Non-firing Reproduction of Rennaisance Crossbow

There's something to be said for sitting back and sending lethal shafts of wood and steel at your opponent from a distance. And doing it with a stylish crossbow is even better.

Crossbows have been loathed and loved by soldiers throughout history. Loathed because it didn't take a lot of skill or effort to inflict massive casualties. Loved because ... well ... it didn't take a lot of skill or effort to inflict massive casualties. It was the predecessor to the modern gun, and, like the gun, changed warfare forever.

This item is a slightly smaller scale reproduction of an ornate Italian light crossbow. Because of it's smaller size and manual drawing of the bowstring, it would most likely have been used for hunting or personal protection. It would certainly have been owned by a person of high rank, however -- the ornate embelishments across the stock would have been quite expensive. And what embelishments they are.
Perhaps the most notable artistic element on this crossbow is the decorative plate across the length of the upper stock. Made from brass and faux ivory, this plate features vivid ivy patterns and is trimmed neatly in brass. Similar plates on both rear sides echo these themes and a beautiful brass cutout of the same design adorns the bottom of the stock, near the bow. The stock of the crossbow is made from a gorgeous faux redwood that is well polished. The arms of the bow are made from steel -- a feature common among later crossbows. A similar steel stirrup is mounted on the front. This stirrup would have been used to help load the crossbow; the crossbowman would have placed the crossbow down in front of him, with the stirrup on the ground, and would have placed his foot in the stirrup to help hold the weapon down while he pulled back the bowstring.