Diagram of a Stonebow

Added 21 March 1998

• A-A. The steel bow (length about 2 ft. 6 in.; width at centre, 3/4 in.; thickness at centre, 5/8 in.).
• B-B. The bow-string.
• C. The crosstrees.
• D. The pocket for the bullet.
• E. The loop behind the pocket with is hitched by hand over the catch of the lock preparatory to bending the bow.
• F. The metal fork across which the skein of thread is stretched that carries teh bead which acts as a fore-sight. This fork hinges down flat when not required for taking aim.
• G. The lock and its case.
• H. The catch of the lock which, when the bow is bent, holds the stretched string secure till it is released by pulling the trigger T, to be seen beneath the stock.
• M. The back-sight with its peep-holes. This, like the fore-sight, hinges down flat (over te top of the lock) when not required for aiming.
• N. The steel lever. This lever pulls back the lock together with the bow-string, when thelatter is hitched over the catch of the lock. The lever is hinged to the stock and also to thecasing of the lock. It fits into its recess in the butt-end of the stock when the string of the crossbow has been stretched, or when the weapon is not in use.
• R. The knob fixed to the top surface of the loose end of the stringing lever. By means of this knob the right hand presses the lever towards and finally into its recess in the stock, as the bow-string is being stretched and the bow bent.
• S. The spring thumb-catch which secures the end of the lever in the stock when the string of the crossbow is fully stretched. This catch also releases the end of hte lever from the stock, so that it may be hinged forward preparatory to stretching the string of the crossbow again after the weapon has been discharged.

The information above has been transcribed nearly verbatim from Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey's book, "The Crossbow."

For more information on stonebows, I would recommend the following books: A Guide to the Crossbow by W.F. Paterson, and The Book of the Crossbow by Ralph Payne-Gallwey. The Paterson book has some good historical information, but for an abundance of technical information, the Payne-Gallwey book has no equal that I have found. In the later are excellent schematics and drawings of every aspect of the stonebow, along with descriptions of how to make each part of the stonebow.

Payne-Gallwey, Ralph, "The Book of the Crossbow", published by Dover Publications, Mineola, New York, 1995. ISBN 0-486-28720-3.

Paterson, W.F., "A Guide to the Crossbow", published by the Society of Archer-Antiquities, 1990. No ISBN.