11th -12th Century Crossbows A 40lbs 12th century reeinactment crossbow. The 'hare' trigger is a of a fictional design based on a contemporary stone carving provided by the customer. A 160lbs mid 12th century crossbow. The trigger is a copy of an archaeological find from Braunschweig. The dimensions of the lath are loosely based on those of the Berkhamsted bow, a find dated to the early 13th century. The stock design is based on illustrations from the period.