Something to consider. In America many early Gunsmiths made miniature working guns which would be slightly larger than your hand (rifle). This was reportedly done by a graduating apprentice showing their attention to detail, craftsmanship ability, etc. Basically it was harder to make the working parts much smaller and still have them all functional, this would also play well with the very decorative nature. The apprentice is showing off his skill in all aspects of the art. It would also be a good explanation of why so few survive.
This seems like a Masterwork show off piece. The kind of thing a smith/armorer would show off in their shop to advertise. "I am skilled. I can work small. Look at these levers and mechanics. I can work complicated. Look at these decorations. I can work pretty. Buy something from me. You won't be disappointed."
@@hoagielamp6543 Only a couple were particularly plain, the others had some nice etching. Plus they were pretty rare, so there's the novelty of the thing.
A crossover of two of my favourite UA-cam channels. I'd love a video of Ian from FW and Tod getting together, talking about an old weapon and Tod producing a modern reproduction and the two of them shooting it.
I'm actually shocked by the amount of engineering in this thing. How it so simple but elegantly disassembled really feels like a modern military weapon.
Toy or not, it's fun to imagine a Renaissance-era 'Q' supplying an undercover assassin with one, along with the poison and, hell, a Da Vinci pyramid parachute for good measure. Love your work, Tod
Holding your pinky out was a sign at court or in high class in general to signal that you are currently having an STD so you could still attend decadent parties and orgies but warned people.
Yes, but a 1d6 weapon has a 67% chance of one-shot killing the average common person (1-4 HP). This thing likely would be something on the order of 1d2, something painful, possibly VERY much so if you get hit someplace sensitive, and on a lucky mishap MIGHT kill the common person. Might. Not EXACTLY a serious weapon. Just from a Pathfinder / D&D standpoint, note. It IS, however, sweet-looking, fancy, and probably looks good on some wealthy merchant's belt or nobleman's retainer's belt, and is something to brag about (I mean, seriously, how many normal commoners throw around the cost for one of these?) ^_^
@@bubbly_ghost A hit like that is better handled, logically and intelligently, through non-lethal damage (which, thankfully, exists in Pathfinder, though I am not at all sure if it's been written out of D&D 4th and 5th Editions). If there is no non-lethal damage track to be used, a non-seriously-injuring bruise, bang, etc., should not at ALL track against HP but be handled through the exigency of roleplaying.
It's a nice little object. Have you considered that maybe the fact that we have almost only decorated examples is due to survivor bias ? If you're going to keep an object for 4 centuries of course you're gonna keep the expensive and good looking one.
True, but at the same time, we dont have many depcitions of them in artwork or mentions of them in manuscripts. Its safe to assume they were incredibly rare.
They might have just been toys. They are not powerful enough to do any critical damage and I don't think anyone would have the time to load that thing in any combat scenario. Even if there were any cheaper ones, they would still be very expensive because of the long metal screw in the loading mechanism. Quite clearly for a noble's entertainment. I haven't delved too deep into this, But I see that there are not many sources on them, which makes it even more likely that these were just for fun, since even sickles and scythes, which were not intended for any kind of combat, were included in historical manuals. I think he did consider it, but there are just too many other things that indicate this was just for fun, quite expensive and therefore not that common.
The projectile won't kill anyone, and as an actual assassin goes, I doubt they'd be using such an item. It makes a loudish thump, it won't kill quickly enough to warrant the thump, and it takes forever to get ready. If you're thinking poison for the killing mechanism, you can do the same much more quietly with a blowgun or a thrown dart or knife with a device that is much, MUCH easier to conceal and doesn't take much time at all to ready then stow/dispose of after using and are, furthermore, much cheaper. These are probably some sort of sporting crossbow, a glorified toy, used to show off to the mates. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if it used some sort of cork tipped bolts and might've been the medieval equivalent of the modern nerf gun (that is of course PURE guesswork without any evidence other than "I'd shoot my friends with one of those if it was foam). It could also have been used for some sort of 'first blood' type dueling (or even loaded with a cork tipped bolt for some sort of pleasure dueling). Even accounting for survivor bias, it still would take a fair amount of expertise to make one of those (even one of the plain ones) so it's probably out of the reach of someone who killed vermin or the like, and I don't think it has the range or accuracy at range to be of much good for small game as some sort of sport hunting crossbow.
Judging by the decorative work, and limited energy, my guess is they were amusement for those with enough wealth and leisure time for such things. *Very impressive workmanship, by the way.
I believe theyre crossbows and small bows for this for rich people to take on picnics and to shoot sitting. Theyre as you could imagine highly decorative.
Got a feeling they would fall into the firearms world "parlor guns". Basically something rich people of fiddle with and shoot inside while smoking expensive cigars and sipping expensive alcohol from cut crystal decanters.
This feels like the most likely explanation to me. Curios for bored noblemen. That cumbersome 30-second reload time really only makes sense if you think about it in the context of a rich guy fiddling with a toy to have something to do with his hands while hanging out with his other rich mates.
They'd feature a traditional drawing mechanism then, i reckon. Also you can just use a normal crossbow to demonstrate. You are a salesman after all. they are not gonna take your display piece, are they?
"I don't know if I should make this, it seems like an Assassins weapon" "No, I just want it for..... showing off.... know any jewelers or others, cause I'm not an assassin, just a collector of pretty things..... trust me."
Lovely bit of engineering, "executive toy" is amusing, the only other thing I can think of is a show piece to display craftsmanship of the makers workshop.
Rat would be long gone by the time you fired it. Plus it's a fairly expensive device for ratting when simpler, more reliable, and easier to use traps already exist. Someone probably tried it on a rat at some point, and it probably worked at least a few times of course, but that probably wasn't its intent.
@@droppointbaker not even that, honestly. It's perfectly legal for someone to have a 20mm anti-tank rifle. However, when you get to grenade diameters (40mm) there are restrictions on cartridge types: confetti, noisemakers, and non-lethal (beanbag, pepper spray) are legal, while explosive cartridges and lethal projectiles are not. In fact, civilian 40mm launchers are actually smaller (38mm, if I remember correctly) so that military rounds cannot be loaded.
@@LidellFrasier I didn't say certain diameters couldn't be owned. Just that there were limits. Limitations of the '34, '68, and '86 laws were more complex than I cared to outline but the predominate delineation of the most common firearms is the diameter of metallic cartridge-based weapons. For instance, explosive cartridges are legal, provided their content is below 1/4 ounce. And the law generally comes into effect at .50 cal or 12.7mm for rifles, though there are exceptions (arms designed prior to 1898 that qualify under the 'antique' clause). I didn't delve into all this because it wasn't germane to the point. There is no speed based limitation in US law; the primary limits applicable to metallic-cartridge guns (the most common type of firearm) is projectile diameter. There are other restrictions but these are less relevant.
There were a number of underpowered firearms in the early 1900's that were highly decorated but clearly not meant for actual hunting or defense. Rather than executive toys, they were pub attractions, quiet enough to shoot indoors and weak enough to not go through walls. Sort of an alternative to darts. I wonder if this didn't serve the same purpose.
I randomly stumbled on this channel while looking up archery (new archer wanting to learn more) and I have to say, the absolute craftsmanship and use of maths and explanation is really enjoyable. Thank you for the content!
@@Mediamarked well yes, you can't hear it around (as far as I know we don't have a word for dick that starts with a D), but yeah the concept is that, -ino for small male objects (we don't have a neutral adjective in italian) and -ina for small female objects
Give kiddies this then employ a barber surgeon full time, for broken fingers, wrists, bone setting etc. that silly looking arrow is only the half of it. (we have all seen kids crowding round a new toy, poking it)
These things are SO beautiful in their design and construction. Nothing is made like this today. Put aside it’s a little gun and just think someone made this with their hands and hammers.
I'm not, although I used to run a screw machine. I wouldn't call myself a machinist though. I just like archery and weapons. I don't mind the metric thing though. I have a rough idea of how some of it compares and it isn't that hard to throw it in an online converter. I appreciate it when they take the time to give both numbers but I don't mind converting it. And if you are just comparing objects it really doesn't matter. Either set of numbers will show which one is better.
Super cool video Todd, although one thing I want to point out is that even though this little bow has about a third the joules as an air rifle it does still have about twice as much momentum. Pair that thing with a thin steel bolt/dart and I think you would get quite bit more penetration.
I realise this one is a Victorian curiosity. Brings to mind "parlour" pistols, for indoor target work. ("V.R. monogram on the wall, etc) In general, I find it interesting how the level of design, metalworking and materials used in late medieval thru renaissance crossbows is at or beyond what is needed for a single barrel black powder pistol. I'd feel much safer firing the black powder pistol, depending on quality of workmanship, certainly! Trigger, dear mechanism looks a lot like a Brownings action!
Would be a good mechanism for a battery powered cocking system. Just a simple B&D rechargeable screwdriver and Bob's your father's brother! Great for one armed disabled archers. Quick, register the patent.
@McLarenBMW I knew exactly what he said. I'm not sure why you thought I meant he would get angry before getting shot. Well ok then just for clarity here is what I was expecting to happen. Dinner is finished. They all stand up because they aren't going to sit at the table for the rest of there lifes. The hypothetical "friend" shoots DB Cooper, because they want to get a rise out of him and because they are an asshole. DB Cooper gets mad. That is the series of events I was suggesting. I wasn't suggesting that they shoot DB Cooper because he was mad or whatever it is you misinterpreted me as saying. I do hope you take enough time to read this reply.
Thanks very much for this! Watching this video & you describing the workings of your creation make me wonder if another reason one might make something like this could be to demonstrate their tradecraft?
I’ve done a lot of studying and did my thesis on these pieces they were actually more of an or Dane meant given to the eldest son the royal family. It was given with the proposition that it anytime the oldest son could replace the father an odd sentiment deed but look at what otherOther wealthy people do with their money
You know, when it comes to unscrewing it for reloading It might be easier to hold onto the "screwdriver" handle and spin the whole crossbow. The bow would act like a flywheel and if everything is well oiled you would only have to give it a couple good twists to unscrew the carriage all the way again.
just keep in mind that with that 3.4 lbs of force, the tip of that bolt is applying around 2200 psi to whatever it hits (Assuming 1mm^2 tip) im assuming the bolt is somewhere around 3/8 in in diameter which will apply something like 31 psi (Assuming no arrow tip). That just shows how much the geometry makes a difference
At the moment of impact, but they as it goes in then you have less pressure, as well as more friction. So it'll penetrate, yes. Without doubt. But not very deeply and, unless you hit the jugular vein (a difficult shot at the best of times), not very lethally. It's kinda a bitch to calculate penetration of projectiles. Such a pain in the ass I've given up personally. Because every damn formula interacts with another formula and they all feed into each other with constantly changing numbers in a giant circle that requires WAY more physics and calculus background than I have to unravel it.
I was thinking - make the dart narrower and sharp, aim for the skull, would probably be enough. The air soft rounds mentioned are usually round, soft and light, so not all that much "killing potential".
@@taumil3239 A shot as small as you suggest to the skull rarely kills without either A. creating a shockwave, which this just can't make it move fast enough to do (nor, for that matter, does a full windlass crossbow) or B. bounce around inside the skull, which this would get stuck long before it could do. It would still struggle to pierce the human skull while it's at it, because the human skill is, for the most part, curved. The list of viable shots to reliably achieve penetration is exceptionally short, hard to aim at, small, and generally within line of sight of the target. Also, because I never know how my speaking pattern translates out of text into the reader's head, I'm not trying to be condescending, nasty, etc.
Now as to those air rifles. Those aren't airsoft guns being mentioned. Those are pellet guns. I've used those. I am, admitedly, a godawful shot with them (I've got a central tremor, can't aim anything lightweight for shit. Heavier stuff mitigates that somewhat. Hilarious irony with me, I can hit a fairly small target reliably with a Mosin Nagant, but can't hit a watermelon with a pellet gun.) But they can kill a squirrel if you hit it right (I can't, my friend who tried to teach me to shoot could).
To digress a little bit from its realistic usage though, that idea would work GREAT for a videogame or even a tabletop game or a story or movie or... well, any work of fiction, where suspension of disbelief lets you get around how incredibly difficult it is to actually kill people (seriously, human beings are some of the toughest critters out there.)
Adding a couple of weak magnets (lodestone) and a second band of steel to the bolt would create a stabile retaining system for the bolts to help prevent jump or misalignment.
The screw on the bottom clip is a nice touch. Makes it easy to switch out with maybe a full loop for a secure hold while riding, or a little swivel mount like a desk cannon (maybe in the window sill for pesky birds and squirrels, or the neighbor's cat)?
@@degiguess A throwing knife can go almost twice that far. A Plumbatae can go almost thrice as far, and is incredibly deadly from horseback, just in case our theoretical assassin wants to escape faster.
This really feels like some sort of noble toy or display piece. We have understood how to make practical weapons for a long time. You see this stuff in guns just as a show off for the skill of manufacturing or engineering.
Mediaeval Welrod. You wouldn't want one pointblank in the temple, eye, or heart. But I agree, those iterations are most likely an executive toy. JoergSprave has made and tested some.
Beautiful video, thanks for that. But I deem in Victorian times they liked to deploy poison (as you mention later in video) and therefore even a toy gun like this could be deadly! A toy is a weapon in an assassin´s hand... The only example I can think of is in Shakespeare´s Prince Hamlet - and that´s of course, literature! Or fiction! By the way for the impatient people who are not majorely into constructing or engeneering, the master starts shooting his device at minute 13:41!
I feel like there's a lot of wasted energy with a bolt that light. Could you not have used a solid steel bolt? Could have trippled the weight? Either way it's really cool little thing I've never seen before :)
@Cr4zy Rogue Increasing weight 3x might only cost 20% speed. So you gain energy. Of course those are just numbers I pulled out of my ass. But it sure seems like it should be hitting harder than it is.
@@samusaran4799 Just wrong. You need a balance of weight and speed. Too much speed with too little weight is like trying to throw a ping pong ball. Too little speed and too much weight is like throwing a bowling ball. You need a balance. And his bolt was way too light.
Why not Dean I disagree because kinetic energy = .5mv^2 so mathematically speaking adding a little bit of speed gives a much better result than adding a little bit of mass.
@@samusaran4799 And I disagree because the drag also get exponentially higher with speed D = Cd * A * .5 * r * V^2. Mathematically speaking adding a little bit of speed adds a lot of drag. Notice also the lack of mass in that equation, meaning mass doesn't increase drag.
