Category:Lever-action crossbow spanning

This is a subcategory for images of lever-action spanning mechanisms, a form of crossbow spanning mechanism where the spanning mechanism is built into the crossbow itself. Alternatively called self-spanning or self-cocking crossbows, this configuration does away with the need of separate lever-based gaffle spanning tools (e.g. the goat's foot lever or gaffe lever) by integrating them directly into the body of the crossbow. Though one of the fastest spanning methods, the invention of lever-action spanning came fairly late in European crossbow history and did not prove a major influence on the military use of the crossbow. Like its Asian counterpart, the repeating crossbow, this was due to its inherent technical limitations; such as lighter draw weight, shorter range, weaker penetration, and complex mechanism.

Crossbows with lever-action spanning were mostly small and light specimens from Europe's early modern period, and were intended for civilian rather than military applications. Though some specific types of lever-action crossbows saw use in combat, they were militia, personal defence or even bandit weapons, rather than the weapon of a professional soldier.

Prominent historical examples of crossbow designs with such spanning mechanisms include:

• The latchet crossbow (colloquially called a "latch"), popular in 16th century northern England and southern Scotland as a light ranged weapon for footmen and horsemen alike. Was commonly associated with the Scottish Reivers.
• Leonardo Da Vinci's Rapid fire crossbow (in Italian: Balestra veloce) that was detailed in the 16th Century Codex Atlanticus and was similar to Martin Löffelholz's later crossbow design in the 16th Century Codex Löffelholz.
• Several types of pelletbows (also known as "stonebows" and "Ballesters"), bullet-shooting crossbows popular for recreational shooting or small prey hunting, that appeared in various countries of Europe from the 16th to the 19th century.

The following are demonstration videos of the some aforementioned crossbow designs:

• Detailed video demonstration of a reconstruction of the 16th century crossbow with lever-action spanning from the Codex Löffelholz

• Detailed video demonstration of a reconstruction of Leonardo Da Vinci's Rapid Fire Crossbow

• Detailed video demonstration of a late 16th century latchet crossbow with lever-action spanning

The following are sketches or museum hosted examples of lever action crossbows:

• The self spanning crossbow design in the Codex Löffelholz currently hosted in Krakow's Jagiellonian Library (page 17 & 27 / 82)

• The Balestra Veloce sketches in the Codex Atlanticus as archived online by "The Visual Agency" media company (pages 143, 153, & 155 / 1119)

• A preserved example of a self spanning crossbow combined with a wheel-lock gun as displayed at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art

• A preserved example of a self spanning crossbow ballester crossbow with a wheel-lock gun as shown at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna