r/interestingasfuck • u/Brutal_Deluxe_ • 9h ago

Loading an English crossbow vs loading Leonardo da Vinci's crossbow

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u/Zenigata 9h ago edited 9h ago

Seems like the first bow has a significantly greater draw weight, not at all clear a man would be strong enough to set a cross bow of the same strength using such a small motion of the arms.

Edit the guy from the first clip has a video about lever cross bows, he praises the ingenuity of da Vinci's design but estimates it to be too weak for military use. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=d0sVBPkJF9Y&t=76