2:35 Renaissance Genua your talking about m8, not Madrid. So it wouldn't have been José that made the weapon getting the thumb screws on but Gioffre, just saying xD.
@Dick Fageroni Its all Greek to me, but I'm atleast not mental enough to say José when referring to an Italian ey. To be honest, half of the time i only know were i am or went on holiday by the price of the Alcohol, but even i understand that José is from Toledo or Madrid Spain in reference to weapons from that time period.
Possible, but I suspect that these would have been viewed as curiosities or fun toys. Which would have removed the "honorable"-part of dueling. A duel is done to settle a serious dispute, and to do that with a tiny crossbow that goes "pew!" just seems strange.
@@5chr4pn3ll well weapons choice was a thing right and if not to the death, but I really wanna shoot my offender! (*baby voice* cause my status higher and screw that guy or something) but we're both known to be good shots, rather risk a bolt sticking out of me than having to remove a ball from inside me? I'm not sure if that mattered medically speaking at that time but mentally, seems.. safer, right?
@@Aconitum_napellus neither would a lead ball that may have shattered into pieces deep inside of you. And than someone has to poke and prod INSIDE the wound, massively increasing the risk of infection
Bold only needed to penstrate the skin, they were very adapt at making a whole plethora of lethal fast working poisons during the Renaissance, especially in Italy. But it wouldn't have been that decorative though. And there were armourers that made all kinds of weapons in house, they didn't need to outsource any of the crafts needed to make that weapon back than. Still, i think you are right about it probably not being an assassins weapon, although one or two might have been used as such in those times I'm sure.
Might've been used, but probably not by a professional or a hired thug. I'd say if anyone was trying to assassinate anyone with it, they'd have to fit a particular profile. 1. Rich enough to afford the weapon and already have it around 2. Not experienced enough at killing people to figure out there are MUCH better ways of doing it (see: neither professional killer nor fighting man nor trained to fight. Essentially the sort of person that seem to make up a large chunk of the commenters.) 3. Stupid/arrogant enough to think that they are likely to succeed despite it being a glorified toy and them not having the experience to rule out #2. This combination would take... well, the vast majority of people in the relevant time period out of the equation. You basically have a handful of very rich merchants and what handful of noblemen who had little to no training.
@@jonathanschloemer6846 In a crowd if the target was well protected it might have worked. The situation you could get close enough but not close enough to stab the target and make it out alive. Courts were crowded places, not like Hollywood would like one to believe,.....so was the immediate vicinity and noble or a high clerical target was vulnerable at those moments, a good moment to strike.
It's essentially worthless in that scenario. It takes too long to ready, it's too noticeable when it's used, and it's WAY too noticeable while you ready it. It's not a fast weapon, which a weapon for use within a crowd just has to be. Especially against a target with guards. Any scenario it would be useful in would be one a blowdart, thrown dart, thrown knife, or full sized crossbow would be better in. Close quarters, indoors. Thrown dart. More subtle, harder movement to identify, faster, doesn't leave you holding the evidence. Outdoors, large open area, lots of security. Blowdart. Much harder movement to identify, evidence is harder to identify, takes longer for target and guards to realize what just happened giving you extra time to escape. Outdoors, visual cover or elevated position, just use a real crossbow. Don't need poison then. Kills faster, is cheaper, harder to trace, has more range, superior accuracy, greater killing power, and can actually be used against guards who might try to stop you, and you're not out nearly so much money if you abandon it. A professional killer, who made enough money they could afford one of these, would never be stupid enough to actually use one. They rule out check #2. A professional killer also knows how to WAIT for their target to be vulnerable and thusly would not run up against your proposed scenario. Like I said, only amateurs with not actual training in how to fight and kill (and thus understanding that this is not to be considered a viable weapon) who are also too bloody stupid to realize how ineffectual one of these is would even give its use in such a situation serious consideration. This is not the tool of an assassin. It essentially cannot be the tool of an assassin.
@@jonathanschloemer6846 Hey, people weren't exactly wearing yoga pant and crop tops back than, they had plenty of clothes to hide a ready cocked locked and loaded little doohickey like this under their clothes without attracting too much attention to themselves. And assassinations did happen in those times in very crowded places because the panic and confusion would give any given assassin the opportunity to dissolve into that crowd, plenty of historical assassinations happend that way in those centuries. Now the assassin didn't have to stick a knife in his victim surrounded by guards, he could simply make a grazing wound from a distance, one that would prove lethal minutes or hours later and the assassin would even have a higher chance of telling the tale to his grandkids vs real historical assassins fates. I'm trying to brainstorm just as much as you m8 xD, and can see some merit for the use, in certain circumstances irl it might have even been the better choice, far fetched sure,...but not far enough to write it off as outright silly Lmao xD.
I really wouldn't want to get shot in the arse by one of these, especially in a time without antibiotics or adequate aseptic medicine. That being said, definitely not an assassins weapon especially given that they could just use a dagger.
I 100 % agree that it's not assassin's weapon. 1. because this is too fancy, only peope on top could afford things like that.. and I don't think hired killers really had resources like this.. 2. this is not deadly enough. but I don't agree on "could just use a dagger." tho.. it's a projectile weapon, it basically has no sound... it's compact. it could be used in crowd, with poisoned bolts(for example). If I were "Assassin" as my main proffession(I don't think there were many individuals like that), I'd definitely kept this as backup weapon or something like that, If I could get my hands on it(which is hiiiighly unlikely).. but I'd still preffered to use normal crossbow/bow etc. or tried to burn the target in his/her house, poison them, etc... sneaking up on someone and "backstabbing" them is very unlikely scenario..
@@Gam3B0y23r0 You say its an unlikely scenario but there's a lot of historical accounts of people basically getting stabbed in the back. It wouldn't be a bad back up weapon but as we've said, it really is too fancy for an 'Assassins' weapon, perhaps if some wealthy person decided to get rid of one of their enemies, but again it would have to be poisoned or wait for them to die of infection, when you could just stick them with a dagger.
If I was a murderer I'd just stab them to death, just to feel the knife going into them and feel the bloody and the look of terror in their eyes as they struggle to breath because their lungs are filling with blood. Just stab them and keep stabbing them until the screaming stops. You've never felt anything like it, to have the power of God...… erm yeah, I mean they could use a blowgun I guess.
I am a fan of Tod because a great many of his stories begin with, "I saw this thing once and then decided to build it from memory and while I am shooting it at a playground there's no children there right now so everyone is safe" lol
I think your pretty spot on with your assumptions at the end. You mentioned poisoning for assassination, I think neck shots would be pretty 100% fatal when combined with a poison. I also think you could possible increase your draw weight with a slight increase to size but over I agree with you and think that while this weapon could kill people it wasn't used for that purpose. I look at and see one thing in particular. Rich kid toy. Little boy sees all the soldiers with the cool shooty things and wants one for himself. Bows were common back then but if I'm not mistaken they were rare considering a weapon of nobility. While many of knight or squire probably know how to use a bow, I can't see a lords son in a city somewhere getting training. Crossbows are easy to use and learn and something like this would communicate wealth and stature and create a barrier of entry for the poor and none nobles, after all you hit the nail on the head with crafting cost of this item. Even a cheap one would take months if not years of wages for a none noble family to purchase or have produced.
