Kusza gotycka w zbiorach Muzeum Historycznego m. Krakowa

Abstract

THE GOTHIC CROSSBOW

The Gothic crossbow (XIV^th — XV^th century) in the collection of the Cracow Historic Museum is a beautiful specimen of the old projectile weapons used in Europe. It is of unknown provenance but may have been made in a Polish crossbow workshop. It si amazing that this exhibit has remained in such good condition for five hundred years and preserved its original contour and all its original parts. This crossbow was used in war and hunting. Similar examples of these weapons may be seen in many drawings, paintings and carvings.
The exhibit described may be included among the most valuable exhibits in the collection of arms in the Cracow Historical Museum, especially since similar objects in such a good state of preservation are extremely rare in European collections.