Crossbow's shot - how far?
 

While reading The Decameron, I noticed the term "a crossbow's shot" was used a lot, as in a distance. For example, "the town is a crossbow's shot from here". So, I was wondering, approximitly how far did people mean when they said a "a crossbow's shot" in the middle ages?

Like a stone's throw, within spitting distance...

It was one of those measures whose meaning depended on the context of the conversation. Maybe a few minute's walk when looking for a nearby a village or crossing the street to avoid someone nowadays.

A nice general purpose phrase.

I think what you are asking is what the definate distance is. I woul dguess around 1/4 to 1/2 of a mile. Crossbows can go pretty far...

depends on which crossbow ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossbow

I dont think that the term "a crossbow's shot" was actually used, even in medivael times they had long measures. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histori...s_and_measures )

Well, it depends on the initial velocity and angle of the shot. Does everybody remember their kinematic equations?

The range equals the initial velocity sqared multiplied by the sin of twice the initial angle divided by acceleration due to gravity. That's if you don't pay attention of wind or air resistance.

Hehhehe.. You guys are taking that expression much too literally. It's just a general, non-exact statement of distance.... ;-)

Exactly. Like "a hop, skip and a jump." Who would actually measure that?

Exactly. Everyone needs to relax. Here, have a couple xanax. I have plenty for everyone ;-)

I'd like to point out that at the height of archery, longbowmen were not permitted to practice archery at a distance LESS than 200 yards. The average poundage for a longbow back then was a whopping 120 pounds, so you can imagine how far they might shoot under ideal conditions. Now, crossbows, or I should say arbalests, were pretty much portable ballistae. Honestly, the poundage on those suckers was massive and the quarrels were essentially short dowel rods. So, I'd say on the order of at least 3/4 of a mile.

The book of the crossbow, a fine text that I own, happens to devote a chapter to the subject under discussion- in the 15th century, a steel bowed military crossbow elevated to 45 degrees shot 370 to 380 yards- the longest the author got from extant museum pieces was 390 yards - in the Dunstable chronicle Henry V is described approacing rouen within 40 rods or within the shot of a crossbow (that works out to 220 yards) and is the best historical context I could find....note that there is a big difference between max range and effective range, and a lot of assorted physics on how and why.... i was just supprised that they did use the term at all too, figgured it for an invention.....

btw As to the longbow, - yes the english citizenry were ordered to practice at 200 yards, but maximum range for the weapon was only 280- 290 yards, reason for the long range practice was that it was a saturation weapon, and was nescessary for them to hit the same area at extreme range to have the desired effect- the author of the crossbow book covers this very heavily, also there are many other sources- the average poundage for a longbow was only 75 to 80 pounds- this is backed up in numerous modern sources, cause the longbow and crossbow have both aquired a mystique that has muddied the waters a lot recently- all the new data comes from tests of extant pieces and scientific study- not dissing the longbow, as it was damn effective in its day, but its not superman....