So from listening to all that. I have worked in orthopaedics for awhile and to tell you the truth if the tip of that bolt has anything more than 10 lbs/square inch of impact, thats enough to go throu the human skull. Hence it can be lethal.
Its a well hidden close range tool, i mean, loaded befor and then one time use, its not like the human body is suddenly impenetrable, so many weakspots for well trained people also the fact that it can threaten the enemy is also helpful in n certain scenarios, as a distraction
A hinged/folding crank on the back end would make that bow much quicker, I would think. Whether that would have been something found on a historical bow, I doubt. But they would have certainly had the technology to do it.
It would obviously have no effect on the amount of energy transferred to the dart. But would the dart would have significantly more inertia making it a lot slower and subsequently a lot less fun
Maybe they're like dueling pistols for disputes between nobles(was that a thing then)? I have no idea but they seem too novel for practical combat use.
A reservoir rifle was indeed an army sniper weapon, look for 'Pritchard's 19th Century Precharged Air Gun' & 'Girardoni Air Gun' on UA-cam. See also the Lewis & Clark venture, and also Airguns date back to the 1500's
I reckon that bow would have pretty good lethality at point blank range to an unarmoured skull. However, if you're in position to take a point blank headshot, you have a whole lot of better options, like your dagger.
Given the level of decoration they are clearly toys for rich boys and rich boys being rich boys they must have had games that looked a lot like the modern day paint ball craze. I can easily imagine an evening entertainment where the boys got together in some rambling old castle and played a game of assassin. When I was a kid we used to do the same thing in the big hay field next to my house. One of us would go out and hide and then the other, or others, would come out to find the one in hiding. It was in the days before paint ball guns but a loud, "BANG, BANG, BANG," served quite well. Imagine if we'd had some nice padded sword practice armor and some blunts. OOOOOh man that could have been fun.
It reminds me of a gentleman's sidearm. Throughout history and into the modern day, people with the money would have their sidearms decorated. These days you can get pistols in various colors, engravings and decorations.
I picture wealthy estate owners playing target practice in the study/den/Victorian man cave after a dinner party or some such gathering. Nuts and bolts; .22LR 40 grains averages about 125 foot pounds of energy and is widely accepted as the weakest pistol and definitely weakest rifle round in production
Nice video man. There's something about you that makes me want to watch more and more videos. You're really intelligent and are really laid back. Good luck and God speed on your journey.
Something to consider. In America many early Gunsmiths made miniature working guns which would be slightly larger than your hand (rifle). This was reportedly done by a graduating apprentice showing their attention to detail, craftsmanship ability, etc. Basically it was harder to make the working parts much smaller and still have them all functional, this would also play well with the very decorative nature. The apprentice is showing off his skill in all aspects of the art. It would also be a good explanation of why so few survive.
This seems like a Masterwork show off piece. The kind of thing a smith/armorer would show off in their shop to advertise. "I am skilled. I can work small. Look at these levers and mechanics. I can work complicated. Look at these decorations. I can work pretty. Buy something from me. You won't be disappointed."
Really can't argue with you at all. I would think this would be a showcase piece used to attract more work, just like you said.
Are y'all forgetting about the other bows shown early in the video? They're extremely average looking while being small.
@@hoagielamp6543 Only a couple were particularly plain, the others had some nice etching. Plus they were pretty rare, so there's the novelty of the thing.
Sounds like something a videogame armourer would say
Maybe they used blunts and it was just rich people's nerf guns.
Lol
I was thinking an earlier version of the Victorian era "Parlor Pistol." A small, under-powered pistols meant for indoor target shooting.
It gives me more of a imitation hunt game feel, like some kind of darts, but with crossbows
Rich people always have had easy access to blunts, haven't they...?
17th century paintball gun, huh?
That disassemble had a certain "forgotten weapons" vibe to it.
Haha I thought the same thing!
I thought the same thing.
A crossover of two of my favourite UA-cam channels. I'd love a video of Ian from FW and Tod getting together, talking about an old weapon and Tod producing a modern reproduction and the two of them shooting it.
HAHA same
I'm actually shocked by the amount of engineering in this thing.
How it so simple but elegantly disassembled really feels like a modern military weapon.
Toy or not, it's fun to imagine a Renaissance-era 'Q' supplying an undercover assassin with one, along with the poison and, hell, a Da Vinci pyramid parachute for good measure.
Love your work, Tod
**Ezio's Family starts playing**
And don’t forget the cinematic moment where Q shows him the latest and greatest in saddle technology.
Yeah I day dream of Asassin's using a wiffle bat to kill people but doesn't make it real or possible lol
Now I'd watch that. 16th century Jax double augh VII.
The Thing is that the real Assasins did exist 1080-1271 . I dont know when the renessaunce ( when i writed it right) was.
I say, is that a screw you have there?
*Me in 17th century Europe*
*pinky out, toying with my fancy screw*
You noticed?
Holding your pinky out was a sign at court or in high class in general to signal that you are currently having an STD so you could still attend decadent parties and orgies but warned people.
@@azrael_war_schon_vergeben6810 you're going to need a pretty reputable source for that statement.
So a 17th century version of a gallery rifle or parlour pistol, perfect for a light spot of target shooting when it's raining outside
Seems like it would make for a fun item on a rainy evening even in this day and age.
Some sort of lounge x-bow then?, neat.
More like darts now.
The undecorated version with the screw might've been an actual assassin weapon though, using poison for lethality.
Damit, you beat me to it.
Yeah that's a Drow hand crossbow. (1d6 piercing damage)
+2
It's obviously a reproduction because it didn't turn to dust in daylight...
Redprophet now I have to change that to 1d4.5 ... my group’s gonna be so confused...
Yes, but a 1d6 weapon has a 67% chance of one-shot killing the average common person (1-4 HP). This thing likely would be something on the order of 1d2, something painful, possibly VERY much so if you get hit someplace sensitive, and on a lucky mishap MIGHT kill the common person. Might. Not EXACTLY a serious weapon. Just from a Pathfinder / D&D standpoint, note. It IS, however, sweet-looking, fancy, and probably looks good on some wealthy merchant's belt or nobleman's retainer's belt, and is something to brag about (I mean, seriously, how many normal commoners throw around the cost for one of these?) ^_^
@@bubbly_ghost A hit like that is better handled, logically and intelligently, through non-lethal damage (which, thankfully, exists in Pathfinder, though I am not at all sure if it's been written out of D&D 4th and 5th Editions). If there is no non-lethal damage track to be used, a non-seriously-injuring bruise, bang, etc., should not at ALL track against HP but be handled through the exigency of roleplaying.
It's a nice little object. Have you considered that maybe the fact that we have almost only decorated examples is due to survivor bias ? If you're going to keep an object for 4 centuries of course you're gonna keep the expensive and good looking one.
True, but at the same time, we dont have many depcitions of them in artwork or mentions of them in manuscripts. Its safe to assume they were incredibly rare.
Think about what you're saying dude. Which item do you think will last 4 centuries? The really expensive well built one? Or the cheap one.
@@nervousdog6907 Are you talking to me?
They might have just been toys. They are not powerful enough to do any critical damage and I don't think anyone would have the time to load that thing in any combat scenario. Even if there were any cheaper ones, they would still be very expensive because of the long metal screw in the loading mechanism. Quite clearly for a noble's entertainment.
I haven't delved too deep into this, But I see that there are not many sources on them, which makes it even more likely that these were just for fun, since even sickles and scythes, which were not intended for any kind of combat, were included in historical manuals.
