockkner Bow?

[@commander31able60]

@@viridisxiv766 no joke, you could probably build a shutter attached to a wheel and gear mechanism that, when spun, would open and close the shutter quickly to create the strobe effect common on modern tactical flashlights.

[@pyrflie]

I hadn't realized the single set trigger was invented for the crossbow rather than early rifles. You learn something everyday. Thanks Tod.

[@forsetigodofjusticeexcelle7506]

I would say the poms are just for decoration as they thought it looked good at the time. People always underestimate just how much culture valued bright random colors for no reason other than they liked it.

[@carvis3290]

Bright colored dyes through various parts of history were also status and wealth symbols due to the scarcity of various pigments unless trading from afar

[@randalthor741]

That was my thought too: on a high quality expensive crossbow it was probably just for fashion and status - particularly if they were dyed with expensive dyes.

[@tods_workshop]

@@carvis3290 nice thought

[@tods_workshop]

very true - history was not always in brown and grey

[@Harrowed2TheMind]

@@carvis3290 Indeed! For a long time, purple was mostly reserved for royalty, such was the cost of the dyes necessary! You had to crush hundreds of shells just to colour one piece of garment, so you can imagine the expense that it entails.

[@Squad23jta]

Those pom-pom's are clearly a sign of how many cheerleaders the nobleman has managed to score with.😋

[@andrewrobinson4019]

The only theory I will accept.

[@harizotoh7]

The Pom Poms are to make the hunter visible in a forest to the rest of their team. Don't want to accidentally hit one of your party members.

[@Reginaldesq]

When your out in the woods shooting and you "find Wally" you can then display a red and white pom-pom

[@olmostgudinaf8100]

So what you are saying is that they ARE for silencing. Only not silencing the bow, but your mates.

[@steveg8322]

Rah,Rah,Rah,sis boom Bah!

[@CeltKnight]

I can't tell you how many weapon encyclopedias and such I've read over the decades and you just explained this in a few minutes better than any of the ones I ever read. Well done, sir!

[@CarlosRodriguez-dd4sb]

One thing I can always count on Tod for is an interesting well presented idea wrapped in a video. It's Christmas for your brain. Thanks again!

[@susanmaggiora4800]

Carlos Rodriguez Absolutely! It’s always a treat to see a post from him. Not only is the content interesting, we get the added benefit of seeing all these gorgeous pieces of art from such a talented craftsman. Edit: AND he shoots at shit!!🤣

[@Katniss218]

Can we just stop for a sec and appreciate the beauty of Tod's pieces?

[@AFCAWorldBodybuildingArchive]

Or we could appreciate a piece of Tods beauty!

[@13ECHO20]

"I hope you enjoyed it." Indeed, sir! Sharing your knowledge is loved more than any language can describe.

[@johnnytrigger5512]

I ordered a rondell dagger and i cannot wait to recieve it!! New fan and subcriber to your channel.. we need more passionate guys like you during this time.. thanks for your work tod 🙂

[@nick_steele9790]

I think this is my number one favorite channel. I don't think there's anyone else I love to listen to more, the videos are top quality, the insight and experiments are amazing, not to mention the expert quality of production of medieval weapons and gear. Truly a masterpiece, thank you!

[@tods_workshop]

Blimey! Thank you, thats very kind

[@nick_steele9790]

@@tods_workshop Another example of why I love this channel, you are a genuine, good person who cares about his viewers! You inspired me to take up blacksmithing and while it is slow, your videos continue to inspire me to improve and practice.

[@Seelenschmiede]

The pom poms are clearly the 'fox tails for the car antenna' of the renaissance huntsman 😋

[@olmostgudinaf8100]

I was thinking "go faster stripes".

[@christianhenderson5471]

Hi, I'm Todd Cutler, here at Forgotten Weapons we are looking a sportified crossbow....

[@somebodysmart1947]

What a piece of art from tod, such a piece of beauty

[@jb8086]

I must say, I really enjoy your channel. You present information in a wonderfully straight forward manner with a great take on the history of it. You have inspired me to make a great number of things, none of which get close to your quality. Not to mention the anxiety my wife gets every time I give my sons a new crossbow. Many thanks to you sir.

[@tods_workshop]

Thanks for saying and we should all make more things - well done

[@zenhydra]

I was really hoping to see the trigger mechanism, and how it compares to the older designs. I'd love to see the guts of the Schnepper crossbow in a future video.

