Skåne lockbow

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The Skåne lockbow is an early crossbow from Skåne (Scania), a region that used to be part of Denmark. Since 1658 it has been part of Sweden. A 16th‑century example was found in Sweden in 1941, and it seems similar to earlier models. The lockbow was used across northern Europe from about 900 to 1600 CE. Modern copies show an effective range of about 75 yards (69 meters) and a draw weight of around 170 pounds (77 kg), give or take 20 pounds. It works by pulling the bowstring back into a groove, then a wooden peg on top of a lever pushes upward through a hole under the groove to release the string.