I think he did consider it, but there are just too many other things that indicate this was just for fun, quite expensive and therefore not that common.
The projectile won't kill anyone, and as an actual assassin goes, I doubt they'd be using such an item. It makes a loudish thump, it won't kill quickly enough to warrant the thump, and it takes forever to get ready. If you're thinking poison for the killing mechanism, you can do the same much more quietly with a blowgun or a thrown dart or knife with a device that is much, MUCH easier to conceal and doesn't take much time at all to ready then stow/dispose of after using and are, furthermore, much cheaper.
These are probably some sort of sporting crossbow, a glorified toy, used to show off to the mates. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if it used some sort of cork tipped bolts and might've been the medieval equivalent of the modern nerf gun (that is of course PURE guesswork without any evidence other than "I'd shoot my friends with one of those if it was foam).
It could also have been used for some sort of 'first blood' type dueling (or even loaded with a cork tipped bolt for some sort of pleasure dueling).
Even accounting for survivor bias, it still would take a fair amount of expertise to make one of those (even one of the plain ones) so it's probably out of the reach of someone who killed vermin or the like, and I don't think it has the range or accuracy at range to be of much good for small game as some sort of sport hunting crossbow.
Judging by the decorative work, and limited energy, my guess is they were amusement for those with enough wealth and leisure time for such things.
*Very impressive workmanship, by the way.
I believe theyre crossbows and small bows for this for rich people to take on picnics and to shoot sitting. Theyre as you could imagine highly decorative.
Yes shooting peasants for sport
NoCap I'm an AnCap they didn’t need to shot peasants., unless for robbery
I think much the same as little derringers.
Why do people keep repeating the same thing the guy in the video said but as if it's their own idea.
Got a feeling they would fall into the firearms world "parlor guns". Basically something rich people of fiddle with and shoot inside while smoking expensive cigars and sipping expensive alcohol from cut crystal decanters.
This feels like the most likely explanation to me. Curios for bored noblemen. That cumbersome 30-second reload time really only makes sense if you think about it in the context of a rich guy fiddling with a toy to have something to do with his hands while hanging out with his other rich mates.
I reckon they were sales items. Perfect for the traveling Cross bow salesman. Showing off the quality of the parent workshop! ;-)
They'd feature a traditional drawing mechanism then, i reckon. Also you can just use a normal crossbow to demonstrate. You are a salesman after all. they are not gonna take your display piece, are they?
@@mojolotz If they try to steal your display crossbow, you whip out your concealed baby crossbow and shoot them
@@polygondwanaland8390 i see we have a pro here.
@@mojolotz it's always the backup crossbow that gets em
@@polygondwanaland8390 Do you keep it tucked in into your sock?
Align, remove pin... here's the sear, the trigger... 1911 disassembly, 17th century style.
Thanks for the video sir! Amazing skill and ingenuity!
"I don't know if I should make this, it seems like an Assassins weapon"
"No, I just want it for..... showing off.... know any jewelers or others, cause I'm not an assassin, just a collector of pretty things..... trust me."
We need Joergsparve to upgrades this weapon/toy into a real devastating & reliable weapon LOL
If Jörg and Todd tram up, then good night everyone 💪😅
@@tods_workshop Well well well, I would love to see a steel spring powered repeating crossbow from you :)
Let me show you It's features.... hah! Hah! Hah!
@@tods_workshop Joerg also does amazing compressed air stuff.
Tod's Workshop You Tube 🧂
Lovely bit of engineering, "executive toy" is amusing, the only other thing I can think of is a show piece to display craftsmanship of the makers workshop.
Indoor anti-rat tool?
that's actually a very good use for this weapon xD
did you see how long it took to arm that thing ? the rat would have run away before you could shoot a bolt at him.
They're normally called cats.
Rat would be long gone by the time you fired it. Plus it's a fairly expensive device for ratting when simpler, more reliable, and easier to use traps already exist. Someone probably tried it on a rat at some point, and it probably worked at least a few times of course, but that probably wasn't its intent.
@@icejohn94 simple load your weapon first. Isn't that just common sense?
"US viewers tell us what your legal air rifle speed is.."
US viewers - "Guns"
No limit to the rifle as long as it doesnt use chemical reaction to propel the projectile
@@jessepyles3540 Even chemical burning weapons do not have a speed limit. Diameter of metallic cartridge projectiles is the only real limit.
@@droppointbaker not even that, honestly. It's perfectly legal for someone to have a 20mm anti-tank rifle. However, when you get to grenade diameters (40mm) there are restrictions on cartridge types: confetti, noisemakers, and non-lethal (beanbag, pepper spray) are legal, while explosive cartridges and lethal projectiles are not. In fact, civilian 40mm launchers are actually smaller (38mm, if I remember correctly) so that military rounds cannot be loaded.
@@LidellFrasier I didn't say certain diameters couldn't be owned. Just that there were limits. Limitations of the '34, '68, and '86 laws were more complex than I cared to outline but the predominate delineation of the most common firearms is the diameter of metallic cartridge-based weapons.
For instance, explosive cartridges are legal, provided their content is below 1/4 ounce. And the law generally comes into effect at .50 cal or 12.7mm for rifles, though there are exceptions (arms designed prior to 1898 that qualify under the 'antique' clause). I didn't delve into all this because it wasn't germane to the point. There is no speed based limitation in US law; the primary limits applicable to metallic-cartridge guns (the most common type of firearm) is projectile diameter. There are other restrictions but these are less relevant.
"Air" rifle? We use explosives. ;)
A fine example of a renaissance era range toy.
I've only seen a few of your videos so far but they're very interesting and informative. Thanks for your hard work, keep it up.
There were a number of underpowered firearms in the early 1900's that were highly decorated but clearly not meant for actual hunting or defense. Rather than executive toys, they were pub attractions, quiet enough to shoot indoors and weak enough to not go through walls. Sort of an alternative to darts. I wonder if this didn't serve the same purpose.
What I love about your stuff is the simplicity. It’s like you’ve made hundreds of them.
Executive Toy is exactly what came to my mind, you've done a beautiful job on it
I randomly stumbled on this channel while looking up archery (new archer wanting to learn more) and I have to say, the absolute craftsmanship and use of maths and explanation is really enjoyable. Thank you for the content!
*Now I can hunt some Smurfs*
"...it's gonna upset your day, really..." best understatement I have heard all year...
Finally someone using metric units instead of measuring with bodyparts like feet.
Fun fact: in Italian balestrino means "mini crossbow", since balestra is crossbow and the adjective -ino stands for small things
So, by that logic, a dino is "a small D"...?
@@Mediamarked well yes, you can't hear it around (as far as I know we don't have a word for dick that starts with a D), but yeah the concept is that, -ino for small male objects (we don't have a neutral adjective in italian) and -ina for small female objects
Shut up nerd
@@Shinkajo I'm literally italian bro wtf
"couple of thumb screws later" ahahahahaha
lol That one gets a thumbs up.
It might just be a mini-crossbow *made for some rich kids for target practice* and / or for decoration purposes? 👍
Now, shoot the varmint Timmy.
Give kiddies this then employ a barber surgeon full time, for broken fingers, wrists, bone setting etc. that silly looking arrow is only the half of it. (we have all seen kids crowding round a new toy, poking it)
You did a great job creating the crossbow, looks and works well!
