New World Arbalest
Standard Features And Choices:
CHOICE OF WOOD: Our standard woods are cherry, walnut, and in some cases, (bows that don't require as much shaping) oak. Cherry finishes out a medium red-gold brown. The walnut is dark American walnut. It is darker (hence looks older) than European walnut, and ranges from a dark fudge-brown to almost black. The oak is American red oak. It's a reddish-tan color with a pronounced grain, and because it's rather hard to work, we offer it as a standard wood only on plain stocks. It's possible to do a large number of alternate woods, subject to availability and an extra charge that covers extra cost, an extra trip to the lumber yard, and often extra labor on harder woods.
LATHS: The standard bow is aluminum alloy. It is efficient, durable, and of the correct shape and size, though rather bright in color. It can produce 50 to 80 lb draw weight (300 to 700 in/lb). The lath will be covered with rawhide to disguise the aluminum color.
LATH BINDING: Almost all of our bows come with the bound-in lath that was by far the most common bow mounting in Medieval and Renaissance crossbows.
STEEL TRIGGER and STIRRUP: All of our bows use steel triggers and steel stirrups. All steel was actually more common in period.
Choice of Lockplates: The Lockplates cover the access to the nut. You have the choice of inlaid rawhide, blued steel or overlaid wood. Wooden and rawhide sideplates are permanently attached and require a bound-in nut. Metal sideplates are screwed on and allow a metal pin fastening for the nut.
RELEASE: By far the most common crossbow lock, up to the 16th century in Europe, was the roller release that we use. Most of these bows used a staghorn roller or nut. We use Delrin releases as standard on our light bows. It's strong, fast, and inexpensive to make. This release is quite sufficiently strong to serve any of our bows.
Upgrade Options (at an additional cost)
MICARTA OVERLAY: This option is to have to top of the bow covered in Micarta. Micarta is a plastic that closely resembles natural ivory or bone. Micarta is durable and quite slick, so your quarrels will experience less drag as they are fired.
MICARTA-LINED GROOVE: This option is to only have the arrow groove lined with Micarta. Micarta is a plastic that closely resembles natural ivory or bone. Micarta is durable and quite slick, so your quarrels will experience less drag as they are fired.
WOOD OVERLAY: Wood Overlay is included along the top of the stock on certain models. Medievals used horn or ivory. We use a contrasting color of wood, usually maple, ash or birch. A very pretty option.
BONE OVERLAY: Bone or Ivory is the overlay material used by the Medievals.
HORN RELEASE: You may upgrade to a horn release, with both the roller nut and the lock made of horn. Horn is strong, fast and is the material used in period.
BASIC SIGHTS: The basic sight is a simple strip of brass plate that screws to the top of the stock behind the lock. The brass plate has a series of peep-holes, about a quarter inch apart. The point of your bolt serves as a foresight. As range increases, you sight through the higher holes, thus increasing the elevation. At close range (20 yards or so,) a sight makes little difference in accuracy. At forty yards, you'll be glad you got one.
RENAISSANCE SIGHTS: These handsome sights are based on those found on gentlemen's sporting bows in the 16th century. The original sights were designed to fall after every shot, to make way for whatever spanning machine the bow was designed for. Our sights don't fall or fold. Instead they unscrew from their mounting plate so they can be remove for greater security. The Renaissance sight is no more accurate than the basic sight, but it's definitely prettier, made of blued steel and polished brass, with an inlet mounting plate. Note that outside of heavy siege machines, sights were not at all common on medieval (pre sixteenth century) bows.
CHEEKPIECE: Particularly on stocks #5, #5b and #7a, a cheekpiece leaves one side of the after-stock (or tiller) wide and sloping. This was common on sporting bows of the fifteenth through seventeenth centuries. Specify left or right hand shooter.
SAFETY: For those who wish to hunt with their bows, as many states in the US require safeties for hunting. Ours is an unobtrusive (not authentic) rotating safety that locks the trigger, preventing the bow from being fired. It is not self-setting: you will have to remember to turn it on and off. Beware, the long trigger on a medieval crossbow gives you lots of leverage that can overcome the safety. The safety will prevent your firing the bow by bumping the trigger, but if you PULL HARD ENOUGH, you can break the safety-bolt.
WOODEN LOCKPLATES: Instead of rawhide or steel, inlet wooden lockplates are available.
HORN LOCKPLATES: Instead of rawhide, steel or wood, inlet horn lockplates are available.
BOW IRONS: Bound-in bows (linen cord) were most common in all periods. Bound-in bows are pretty and lightweight, but are not readily disassembled. "Bow iron" mountings were found on many military and some sporting bows from the 15th through the 17th centuries. They're strong, good looking, easily disassembled, and expensive.
TAPERED STOCK: This option tapers width of fore-end of stock from @ 2 inches to about 1 3/4 inches. This is a common feature on fifteenth through seventeenth century bows.
STEEL LATH: Heavier steel laths are available at 125, 150, and 170 lbs of pull.
Additional Items
BOW STRING: Ours are hand made using 30 strands of Brownell B-50 Dacron, a standard material for modern bowstrings. Our handmade strings are made the old way, featuring doubled ends for extra strength. The ends are served with artificial sinew, and the center serving is made of a woven black polyester that is quite durable.
QUIVER: Our quivers are hour-glass shaped medieval German style leather quivers with wooden back and bottom, with leather top flap and belt loop. They'll hold 15-20 target quarrels, point up in proper medieval style. Normally quivers are approximately 17 inches high, but can be made longer or shorter on request.
HEAVY QUARREL: A limited number of heavy, hardwood quarrels with more authentic short bodkin-points are available on a limited basis. Please inquire about availability and lead times for these items.
SINGLE TARGET QUARREL: Standard target bolts (quarrels) are approx. 16 inches in length, made of 11/32 inch cedar, with 100 or 125 grain heads and two feathers. A limited number of 5/16 inch ramin shaft bolts are available in 14 inch length and 70 or 100 grain heads for those who willing to trade a bit of stability for flatter trajectories.
12 TARGET QUARRELS: Same as the single target quarrels, but by buying 12 at once, you get a much better price per quarrel.
For further information please see our details and options defined section.
For ordering information please send us email at the address below or fill out our order form, or contact us at our street address or by calling (512) 453-2628