[@InSanic13]

He did it in a past video, "secrets of the schnepper crossbow".

[@ryklatortuga4146]

Pom Poms to match your scarf and bobble hat for those important away games. He Shoots He scores!

[@Aconitum_napellus]

@uncletigger Crossbows were a major democratising of force. No longer did you have to practice with a longbow for years, you could pick up a crossbow and go and start a peasants revolt!

[@Gilbrae]

@uncletigger I think that the fact that this was done in the 15th century during tournaments in the game of papegay (or papeguay, or papegault) tends to prove you are right. Well done sir, a brilliant application of Ockham's razor !

[@tods_workshop]

Apologies, I should have shown more of the trigger system, but I made a similar bow and film a few years ago and you can find it here kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCtYnWiaqyImqM. I also posted up a thread on the very excellent 'My Armoury' chat room and you can find that thread here myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.37017.html

[@Owwliv]

weeee ohhhh. That's an amazing bit of craftsmanship .

[@DomesticImplications]

Remember pom-poms are a large part of German folk wear especially in south western Germany. The Black Forest.... they are quite obviously just stylistic. You have your Pom-poms maybe in the colours of your family crest or locality based or guild like you say is possible.

[@tods_workshop]

Ah - thank you. Yes pom-poms on hunting bows were a very German thing and pom-poms as part of dress were a very German thing; I suspect it is that simple

[@TannithVQ]

A new thing! I never heard of that before. Thank you. I like days when I learn something new.

[@daaaah_whoosh]

Well now I'd like to see a collaboration with ForgottenWeapons.

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

Hell yeah!

[@igorsova]

Elbonian crossbow?

[@koticneutralftw7016]

I admit, I saw the pom-poms and though "that's to muffle the sound", so I'm glad you addressed that. Seeing the schnepper crossbow is interesting. I've heard that crossbows used by the Chinese during the warring states period had advanced trigger systems as well. it would be interesting to see the difference between the two types of cross bows.

[@tods_workshop]

The Chinese system is very different to the European system but one of the best things about the Chinese system is that all the components can be cheaply cast in mass production

[@koticneutralftw7016]

@@tods_workshop Good to know, thanks for the reply!

[@andreweaston1779]

Your channel is great. I could watch you shoot things all day.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Would love to see a little more on the mechanics of the trigger and the nut if you ever find he time Tod

[@InSanic13]

He actually made a video on it already (kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCtYnWiaqyImqM).

[@Festoniaful]

Beautiful craftmanship Tod! Love the video as always!

[@CrypidLore]

Keep up the outstanding work Tod, watching your videos re-kindled my passion for crafting bows.

[@ApfelJohannisbeere]

These pom-pom's are used to clean the bolt-tips (instead of the trousers) and are still used in '3D Competitions' to clean the bolt-tips so the mud doesn't get to the trousers. In German these crossbows are called 'Schnäpper'.

[@ArmouryTerrain]

This piece really shows the evolution from medieval crossbows to the ones that now have an ar15 lower.

[@tlsgrz6194]

Now I want to know how the mechanism of these works. You don‘t happen to have the mechanism out of bow for demonstration, do you?

[@tods_workshop]

previously kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCtYnWiaqyImqM

[@tomtruesdale6901]

That is one beautiful piece of art you made there Sir, Beautiful and deadly

[@EnriqueLUrcia]

nice. thanks for making a better Sunday.

[@tidge879]

I wonder if they are a silencer of a different sort. If you're moving through brush and branches, do you think it's possible that those pom poms could be there to try and stop some of the sound branches scratching across steel? As in, they come in to contact with the branches first.

[@feanororonar5037]

i would love a review of the mechanics of the trigger

[@InSanic13]

He has an earlier video on it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCtYnWiaqyImqM

[@feanororonar5037]

@@InSanic13 thank you comrade

[@derbiochemiker]

That is probably the most beautiful crossbow, I've ever seen...

[@tods_workshop]

Thanks

[@maxlutz3674]

I think those pom poms are ornamental. They may also provide a means of distinguishing the crossbows so the owner could recognize it from a distance (CAS shooters do that to their long guns). They cannot supress the sound the way they are attached to the crossbow. With Tod´s sample it strikes the eye that the pom poms cover the corners where the bow is connected to the shaft and point where the rope on the bow goes from 4 strands to 2 strands and has a tie off. They may cover some "ugly" features on the weapon and enhance the looks of it. The buffer puffs on a bow are mounted on the string. They work differently.

