The Stonebow Image Archive

Added 21 March 1998

This image archive covers almost every part of a stonebow. Just follow the links in the list below to access the picture described by the link.

• WHOLE STONEBOWS:
  • Child's pellet stonebow
  • Simple drawing of stonebow - shows workings
  • Stonebow made in 1690
  • Stonebow
  • Spanned stonebow
  • Stonebow being spanned

  
  

• PARTS OF STONEBOWS:
  • Stonebow Strings:
    • Stonebow string
    • Stonebow string
    • The End of a stonebow string
    • How to make the string
    • Bastard string - (used to install the real string)
    • How to attach the bastard string on a strong bow
    • How to attach the bastard string on a weak bow
    • How to use the bastard string to attach the string
    • How to install the string

    
    

  • The Crosstrees:
    • Crosstree
    • Crosstree attached to the strings

    
    

  • The Pocket:
    • How to make the loop
    • How to make the loop
    • Combining the loops
    • Loop and leather pocket
    • Cross-section (side view) of loop and pocket

    
    

  • Sights:
    • Fore sight
    • Fore sight
    • Back sight

    
    

  • Locking Mechanisms:
    • Locking mechanism for a stonebow

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.