Arbalest or Ballesta (Spanish Crossbow)
Manufacturer / Maker
unidentified
Dateca. 1550
Mediumwood, steel or iron, fiber, bone
Dimensions36 5/16 x 25 1/4 x 4 1/8 in. (92.2 x 64.1 x 10.5 cm)
ClassificationsWeapons & Armaments
Credit LineAlbuquerque Museum, museum purchase, 1979 General Obligation Bonds
Object numberPC1982.144.1
DescriptionCrossbows were deadly instruments of war and conquest, but they took a long time to load and the bowstrings frequently broke. The Spanish arbalest of the 16th century was a larger crossbow with a mechanism for drawing the string back. This object was made in León, Spain as told by the stamps on the arms of the bow that state, "Lion of León" in a circular ground. On View
On viewTerms
