Skåne lockbow

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 AD. 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 on top of a lever which was pushed sharply from the underneath.

References

• Payne-Gallwey, Ralph; The Crossbow, Dover Press, 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
• Paterson, W. F.; A guide to the crossbow, Society of Archer Antiquaries, 1990