Primarily because the rotating nut system does not lend itself to very high poundages. The simple, single axel rotating nut trigger system stayed in use from the late Roman period through into the 16thC when more complicated trigger systems started to come in. Composite bows require more care, but offer a faster cast and so they became the bow of choice for hunting bows. After the advent of the gun, the windlass seemed to have stayed on for target bows and the cranequin was retained for hunting bows.įor military crossbows, the bow itself was initially yew though during the second half of the 1200's composite technology became very popular in Europe possibly brought in from the East, however yew was retained in England.Īround 1350-75 steel bows were introduced and though they are less efficient than wood or composite bows they were more resilient and reliable and so had a following though notably many companies retained composite technology. The cranequin seemed to not really catch on militarily in England, but was popular across much of Europe, though the windlass was popular everywhere. 1200–1350 spanning belts, later compound/pulley spanning belts.Around 1100 the stirrup was invented and this saved the bow itself from wear.ĭomestic bows tended to be hand spanned or with belts and these systems lasted through the hey day of the crossbow from 1200 – 1500 military bows invariably used the latest or most suited technology. Prior to 1100 bows often had no stirrup and so the user either sat down with a foot either side of the bow and drew it back or they stood and put one foot on one side of the bow and spanned it. However the second Lateran council of 1139 banned the use of crossbows against any, other than infidels clearly this interdict had little effect. Italy seems to have taken the weapon on with great enthusiasm and many of the steps forward appear to start there and these start with great rapidity from around 1100. There are many advantages to rotating nuts and I believe this was the norm for powerful and war bows.

It was very simple and probably for hunting and not for war but by 1050, the Roda Bible clearly shows a rotating nut crossbow. Around the year 1000, a bow was made that we still have now from Colletière à Charavines.

A crossbow