The earliest crossbow had bow made of one piece of wood. Bow was made from ash or yew. Bow was long and thick. These crossbows was without stirrup for the feet.
Bow was bend by putting the feets on it and drawing the string by both hands to the catch of the lock.
Anna Comnena, who wrote account of first Crusade, gave description of this type of crossbow and spanning of its bow.
Later metal stirrup was added on forehead of crossbow. Bow for crossbow with stirrup was drawn by placing one foot (in case of larger crossbow both feet) in stirrup and drawing string by both hands to the socket.
Crossbow with composite bow
Later crossbow had composite bow. Bow was made from horn or whalebone, yew, sinew (neck tendon of ox or horse) and glue. That bow was shorter and more powerful than self bow.
Composite crossbows was brought to Europe from the East by the Saracens, during Crusades in 12th century and from that time it was popularized through Europe. John of England, Richard the Lionheart had in their armies crossbowmen with composite crossbows.
Composite bow was first drawn by hands, but in 13th and 14th century there was used spanning device called cord and pulley. One part of cord was attached to a ring in crossbowman belt and the other passed over the wheel of small pulley and was attached to a metal stud near end of crossbow. Claw of pulley was hooked over the string close to its center. Than feet was placed in stirrup, and using the feet and straightetening body, force was applied and string was drawn to the lock.
Crossbow with self bow:
Crossbow with self bow:
Composite crossbow:
Cord and pulley:
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