These things are SO beautiful in their design and construction. Nothing is made like this today. Put aside it’s a little gun and just think someone made this with their hands and hammers.
10:20 - everyone from the US who watches your channel is either a machinist or engineer, we don't mind that you speak metric. =)
But the whole world minds that you still use an outdated measuring system. The last thing that keeps you british... :P
I'm not, although I used to run a screw machine. I wouldn't call myself a machinist though. I just like archery and weapons. I don't mind the metric thing though. I have a rough idea of how some of it compares and it isn't that hard to throw it in an online converter. I appreciate it when they take the time to give both numbers but I don't mind converting it. And if you are just comparing objects it really doesn't matter. Either set of numbers will show which one is better.
Super cool video Todd, although one thing I want to point out is that even though this little bow has about a third the joules as an air rifle it does still have about twice as much momentum. Pair that thing with a thin steel bolt/dart and I think you would get quite bit more penetration.
I realise this one is a Victorian curiosity. Brings to mind "parlour" pistols, for indoor target work. ("V.R. monogram on the wall, etc) In general, I find it interesting how the level of design, metalworking and materials used in late medieval thru renaissance crossbows is at or beyond what is needed for a single barrel black powder pistol. I'd feel much safer firing the black powder pistol, depending on quality of workmanship, certainly! Trigger, dear mechanism looks a lot like a Brownings action!
pellet and bolt crossbows were always interesting to me, odd designs, shape and were decorative!
Would be a good mechanism for a battery powered cocking system. Just a simple B&D rechargeable screwdriver and Bob's your father's brother!
Great for one armed disabled archers. Quick, register the patent.
Anyone with hands that look like yours has my respect.
"Shoot your mate in the arse after dinner". Jep, definitely what it was meant for :D
@DB Cooper doesn't mean you won't get shot. Heck, with some people you getting mad means you certainly will get shot.
@McLarenBMW I knew exactly what he said. I'm not sure why you thought I meant he would get angry before getting shot. Well ok then just for clarity here is what I was expecting to happen.
Dinner is finished. They all stand up because they aren't going to sit at the table for the rest of there lifes. The hypothetical "friend" shoots DB Cooper, because they want to get a rise out of him and because they are an asshole. DB Cooper gets mad.
That is the series of events I was suggesting. I wasn't suggesting that they shoot DB Cooper because he was mad or whatever it is you misinterpreted me as saying.
I do hope you take enough time to read this reply.
If historians 500 years from now found some preserved toothpick crossbows, they'd just assume we were using them to arm groups of mouse warriors.
That is one wonderfull piece of art! Would carry 10/10.
Thanks very much for this! Watching this video & you describing the workings of your creation make me wonder if another reason one might make something like this could be to demonstrate their tradecraft?
I’ve done a lot of studying and did my thesis on these pieces they were actually more of an or Dane meant given to the eldest son the royal family. It was given with the proposition that it anytime the oldest son could replace the father an odd sentiment deed but look at what otherOther wealthy people do with their money
Looks like the princess' night stand pistol of the era.
You know, when it comes to unscrewing it for reloading It might be easier to hold onto the "screwdriver" handle and spin the whole crossbow. The bow would act like a flywheel and if everything is well oiled you would only have to give it a couple good twists to unscrew the carriage all the way again.
Fine work! Rich man's toy, servant loads and gents shoots when they drink and have fun.
just keep in mind that with that 3.4 lbs of force, the tip of that bolt is applying around 2200 psi to whatever it hits (Assuming 1mm^2 tip)
im assuming the bolt is somewhere around 3/8 in in diameter which will apply something like 31 psi (Assuming no arrow tip).
That just shows how much the geometry makes a difference
At the moment of impact, but they as it goes in then you have less pressure, as well as more friction. So it'll penetrate, yes. Without doubt. But not very deeply and, unless you hit the jugular vein (a difficult shot at the best of times), not very lethally. It's kinda a bitch to calculate penetration of projectiles. Such a pain in the ass I've given up personally. Because every damn formula interacts with another formula and they all feed into each other with constantly changing numbers in a giant circle that requires WAY more physics and calculus background than I have to unravel it.
I was thinking - make the dart narrower and sharp, aim for the skull, would probably be enough. The air soft rounds mentioned are usually round, soft and light, so not all that much "killing potential".
@@taumil3239 A shot as small as you suggest to the skull rarely kills without either A. creating a shockwave, which this just can't make it move fast enough to do (nor, for that matter, does a full windlass crossbow) or B. bounce around inside the skull, which this would get stuck long before it could do.
It would still struggle to pierce the human skull while it's at it, because the human skill is, for the most part, curved. The list of viable shots to reliably achieve penetration is exceptionally short, hard to aim at, small, and generally within line of sight of the target.
Also, because I never know how my speaking pattern translates out of text into the reader's head, I'm not trying to be condescending, nasty, etc.
Now as to those air rifles. Those aren't airsoft guns being mentioned. Those are pellet guns. I've used those. I am, admitedly, a godawful shot with them (I've got a central tremor, can't aim anything lightweight for shit. Heavier stuff mitigates that somewhat. Hilarious irony with me, I can hit a fairly small target reliably with a Mosin Nagant, but can't hit a watermelon with a pellet gun.) But they can kill a squirrel if you hit it right (I can't, my friend who tried to teach me to shoot could).
To digress a little bit from its realistic usage though, that idea would work GREAT for a videogame or even a tabletop game or a story or movie or... well, any work of fiction, where suspension of disbelief lets you get around how incredibly difficult it is to actually kill people (seriously, human beings are some of the toughest critters out there.)
Adding a couple of weak magnets (lodestone) and a second band of steel to the bolt would create a stabile retaining system for the bolts to help prevent jump or misalignment.
possibly "moot dueling crossbows"? Like wax pistols are?
The screw on the bottom clip is a nice touch. Makes it easy to switch out with maybe a full loop for a secure hold while riding, or a little swivel mount like a desk cannon (maybe in the window sill for pesky birds and squirrels, or the neighbor's cat)?
Looks like the crossbow that Nott uses. From Critical Role.
Just finished catching up! and finding this comment was very unexpected
What's happening my fellow critters?
You took the time to convert the units for ur international viewers, thanks you so much, new subscriber since now
As poison darts go, a blowgun or just... throwing the dart will get you just as far and are much more concealable and make a lot less noise.
Jonathan Schloemer have fun throwing a dart 30m per second
yeah throw a dart at a guy 60 feet away
@@degiguess Hunting darts. Not your cute dartboard darts. Hunting darts.
@@degiguess A throwing knife can go almost twice that far. A Plumbatae can go almost thrice as far, and is incredibly deadly from horseback, just in case our theoretical assassin wants to escape faster.
This really feels like some sort of noble toy or display piece.
We have understood how to make practical weapons for a long time.
You see this stuff in guns just as a show off for the skill of manufacturing or engineering.
3:03 it is if you combine it with an assassin's other favourite toy, poison.
Did you finish the video?
Absolutely beautiful. I would put it in the novelty category.
3:44 So... Basically Garand thumb, but given by a crossbow.
Wow that is probably the most ornate crossbow I've ever seen definitely a museum piece
I had a modern version of such a little crossbow as a child. It's definitely a children's toy. I could shoot flies of the ceiling.