[@iamgerg]

So the arrow seems to pop nose up when you fire it. Is that a function of crossbows or is it a function of this particular system?

[@OrigMaelstrom]

I noticed that too, all three shots, the bolt pitched up quite a bit before it seemed to normalize (or at just struck the target at that range). Does it still do that when you take the bolt clip off?

[@tods_workshop]

A lot of crossbows do that. The bolt lifts as you shoot and is basically the crossbow equivalent of 'archers paradox'

[@Kheldul]

That stood out for me too.

[@tods_workshop]

IA way to think about it is that the bolt is getting pushed from the back and so is inherently unstable, but it can't unbalance to the left, to the right or downward, so it can only unbalance upward and so it lifts.

[@Kheldul]

I imagine I’d notice the flight if I was standing there with you, just the same as if it was hundreds of years ago. I watched kzbin.info/www/bejne/foGlZYF_g6xpiLc where she spent at least a day trying to get a straighter flight with a bow. She analyzed it by firing through a sheet of paper held in a frame. She was changing the knock point, arrow head weights, length of the arrows, and rigidity of the arrow shafts.

[@rasaecnai]

ahh the iBow 11 - a perfect way to demonstrate that you have the money to your friends. Also, if there is footage of the making of this piece i think many of us will be keen to see it. Thanks Tod!

[@InSanic13]

He has another video on the inner workings: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCtYnWiaqyImqM

[@tods_workshop]

In the notes, I also list a work in progress thread on MyArmoury.com

[@carvis3290]

Informative as always Tod. Thank you for your knowledge and Tutelage sir. 👍👍👏👏💯 That trigger system is a very interesting design compared to older historical models you have showcased before P.S. I have a few yard shirts in similar condition 😁

[@dempa3]

I just wanted to say that I really liked the lock down longbow episodes, and would be very interested to see those tests replicated with a less powerful bow that regular people might have for hunting. Msny thanks for your work!

[@tods_workshop]

That very thing is coming. I have just ordered a set of 100lb spines arrows from Will Sherman for this very purpose and the whole Lock Down Longbow series still has many more to come

[@dempa3]

@@tods_workshop Many many thanks for your reply, your for your work in exploring these very interesting things!

[@robbikebob]

I think the pom-poms were there to help get your bow noticed as there's no point spending all that money on it if nobody notices it. I'm only surprised there wasn't bunting and flags as well. Maybe that would be taken off before the hunt though 😅

[@claudiussmith8798]

Not if you hunt with your buddy and he has the same one. Better to put different colors😂

[@aziquiel]

Hi just started to watch your videos.Very nice. My take on the ponpons and the cable along the bow are that they are for silencing them but not when you shoot them but from hithing trees and stuff on your way to the place you want to take your shot from. Hiting a ponpon on something is quieter than hiting with bare metal, so you do not scare the animal before you take the shot.

[@akuyara4420]

Could you show us a close up of the trigger system working?

[@mikehotchkiss8975]

I second that request. How is the nut's mass eliminated and by what mechanism. Thanks in advance Tod

[@dan_the_dj]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCtYnWiaqyImqM would you look at that :D

[@klasandersson7522]

Nice video, and a gorgeous crossbow! Hope the winter-chill don´t cool your lust for making all these videos, they lighten up the drab of corona and soggy weather!

[@goreil2489]

Looks like nice Xmas decks on the bow!

[@blakewinter1657]

I must say that my first thought about the pompoms was that they were just a matter of personal taste. We know people enjoy having nice looking things, and even to this day, some people will decorate their guns with various paint schemes. And, we know people in those days enjoyed some stuff that we might find a bit gaudy today.

[@xenamorphazousou1547]

I love your works 😍. Absolutely Awesome 👍...I still prefer the rugged Military Crossbow

[@ThomasRonnberg]

the pom poms could be a way to differentiate your friends from brush in the hunting games. Kinda like orange jackets.

[@juhonieminen4219]

In that case they propably would not be green.

[@ThomasRonnberg]

@@juhonieminen4219 I'm sure they came in different colors.

[@samziegler4957]

I would suggest the pompoms help to judge the wind speed and direction.

