Han Crossbow Mechanism
In response to a Member, I have disassembled an original Han crossbow mechanism. I am posting the photos here for those who are interested. I am also re-posting images of a reconstruction (by Yang Wentong) of what the original crossbow was like (based on the work of Yang Hong and my own observations of preserved wooden stocks.) No original prods have been preserved. Composite, self wood and bamboo leaf spring prods were all in fashion in Han times.
The mechanism photographed against 5mm squares was much more massive than to one used in the reconstruction, weighing in at 1.22Kg. Please be careful with these weights and dimensions: the weight of bronze that could be included in a Han period burial was fixed by imperial edict in relation to the rank of the person buried, and may have had no relationship to the size of the crossbow he used when alive! In my view, a mechanism approximately 60% of the size/weight of this one would have adequately served the heaviest crossbow most men could reasonably draw without mechanical aids.
The mechanism photographed against 5mm squares was much more massive than to one used in the reconstruction, weighing in at 1.22Kg. Please be careful with these weights and dimensions: the weight of bronze that could be included in a Han period burial was fixed by imperial edict in relation to the rank of the person buried, and may have had no relationship to the size of the crossbow he used when alive! In my view, a mechanism approximately 60% of the size/weight of this one would have adequately served the heaviest crossbow most men could reasonably draw without mechanical aids.
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Images 5 + 6
Great pics thanks for putting this pics here.
Thank you very much the pictures. These are very informative and helpful.
What was the length of the crossbow butt though?
What was the length of the crossbow butt though?
On the understanding that the 'butt' is the extension of the stock behind the crossbow mechanism:
I have a number of mechanisms, and in some cases the back end of the bronze casing is itself the 'butt'. The sort of casing in the illustration in your message would have a half to 3/4 inches behind it; but there were no hard and fast rules. As per my previous message, the intention was to place the teeth of the mechanism (i.e. the catch that holds the string) at the rear extremity and the middle of the prod at the very front.
It is not entirely clear to me in engineering terms why this might give rise to the best outcome; but modern makers of native crossbows in Yunnan insist that it is the best. The Chinese never saw the advantage of an equivalent of a rifle stock: they never appeared in Chinese crossbows.
I have a number of mechanisms, and in some cases the back end of the bronze casing is itself the 'butt'. The sort of casing in the illustration in your message would have a half to 3/4 inches behind it; but there were no hard and fast rules. As per my previous message, the intention was to place the teeth of the mechanism (i.e. the catch that holds the string) at the rear extremity and the middle of the prod at the very front.
It is not entirely clear to me in engineering terms why this might give rise to the best outcome; but modern makers of native crossbows in Yunnan insist that it is the best. The Chinese never saw the advantage of an equivalent of a rifle stock: they never appeared in Chinese crossbows.
TheAzn:
Another thing I should make clear about crossbow construction that is not clear from many illustrations:
The prod, as mounted on the stock, is inclined a few degrees downward. Most people want to mount the prod so that the limbs draw back in a line more or less parallel to the stock; but this seems to cause the prods to come unstrung easily. Instead, have the centre of the prod about 1" below the line of the arrow guide with the tips of the prod inclined slightly upward. But even when not drawn back, the string must keep a clear contact with the arrow guide and not lift off it toward the front.
Hope this is clear... :roll:
Another thing I should make clear about crossbow construction that is not clear from many illustrations:
The prod, as mounted on the stock, is inclined a few degrees downward. Most people want to mount the prod so that the limbs draw back in a line more or less parallel to the stock; but this seems to cause the prods to come unstrung easily. Instead, have the centre of the prod about 1" below the line of the arrow guide with the tips of the prod inclined slightly upward. But even when not drawn back, the string must keep a clear contact with the arrow guide and not lift off it toward the front.
Hope this is clear... :roll:
Thanks Stephen 8)Stephen Selby wrote:
TheAzn:
Another thing I should make clear about crossbow construction that is not clear from many illustrations:
The prod, as mounted on the stock, is inclined a few degrees downward. Most people want to mount the prod so that the limbs draw back in a line more or less parallel to the stock; but this seems to cause the prods to come unstrung easily. Instead, have the centre of the prod about 1" below the line of the arrow guide with the tips of the prod inclined slightly upward. But even when not drawn back, the string must keep a clear contact with the arrow guide and not lift off it toward the front.
Hope this is clear... :roll:
the han cross bow like a unstring scythian hornbw
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Is the bottom panel in this image the ancient Chinese football game, Cuju? (蹴鞠)
Is the bottom panel in this image the ancient Chinese football game, Cuju? (蹴鞠)
Stephen, if you were waiting all these while, I must apologize. Based on the present situation, it seems like I cannot finish building this crossbow.
I might, but there is no guarantee.
My dad and I have gotten into a huge fight. He is saying something along the line of:
"You may be good in school, but I will not tolerate you wasting your time on non-academic subjects"
I admit, Stephen, that I took too much of a long time to build this thing.
I am very disappointed right now, so can you please cheer me up? :lol:
I might, but there is no guarantee.
My dad and I have gotten into a huge fight. He is saying something along the line of:
"You may be good in school, but I will not tolerate you wasting your time on non-academic subjects"
I admit, Stephen, that I took too much of a long time to build this thing.
I am very disappointed right now, so can you please cheer me up? :lol:
I'm not one to argue with your Dad. Maybe he has a point and you need to cram some stuff. But what is an "academic subject?" You might print off this reply and let him see it:
"I am a professor at two universities. I am surrounded by academics who have come to a dead end in their studies of archaeology because they never got off their butts and actually tried out the things they read/write about. The forefront of archaeological research now is "trying things out."
This new wave started out with flint-knappers making the stone tools that archaeologists dug out of the earth. Then making coil pots and building horse chariots. This September, at the invitation of the Academy of Social Sciences, I'll be going to a conference to show off reproductions of ancient bows made by Adam Karpowicz, Csaba Grozer and Park Geuk Hwan.
Nobody ever came to any harm by doing stuff in addition to reading about it."
S
"I am a professor at two universities. I am surrounded by academics who have come to a dead end in their studies of archaeology because they never got off their butts and actually tried out the things they read/write about. The forefront of archaeological research now is "trying things out."
This new wave started out with flint-knappers making the stone tools that archaeologists dug out of the earth. Then making coil pots and building horse chariots. This September, at the invitation of the Academy of Social Sciences, I'll be going to a conference to show off reproductions of ancient bows made by Adam Karpowicz, Csaba Grozer and Park Geuk Hwan.
Nobody ever came to any harm by doing stuff in addition to reading about it."
S