Mediaeval Welrod. You wouldn't want one pointblank in the temple, eye, or heart. But I agree, those iterations are most likely an executive toy. JoergSprave has made and tested some.
What are the chances that someone might have been aiming for a "parlor bow" concept? Something you can use in a room perhaps?
Beautiful video, thanks for that. But I deem in Victorian times they liked to deploy poison (as you mention later in video) and therefore even a toy gun like this could be deadly! A toy is a weapon in an assassin´s hand... The only example I can think of is in Shakespeare´s Prince Hamlet - and that´s of course, literature! Or fiction!
By the way for the impatient people who are not majorely into constructing or engeneering, the master starts shooting his device
at minute 13:41!
I feel like there's a lot of wasted energy with a bolt that light. Could you not have used a solid steel bolt? Could have trippled the weight?
Either way it's really cool little thing I've never seen before :)
@Cr4zy Rogue Increasing weight 3x might only cost 20% speed. So you gain energy.
Of course those are just numbers I pulled out of my ass. But it sure seems like it should be hitting harder than it is.
@@whynotdean8966 speed is more important than projectile mass when it comes to shooting
@@samusaran4799 Just wrong. You need a balance of weight and speed. Too much speed with too little weight is like trying to throw a ping pong ball. Too little speed and too much weight is like throwing a bowling ball.
You need a balance. And his bolt was way too light.
Why not Dean I disagree because kinetic energy = .5mv^2 so mathematically speaking adding a little bit of speed gives a much better result than adding a little bit of mass.
@@samusaran4799 And I disagree because the drag also get exponentially higher with speed D = Cd * A * .5 * r * V^2. Mathematically speaking adding a little bit of speed adds a lot of drag. Notice also the lack of mass in that equation, meaning mass doesn't increase drag.
I would like to point out derringer pistols and such and such, this probably occupied a similar role. And yes that would include assassins
Sheahon 117
Collette gravity pistol(probably misplelled)
Beautiful gun, same purpose
Simply gentlemen sporting or a toy for a rich child. (Not likely a toy since all existing examples are really designed as one handed for a grown man.)
I like Tod because he's sympathetic to us Americans and our backward imperial system. Thanks Tod!
2:35 Renaissance Genua your talking about m8, not Madrid.
So it wouldn't have been José that made the weapon getting the thumb screws on but Gioffre, just saying xD.
@Dick Fageroni Its all Greek to me, but I'm atleast not mental enough to say José when referring to an Italian ey.
To be honest, half of the time i only know were i am or went on holiday by the price of the Alcohol, but even i understand that José is from Toledo or Madrid Spain in reference to weapons from that time period.
I can imagine a fantasy movie with a medieval Rambo practicing disassembling and assembling his balestrino blindfolded. 😁
I figured squirrel hunting or other small game. Dont wanna carry around a heavy kit just to hunt a small meal....
This is a really beautiful peace of art.
Love the look of it. Well done.
duels often had a lot of options and rules, could this have been a dueling weapon? single "shot", non lethal duel?
Possible, but I suspect that these would have been viewed as curiosities or fun toys. Which would have removed the "honorable"-part of dueling.
A duel is done to settle a serious dispute, and to do that with a tiny crossbow that goes "pew!" just seems strange.
@@5chr4pn3ll well weapons choice was a thing right and if not to the death, but I really wanna shoot my offender! (*baby voice* cause my status higher and screw that guy or something) but we're both known to be good shots, rather risk a bolt sticking out of me than having to remove a ball from inside me? I'm not sure if that mattered medically speaking at that time but mentally, seems.. safer, right?
@@@lexion21 Without antibiotics having even one of these bolts sticking out of you wouldn't be very fun.
@@Aconitum_napellus neither would a lead ball that may have shattered into pieces deep inside of you. And than someone has to poke and prod INSIDE the wound, massively increasing the risk of infection
@@Aconitum_napellus did they have whiskey and honey as common items ? Granted not as good as modern meds they do work
Amazing craftsmanship!
Maybe they used paint-bolts with theses and shot at each others for fun.
Bold only needed to penstrate the skin, they were very adapt at making a whole plethora of lethal fast working poisons during the Renaissance, especially in Italy.
But it wouldn't have been that decorative though.
And there were armourers that made all kinds of weapons in house, they didn't need to outsource any of the crafts needed to make that weapon back than.
Still, i think you are right about it probably not being an assassins weapon, although one or two might have been used as such in those times I'm sure.
Might've been used, but probably not by a professional or a hired thug. I'd say if anyone was trying to assassinate anyone with it, they'd have to fit a particular profile.
1. Rich enough to afford the weapon and already have it around
2. Not experienced enough at killing people to figure out there are MUCH better ways of doing it (see: neither professional killer nor fighting man nor trained to fight. Essentially the sort of person that seem to make up a large chunk of the commenters.)
3. Stupid/arrogant enough to think that they are likely to succeed despite it being a glorified toy and them not having the experience to rule out #2.
This combination would take... well, the vast majority of people in the relevant time period out of the equation. You basically have a handful of very rich merchants and what handful of noblemen who had little to no training.
@@jonathanschloemer6846 In a crowd if the target was well protected it might have worked.
The situation you could get close enough but not close enough to stab the target and make it out alive.
Courts were crowded places, not like Hollywood would like one to believe,.....so was the immediate vicinity and noble or a high clerical target was vulnerable at those moments, a good moment to strike.
It's essentially worthless in that scenario. It takes too long to ready, it's too noticeable when it's used, and it's WAY too noticeable while you ready it. It's not a fast weapon, which a weapon for use within a crowd just has to be. Especially against a target with guards. Any scenario it would be useful in would be one a blowdart, thrown dart, thrown knife, or full sized crossbow would be better in.
Close quarters, indoors. Thrown dart. More subtle, harder movement to identify, faster, doesn't leave you holding the evidence.
Outdoors, large open area, lots of security. Blowdart. Much harder movement to identify, evidence is harder to identify, takes longer for target and guards to realize what just happened giving you extra time to escape.
Outdoors, visual cover or elevated position, just use a real crossbow. Don't need poison then. Kills faster, is cheaper, harder to trace, has more range, superior accuracy, greater killing power, and can actually be used against guards who might try to stop you, and you're not out nearly so much money if you abandon it.
A professional killer, who made enough money they could afford one of these, would never be stupid enough to actually use one. They rule out check #2.
A professional killer also knows how to WAIT for their target to be vulnerable and thusly would not run up against your proposed scenario.
Like I said, only amateurs with not actual training in how to fight and kill (and thus understanding that this is not to be considered a viable weapon) who are also too bloody stupid to realize how ineffectual one of these is would even give its use in such a situation serious consideration.
This is not the tool of an assassin. It essentially cannot be the tool of an assassin.
@@jonathanschloemer6846 Hey, people weren't exactly wearing yoga pant and crop tops back than, they had plenty of clothes to hide a ready cocked locked and loaded little doohickey like this under their clothes without attracting too much attention to themselves.
And assassinations did happen in those times in very crowded places because the panic and confusion would give any given assassin the opportunity to dissolve into that crowd, plenty of historical assassinations happend that way in those centuries.
Now the assassin didn't have to stick a knife in his victim surrounded by guards, he could simply make a grazing wound from a distance, one that would prove lethal minutes or hours later and the assassin would even have a higher chance of telling the tale to his grandkids vs real historical assassins fates.
