Some very early sources of period illustrations depicting crossbows - and proving that shapes of the trigger bar that we would date '2nd half 15th c.' seem to have existed more than 200 years ago!
Attachments, from top:
-
Maciejowski Bible, ca. 1245-50 (5)
-
Liber ad honorem Augusti, Southern Italy, ca. 1194-96, Burgerbibl. Berne/Switzerland
- ca. 1225-50
-
Codex Manesse, ca. 1305 (2)
- Spain or Portugal, 12th c., National Archive Lisbon (thanks, Nando!
- Siege of Cologne by the Huns, early 15th c.
- crossbow stored in its leather case (!), 1st half 15th c.
- Luttrell Psalterium, ca. 1330, British Library
Best,
m