well, jimmy, it is like this. I trust a museum for valid information more than
I trust you.

notice how you dropped the size of the war grade crossbow from 350# draw to
150#, thusly dropping its already short range stopping power to an even shorter
distance and it penetration power by 60%. you also dropped its reload time
from two minutes to 3/4 of a minute.

I suggest you not consider a crossbow as a defensive weapon. the crossbow lost
out as a weapon of war long ago, and the longbow lost out first to artillery in
a French battle in 1369.

I was just repeating what I read in the Museum that had the extensive
display of crossbows.


Repeating it doesn't make it true.

btw, IIRC it took two men most of two minutes to load and fire a
crossbow, while a longbowman could pump out three shafts a minute.
That made the lowbow the artillery of its time and the crossbow the
armor-busting handgranade.



I don't know where you get this kind of missinformation. While an archer
can far exceed the rate of fire of most crossbows. Crossbows do not
require 2 people, and 2 minutes to reload. A medieval type crossbow, of
some 150-200lb draw weight, can be cocked and loaded in about 30-45sec
using a goat's foot lever (google for details, it's a compound lever
that allows you to cock the relatively short, but strong draw on the
prod, relatively easily.

For some of the siege crossbows, large frame mounted devices, they were
often crew served, but those are a different kettle of fish.




--
Jim Richardson http://www.eskimo.com/~warlock
"If we could just get everyone to close their eyes and
visualize world peace for an hour, imagine how serene and
quiet it would be until the looting started."

On 14 Oct 2004 12:34:37 GMT,
JAXAshby wrote:
well, jimmy, it is like this. I trust a museum for valid information
more than I trust you.

notice how you dropped the size of the war grade crossbow from 350#
draw to 150#, thusly dropping its already short range stopping power
to an even shorter distance and it penetration power by 60%. you also
dropped its reload time from two minutes to 3/4 of a minute.


since you were the one that came up with the 350lb figure in the first
place, I dropped nothing.... Jax evasion noted

Since you were the one that came up with the 2 min number in the first
place, I dropped nothing. further Jax evasion noted.


Your need to belittle those who disagree with you is also noted.


I agree that a museum would be a good source of info on crossbows, as
are several books, I don't know how much your blinders will let you see
though.

I suggest you not consider a crossbow as a defensive weapon. the
crossbow lost out as a weapon of war long ago, and the longbow lost
out first to artillery in a French battle in 1369.


Crossbows, despite your claim to the contrary, outlasted longbows as a
weapon in general use, in both europe, and China.

A crossbow, especially a modern design, makes a fine defensive weapon
within it's limits, which are similar in many ways to a muzzle loading
firearm. Except that the crossbow is silent in operation, usually less
restricted by law, and is also usable for tasks such as throwing a line.




--
Jim Richardson http://www.eskimo.com/~warlock
When the DM smiles, it's already too late.

[head shakes]

Jim Richardson
Date: 10/14/2004 2:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id:

On 14 Oct 2004 12:34:37 GMT,
JAXAshby wrote:
well, jimmy, it is like this. I trust a museum for valid information
more than I trust you.

notice how you dropped the size of the war grade crossbow from 350#
draw to 150#, thusly dropping its already short range stopping power
to an even shorter distance and it penetration power by 60%. you also
dropped its reload time from two minutes to 3/4 of a minute.


since you were the one that came up with the 350lb figure in the first
place, I dropped nothing.... Jax evasion noted

Since you were the one that came up with the 2 min number in the first
place, I dropped nothing. further Jax evasion noted.


Your need to belittle those who disagree with you is also noted.


I agree that a museum would be a good source of info on crossbows, as
are several books, I don't know how much your blinders will let you see
though.

I suggest you not consider a crossbow as a defensive weapon. the
crossbow lost out as a weapon of war long ago, and the longbow lost
out first to artillery in a French battle in 1369.


Crossbows, despite your claim to the contrary, outlasted longbows as a
weapon in general use, in both europe, and China.

A crossbow, especially a modern design, makes a fine defensive weapon
within it's limits, which are similar in many ways to a muzzle loading
firearm. Except that the crossbow is silent in operation, usually less
restricted by law, and is also usable for tasks such as throwing a line.




--
Jim Richardson http://www.eskimo.com/~warlock
When the DM smiles, it's already too late.

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 18:32:17 GMT, Jim Richardson
wrote:

A crossbow, especially a modern design, makes a fine defensive weapon
within it's limits, which are similar in many ways to a muzzle loading
firearm. Except that the crossbow is silent in operation, usually less
restricted by law, and is also usable for tasks such as throwing a line.

That why I've considered adding it to my manifest of "extended
cruising supplies". It's compact and can be used in a limited sense
for safety and rescue and even "spearfishing from the deck". It can
certainly be brought up from below easier than a longbow, and it is
ideal for pitching messenger lines for tows, docking in a current,
etc. when a line is shot overhead the "catcher".

Oh, and the ammo, if retrievable, is reusable.

rhys? have you ANY idea what a crossbow is? if so, just why did you post the
following?

rhys
Date: 10/15/2004 12:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id:

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 18:32:17 GMT, Jim Richardson
wrote:

A crossbow, especially a modern design, makes a fine defensive weapon
within it's limits, which are similar in many ways to a muzzle loading
firearm. Except that the crossbow is silent in operation, usually less
restricted by law, and is also usable for tasks such as throwing a line.

That why I've considered adding it to my manifest of "extended
cruising supplies". It's compact and can be used in a limited sense
for safety and rescue and even "spearfishing from the deck". It can
certainly be brought up from below easier than a longbow, and it is
ideal for pitching messenger lines for tows, docking in a current,
etc. when a line is shot overhead the "catcher".

Oh, and the ammo, if retrievable, is reusable.