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Welcome to Hightower Crossbows.  I'm known in the SCA as Bartholomew Hightower, and I make SCA combat crossbows for use in historical combat re-creation groups.  You can contact me at:

bartholomew@coteduciel.org 

My crossbows are made based on historical examples in Froissart's chronicles, Payne-Galway, and various period paintings and drawings.  

 

 

The HelmRocker -- a Flemish design made of a heavier hardwood (maple, cherry, or walnut), this model features a routed bolt channel that reduces friction and keeps the bolt closer to the top of the prod.  Stirrup and bolt holder included.  $210+$30shipping.

 
The BoltLauncher --   an Italian crossbow made with all the same great features found in the HelmRocker. Stirrup and bolt holder included.  $210+$30shipping.
The Western Bow -- A generic western European design that was popular across much of Europe in the 13th-14th centuries.  $210+$30shipping.
Design your own -- putting the western bow in powerpoint format gave me the idea of specifying those parts of the crossbow that don't change from model to model for me, and letting potential buyers come up with their own design.  If you have something different you'd like to try, this is a good place to begin.  Prices start at $235 + $30 shipping.
DSCF0143.jpg Other Products -- I can sell you various crossbow-related parts, including blunt/shaft/APD combos, crossbow strings, crossbow prods, and even completely-taped-and-ready-to-use bolts.

 

All models use a notch-lock release mechanism for maximum ease-of-use and are designed to accept Fellwalker-style combat bolts. Other 1.25" dia bolt types (such as siloflex-based bolts) work just fine in them.

I use recurved 36" 7075 T651 1.5"x.025" aluminum prods for a 600-1000 ip (inch-pound) energy range.   

The prods are bound with  a skein of four strands of braided dacron cord, which I have found to have just the right elasticity to keep the prod tight while resisting stretching.

The string included with each crossbow is constructed of 40 strands of Dacron B-50 served in the middle and on the loops with Diamondback 0.026" kevlar braid serving, with an extra bit of dacron in the middle.

 

 

For more information, contact:

  THL Bartholomew Hightower of Canterbury 
(Dan Watson) 
bartholomew@coteduciel.org 

 

                     

 


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* Wood stain and paste wax.

Last updated: September 07, 2005.