THE FIRST LATE 16TH CENTURY, THE SECOND EARLY 17TH CENTURY
Details
An unusual German boy's sporting crossbow, and a German stonebow (schnepper)
The first late 16th century, the second early 17th century
The first with slender steel bow retained by its original cords (broken) decorated with green tassels, walnut tiller (cracked and wormed) swelling towards the middle, the top and bottom overlaid with staghorn engraved with foliage, bone nut, iron lugs for cranequin, set trigger, curved trigger-lever, and swivel safety-catch (iron parts rusted, some inlay and parts missing); the second with slender steel bow (strings replaced), folding back-sight, built-in gaffle (lever missing) held by a spring-catch at the rear, angular iron trigger-guard of circular section, button set trigger, and lightly carved and stamped fruitwood butt inlaid on the cheek-piece with a circular staghorn plaque engraved with a Turk's head (iron parts with surface rust overall)
19¾in. (50.2cm.) and 27½in. (69.8cm.) (2)
The first late 16th century, the second early 17th century
The first with slender steel bow retained by its original cords (broken) decorated with green tassels, walnut tiller (cracked and wormed) swelling towards the middle, the top and bottom overlaid with staghorn engraved with foliage, bone nut, iron lugs for cranequin, set trigger, curved trigger-lever, and swivel safety-catch (iron parts rusted, some inlay and parts missing); the second with slender steel bow (strings replaced), folding back-sight, built-in gaffle (lever missing) held by a spring-catch at the rear, angular iron trigger-guard of circular section, button set trigger, and lightly carved and stamped fruitwood butt inlaid on the cheek-piece with a circular staghorn plaque engraved with a Turk's head (iron parts with surface rust overall)
19¾in. (50.2cm.) and 27½in. (69.8cm.) (2)