[@b.h.abbott-motley2427]

Note that ancient Chinese crossbows had many of these features that were novel in 16th-century Europe: complex trigger, trigger guards, grid sights, etc.

[@tods_workshop]

Indeed, but of course they came from a totally different origin, but also had 2500 years (approx) continuous development

[@5chr4pn3ll]

Would be great to see how the trigger system actually works. Since effort is put on how good it was in comparison, it would be nice to see in what way :)

[@tods_workshop]

I have done previously kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCtYnWiaqyImqM

[@5chr4pn3ll]

@@tods_workshop Oh nice :) That was interesting. The small gap seems scary, but I guess with a string that hard it doesn't matter.

[@rafaelthetall]

could the ponpons be for carrying? like softing up in spots that would hurt shooter, horse or bow?

[@felgate11]

Maybe the Pompoms are a means of breaking up the sharp outlines of the bow in stalking situations?? The Green of the Fir trees & the White of the snow in this case or could be changed to suit other hunting environments??

[@bubbagump2341]

My guess on the green and white pom poms is that they started out as a form of camouflage that probably then became decorative.

[@2bingtim]

Could be fascinators to distract the prey or camoflage the bow/hunter profile?

[@bubbagump2341]

@@2bingtim I figure they were used to camouflage the crossbow by giving it more organic lines and colors to blend in with foliage and such.

[@matthewhall7976]

Tod this is just a thought but maybe the pompoms will be used for tracking wind direction and in order to better know if you need to aim off to one side slightly..sort of like the idea of having a loose feather tied around your wrist or to the end of an arrow..

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed your video Tod and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@alecbarbour4366]

Extremely cool. I would have thought that the funky stock shape was to that you could fire it one handed, with the stock cradling your forearm

[@Whisperblade]

It's a beautiful looking crossbow, I would have loved a close up view of the string retention system though. You spent a while talking about it and how much more advanced it was, but didn't explain or show how it worked or the differences that made it more advanced beyond the bolt clip.

[@InSanic13]

He has another video on the mechanical details at kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCtYnWiaqyImqM

[@dimasakbar7668]

Have you tried removing the pompom and see what differs? If nothing changed, than that is for flair, which is understandable considering it is more of high end model.

[@philipgard6762]

It would definitely be interesting to see the inner workings of the trigger mechanism on this crossbow.

[@philipgard6762]

Ok saw the earlier video, thanks.

[@cheyannei5983]

Do the hooks on the lever and footloop move on museum pieces too? It seems it'd be much less fumbly if one element were rigid, so you could just lay the feet of the lever on the string and then hook in upfront with a scooping motion...

[@JohnFleshman]

Are you gonna do a video on how the Schnepper system works? Like the internal bits? Ive built a rolling nut trigger system or two and had a lot of fun. Might be cool to try a different mechanism.

[@dan_the_dj]

I was wondering the same

[@tods_workshop]

I have done previously here kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCtYnWiaqyImqM

[@teakew8217]

There's also some detailed sketches in Payne-Gallwey.

[@JohnFleshman]

@@tods_workshop Awesome thanks for the link. almost done watching it.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Tod .

[@sitrilko]

Bow silencers are placed on the string, to soak up the vibration of the string. They don't as much as reduce the dB levels of the twang rather than they shorten it (doesn't vibrate as long) and in general make the niose more of a thud than a twang. Those pom-pom's are for decoration, imho. There's no way those would have enough of an effect on that hunk of steel.

[@mortyjhones4068]

Looks nice, Though i think those pompoms are a safty feature. To make it easyer for fellow hunters around you to see what direction you are pointing your crossbow in. The more pompoms you can see the more danger you are in.

[@bbartt80]

Great episode!!! Could you do another one about the triggering mechanism? This particular one looks extremely intriguing:)

[@InSanic13]

He already did: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCtYnWiaqyImqM

[@bbartt80]

@@InSanic13 thanks

[@donotconsume]

Perhaps the pom poms are there to reduce vibration or perhaps slow the limbs more evenly not sure if it would do anything for the accuracy of the crossbow

[@bierce716]

I would really love to know how the trigger system works!

[@holdengraham6945]

Things I didn't realise I need to know always pops up on tods workshop

[@Survive1llc]

Get a decibel reader at you and at 15, 25, 50m, and see if it makes a noticeable sound difference at different ranges. I don’t know if it will, but I’d love to find out.