I'm trying to brainstorm just as much as you m8 xD, and can see some merit for the use, in certain circumstances irl it might have even been the better choice, far fetched sure,...but not far enough to write it off as outright silly Lmao xD.
@@jonathanschloemer6846 Throw dart, you'd make to many distinctive movements for.
This was point and shoot, could even be done very subtlety.
I really wouldn't want to get shot in the arse by one of these, especially in a time without antibiotics or adequate aseptic medicine. That being said, definitely not an assassins weapon especially given that they could just use a dagger.
I 100 % agree that it's not assassin's weapon. 1. because this is too fancy, only peope on top could afford things like that.. and I don't think hired killers really had resources like this.. 2. this is not deadly enough.
but I don't agree on "could just use a dagger." tho.. it's a projectile weapon, it basically has no sound... it's compact. it could be used in crowd, with poisoned bolts(for example).
If I were "Assassin" as my main proffession(I don't think there were many individuals like that), I'd definitely kept this as backup weapon or something like that, If I could get my hands on it(which is hiiiighly unlikely).. but I'd still preffered to use normal crossbow/bow etc. or tried to burn the target in his/her house, poison them, etc... sneaking up on someone and "backstabbing" them is very unlikely scenario..
Poison could make it deadly, but I guess a blowgun would be a quieter and cheaper choice for the would-be old world assassin.
@@Gam3B0y23r0 You say its an unlikely scenario but there's a lot of historical accounts of people basically getting stabbed in the back. It wouldn't be a bad back up weapon but as we've said, it really is too fancy for an 'Assassins' weapon, perhaps if some wealthy person decided to get rid of one of their enemies, but again it would have to be poisoned or wait for them to die of infection, when you could just stick them with a dagger.
If I was a murderer I'd just stab them to death, just to feel the knife going into them and feel the bloody and the look of terror in their eyes as they struggle to breath because their lungs are filling with blood. Just stab them and keep stabbing them until the screaming stops. You've never felt anything like it, to have the power of God...… erm yeah, I mean they could use a blowgun I guess.
@@Aconitum_napellus woah, that's a lot of edge
I am a fan of Tod because a great many of his stories begin with, "I saw this thing once and then decided to build it from memory and while I am shooting it at a playground there's no children there right now so everyone is safe" lol
No ftlb limit on air guns here in the USA fyi
Well no wonder you have like 200 school shootings a year
@@onelyone6976 not with air guns dipshit
I think your pretty spot on with your assumptions at the end. You mentioned poisoning for assassination, I think neck shots would be pretty 100% fatal when combined with a poison. I also think you could possible increase your draw weight with a slight increase to size but over I agree with you and think that while this weapon could kill people it wasn't used for that purpose. I look at and see one thing in particular. Rich kid toy. Little boy sees all the soldiers with the cool shooty things and wants one for himself. Bows were common back then but if I'm not mistaken they were rare considering a weapon of nobility. While many of knight or squire probably know how to use a bow, I can't see a lords son in a city somewhere getting training. Crossbows are easy to use and learn and something like this would communicate wealth and stature and create a barrier of entry for the poor and none nobles, after all you hit the nail on the head with crafting cost of this item. Even a cheap one would take months if not years of wages for a none noble family to purchase or have produced.
So from listening to all that. I have worked in orthopaedics for awhile and to tell you the truth if the tip of that bolt has anything more than 10 lbs/square inch of impact, thats enough to go throu the human skull. Hence it can be lethal.
Ya. I thought he kinda downplayed it. I was suprised when it went through the jumper and chipboard beneath.
Its a well hidden close range tool, i mean, loaded befor and then one time use, its not like the human body is suddenly impenetrable, so many weakspots for well trained people also the fact that it can threaten the enemy is also helpful in n certain scenarios, as a distraction
A hinged/folding crank on the back end would make that bow much quicker, I would think.
Whether that would have been something found on a historical bow, I doubt. But they would have certainly had the technology to do it.
River Rowan Phoenix
Well..... Look at the buildings they built.
History is bunkum.
And who said they where using wooden bolts? What would happen if you had a bolt mad of any heavier material?
Yeah this guys a moron, a metal tip sharpened finely would go right into someone's throat.
Marvelous piece of art, small n simple. Now m having an urge to make one for myself
How much difference would a metal shaft make in effectiveness? Also a different style of tip, such as a mini broad-head?
It would obviously have no effect on the amount of energy transferred to the dart. But would the dart would have significantly more inertia making it a lot slower and subsequently a lot less fun
Maybe they're like dueling pistols for disputes between nobles(was that a thing then)? I have no idea but they seem too novel for practical combat use.
you know some air rifles can absolutely be deadly though
A reservoir rifle was indeed an army sniper weapon, look for 'Pritchard's 19th Century Precharged Air Gun' & 'Girardoni Air Gun' on UA-cam. See also the Lewis & Clark venture, and also Airguns date back to the 1500's
Second time I have watched this. I find the more obscure historical "weapons" like this really interesting.
Don't think this weapon would beat a dagger in killing for assassins
I reckon that bow would have pretty good lethality at point blank range to an unarmoured skull. However, if you're in position to take a point blank headshot, you have a whole lot of better options, like your dagger.
I agree with you and many in the comments and think it was for amusement; something like 'indoor crossbow darts' - a game/sport.
if anything the killing potential will be as a poison delivery system.
but then why not use a blowpipe
The assassin was a gentleman and a scholar, and as such he found the mere possibility of getting his spit on his targets highly inappropriate.
My thoughts exactly. Or, given the effective range of that thing, you could probably just use a throwing dart.
Great video and cool little crossbow, thanks!
I think you've proved it was for extremely rich scrumpers.
Given the level of decoration they are clearly toys for rich boys and rich boys being rich boys they must have had games that looked a lot like the modern day paint ball craze. I can easily imagine an evening entertainment where the boys got together in some rambling old castle and played a game of assassin. When I was a kid we used to do the same thing in the big hay field next to my house. One of us would go out and hide and then the other, or others, would come out to find the one in hiding. It was in the days before paint ball guns but a loud, "BANG, BANG, BANG," served quite well. Imagine if we'd had some nice padded sword practice armor and some blunts. OOOOOh man that could have been fun.
Looks like something Ezio from Assassins Creed would be using.
It reminds me of a gentleman's sidearm. Throughout history and into the modern day, people with the money would have their sidearms decorated. These days you can get pistols in various colors, engravings and decorations.
I picture wealthy estate owners playing target practice in the study/den/Victorian man cave after a dinner party or some such gathering.
Nuts and bolts;
.22LR 40 grains averages about 125 foot pounds of energy and is widely accepted as the weakest pistol and definitely weakest rifle round in production
Nice video man. There's something about you that makes me want to watch more and more videos. You're really intelligent and are really laid back. Good luck and God speed on your journey.
Low lethality, highly decorated, Italian...looks like a dueling weapon to me.
it is not a duelling weapon LOL
Lateron the french Had pistols that shoot wax Balls for dueling lol
I really liked the one that had a bolt guide on the front shaped to look like a cannon. That was legitimately pretty cool.
Every piece of the firearm was in use before black powder came along.
Clearly someone's never heard of Ezio Auditore Deferenze.
Gregory Gatsby he is one of my favorite assassins creed characters!
Variant human with crossbow expert feat, nice!