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Steel Crossbow

Type Object Region Europe Time c. 1350–1520

A European steel-armed crossbow widely equipped in the 15th century, replacing traditional composite or wooden limbs with high-carbon steel prods for…

Timeline

  1. c. 1350–1400Central European crossbow workshops · SwitzerlandIn the mid-to-late 14th century, Central European crossbow makers fashioned limbs from quenched steel plates, paired with sinew strings and triggers, significantly increasing range and armor penetration, though spanning required a lever or windlass.
  2. c. 1400–1500Battlefields of France and Italy · Western EuropeIn the final phase of the Hundred Years' War and the wars of Italian Renaissance city-states, steel crossbowmen were organized into independent detachments and played important roles at battles such as Crécy and Agincourt as well as in siege defense; they remained widely equipped into the 1440s.
  3. c. 1500–1520Western European states · Western EuropeAs matchlock firearms demonstrated advantages in rate of fire and training cost, infantry across various states gradually replaced crossbowmen with firearms; the steel crossbow was relegated to hunting and auxiliary siege defense, and some Swiss cantons retained it into the 16th century.

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