[@PedroCarvalho-bk4yn]

I wonder if it's a possibility that the pompons were about reducing noise when traveling or moving or something like that, perhaps reducing the noise you make when getting in position to hunt might be even more important than reducing the noise made by the shot. I have no idea how they carried their crossbows when traveling and have no idea what would be close to them that could bang against it and produce noise but it seems like a feature that could be useful

[@18IMAMGODINA]

The tag on that crossbow is so strategically placed xD

[@MarcRitzMD]

Tod, could you talk about the best crossbow makers or crossbow making regions or crossbow models? Was there an equivalent to a Mr Winchester or a Solingen for crossbows? Were there parents for crossbow stuff?

[@stevejones9062]

pure speculation here, were the pompoms a scent dispersant method, ie soaked in the urine of a doe ( domesticated/tame) in season

[@TurinTuramber]

Very interesting.

[@haamutili5179]

Usually if you want to be good at hunting you try to eliminate all human smells (deodorant, dont piss near your spot). My guess for the pom poms is the same as why hunters wear orange vests and hats, so that they don't accidentally shoot each other :) At least moose don't see the orange easily or just rely more on smells and sounds.

[@Bozemoto]

Could the pompoms be a storage thing? Perhaps prevent the cloak from snagging on it when kept under the cloak or something like that? It seems like they'd keep some kind of fabric sheet away from the bow at least.

[@tods_workshop]

I honestly think just a fashion thing for no apparent reason, like low slung crotches or flares on trousers

[@musiccraftsman2192]

That’s a work of art.

[@benmoore3816]

What kind of bow did he reference at 4:39? Is it stun? Stang? Just curious

[@kevinwestermann1001]

Green and white are traditional shooters' guild colours in Germany as far as I know. There are many being between 300 and 400 years old (and still active!).

[@hinty6424]

I wonder if the pompoms are a social thing, a way for people to tell at a glance that they don't need to be concerned about the bloke walking around with a crossbow because he's just going hunting. Something akin to the way many countries demand that toy guns have bright orange plastic on the barrel to identify them and such.

[@extrastuff9463]

Lost between all the other fancy aspects I didn't hear you bring up the what appears to be a bone surface the bolts rest on. In addition to looking pretty I guess this reduces friction compared to resting on wood? Assuming my guess was right and that this was for performance, how big is its influence? For example on a 400 pound crossbow all other things being equal but one use one piece of wood and the other with bone surface (or whatever the white material could be) how much of a change in bolt velocity/energy would you get?

[@PeterWasted]

Lovely looking piece. I especially like the wood grain. Pom poms are so easy to make and wool surely wouldn't be that expensive... I'm not sure they fit with the rich aristocrat image. What am I missing?

[@tods_workshop]

Fashion? Straight and simple I think and pop-poms were a regular aspect of German clothes fashion at the time

[@PeterWasted]

@@tods_workshop That would make sense. I hadn't imagined people actually wearing pompoms on themselves!

[@valbourne1797]

I'll silence my hunting bow so that the prey can focus on the thunder of my horses hooves

[@MollymaukT]

The difference between the Schnepper and an ordinary crossbow reminds me of the Harry Potter flying brooms compared to an ordinary broom

[@anarchism]

not really... it's still a shitty crossbow

[@beavisbutt-headson3223]

@@anarchism How very dare you, sir?

[@kevadu]

I mean, all medieval crossbows have the problem of incredibly short power strokes which meant they needed to be really heavy to be at all effective which then necessitated additional mechanical tools to draw the bow. They never did fix that problem... A modern crossbow is way lighter to draw yet potentially much more powerful. Sure there have been material advancements but the number one improvement is just having a much longer power stroke.

[@UtahSustainGardening]

Next episode: Crafting with Tod, Making Pom Poms!

[@stalkingtiger777]

I can imagine in 1000 years time people will be asking the same question about Hello Kitty m4 furniture. It's just about showing off and intimidating your rivals with your crazy fashion imho.

[@apstrike]

It seems to me you could calculate an interesting comparison. Obviously when one fires a high-powered rifle out to 300 yards if you over pull the trigger the shot can miss by feet at that range. What is it like for crossbows? Does the modern trigger on this bow make it significantly more accurate at 25 yd? Or is that not a concern at a lower speed and closer range?

