The Skåne lockbow was an early form of crossbow from Skåne or Scania, then a province of Denmark. (It has been part of southern Sweden since 1658.) An example was discovered in 1941 in Sweden dating from the 16th century, but seems to be similar to earlier models. The lockbow was used throughout northern Europe between ca. 900-1600 CE. Modern reproductions indicate an effective range of about 50 yards (46 m) and a draw weight of 55 pounds (25 kg). It worked by drawing the bowstring back into a groove, from which it was dislodged by a wooden peg attached to the top of one end of a wooden lever. The upper part of the peg was pushed sharply upward, through a hole drilled underneath the groove holding the bowstring.[1][2][3][4]

References

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  1. ^ "Skane Lockbow replica (and making of)". The Arbalist Guild.com (discussion forums). The Arbalist Guild.com (discussion forums). Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  2. ^ "The Skane Bow - Fitted with the simple but robust push-pin lock, actuated by a bottom-mounted wooden lever. An archaeological excavation in the early 20th century recovered two all-wood crossbows from the moat of Swedish Skane Castle, which was destroyed in a peasant uprising in 1525.". www.crossbows.net (New World Crossbow). New World Crossbow (historical crossbow replica manufacturer). Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Five Pieces of Wood & Some String. I make a Crossbow. Skåne style Lockbow". Mick Grewcock (YouTube.com). Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  4. ^ "Skåne type lock bow with yew prod". jean michel kalouguine (YouTube.com). Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 2 September 2018.

Bibliography

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  • Payne-Gallwey, Sir Ralph, The Crossbow, Dover Press, reprinted 1995
  • Wilson, G M (ed.) & Bartlett Wells, H (trans.); European crossbows: a survey, Royal Armouries, 1994
  • Nicolle, D; Arms and Armour of the Crusading Era 1050–1350, Greenhill Books, 1999
  • Sandy K. Albritton Crossbow Reviews and Guide 2010
  • Paterson, W. F.; A guide to the crossbow, Society of Archer Antiquaries, 1990