Pellet and Bolt Crossbow Combined with a Wheel-Lock Gun
ca. 1570–1600
Medium
Steel, wood (cherry), staghorn, hemp, felt
Dimensions
L. 28 1/2 in. (72.4 cm); W. 26 1/2 in. (67.2 cm); Wt. 11 lb. 7 oz. (5,197 g)
Classification
Archery Equipment-Crossbows
Culture
Central European; possibly Southern German or Austrian
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
Accession Number
14.25.1573
Art Historical Context
This remarkable hybrid weapon, created by the Central European craftsman Jacob Floris around 1570–1600, represents a fascinating moment of technological transition in military history. Combining a pellet-and-bolt crossbow with a wheel-lock gun, it allowed its user to choose between traditional archery and the emerging power of firearms. Likely produced in southern Germany or Austria, such multifunctional arms were prized by noble collectors and soldiers alike during the late Renaissance, when gunpowder technology was rapidly evolving yet still unreliable in the field. The piece’s construction...