[@jonevansauthor]

Another fascinating video. Does anyone else kind of want to see Tod do a video on his exercise routine? He always looks like he could bend a crowbar if he was in the mood and I wonder if that's just the natural consequence of all the physical work of crafting stuff or if he's (sensibly) keeping fit. :D I wonder if it would be practical to do a decibel test for some of the missile weapons and then see if a longbow, crossbow, Instant Legolas, lockdown longbow or modern recurves & crossbows etc are really much different in sound level? I'd assume bows are very quiet but it also wouldn't surprise me if there was little difference. If you had to shoot someone quietly, was there a practical way to do it in the medieval/Renaissance eras?

[@tods_workshop]

Thanks and I am afraid it is just work around the shop and a bit too much beer. A decibel test would be good to do one day, I just empirically decide which is louder. Interestingly I have previously commented about the volume of crossbows, but of course my ear is 50mm/2" from the reverberating stock so thats why it is loud I suspect

[@jonevansauthor]

@@tods_workshop No that's actually really helpful. As an author, I'd be inclined to describe a blacksmith (or any kind of smith or craftsman working with heavier stuff - perhaps not a jeweller) as a broad shouldered, powerful man. But it also feels like a bit of a cliched assumption. Knowing that you haven't had to dedicate yourself to the gym and it's working muscle will make future fantasy works more lifelike - as will a huge amount of your content. I don't have to obsess over accuracy, but there's no reason for me to get things wrong as my budget isn't affected by what I show the reader, unlike film & TV :) I love the idea of an assassin's bow or a crossbow pistol, but your tests have demonstrated it'd probably be a bad idea for a fantasy character to rely on one so if I were to do it, I'd know automatically that I'd be taking a huge liberty. And regarding the sound, you were talking about spooking deer and other game and I would imagine most of those animals have far better hearing than we do so a human guard might not hear his friend getting shot, but a deer would hear his mate. They bow/crossbow hunt in the US so I could probably find some articles about that process and how they stalk game succesfully - there might even be articles about the effect being downwind might have. Perhaps that helps mask your scent and the sound of the weapon. And this is the kind of rabbit hole we go down when we write :D

[@InSanic13]

@@jonevansauthor On the topic of a crossbow for a stealthy fantasy character, you might look at Tod's video on the latchet crossbow. It's smaller than most crossbows while still having enough power to be practical (definitely not as small as a ballestrino, though).

[@jonevansauthor]

@@InSanic13 Thanks I'll check it out. 😁

[@jacobdad2742]

One reason I don't think the pom poms are string silencers is that they're simply not on the string, they're attached directly to the bow limbs which I don't think would have any effect on the noise it makes at all.

[@LaughingMan44]

Maybe the pompoms help reduce noise from brush and branches as you go through the woods?

[@mccad00]

You should make a video that showcases the inner workings of the trigger and how it functions; maybe compare it to a more standard crossbow trigger as well

[@samcoote9653]

That crossbow is gorgeous...

[@ancienttechnology7337]

Cool bow! My father had these pom poms on his golf kit. He had a traditional scottish hat, and knickers with a pair of gaiters with matching pom poms. I believe these are purely decoration just like humans have always had fashion trends and decorated the objects we use since our origins.

[@m0ck3ry]

Looks like the lower arm of the cocking lever could afford to be a little shorter, giving an easier start and finishing closer to the stock. Or even the pivot point moved down. Not too much though as you wouldn't want to be hitting the sight... Is there any reason not to make such an adjustment?

[@Jacob-W-5570]

:O I was waiting the whole time for a break down of how the inerts work :( still enjoyed it tho.

[@2bingtim]

I thought the same, but elsewhere here he pointed to an earlier video. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCtYnWiaqyImqM.

[@tradash1]

Were there any technological advancement of the bolts in the same era or did they use the same bolts for both kinds of crossbows? Thanks for a great video by the way - I always enjoy them! :)

[@tods_workshop]

Actually there were some changes to bolts around this time or a little later, bt that was mainly for specialised target type bolts (I think)

[@theQuestionIsNotWhy]

Why is the back part (shoulder stock) so thick? there is unlikely to be much force on that part of the crossbow, right? Maybe the pom-pom's are soaked in wax, thus you can add it to the bolt tips for better penetration?

[@hellbow1973]

Sehr schöne Armbrust!

[@Reginaldesq]

Beautiful crossbow. Thanks for the vid