07-25-2013, 08:20 PM
Yes, the Romans made very precise threads, as has been shown in the construction of the three pronged speculum (medical instrument). However, it would indeed be a cumbersome mechanisme.
Thomas, you are right in questioning the existance of a lip. It is one of the weak points of the slider theory, as this would not really be needed other that as a stop to the trigger bar, but that would have been limited by the handle anyway. However, the lip is indeed not very sturdy. It could have been worn, presuming the crossbow placed in the grave had seen some use. Given the forces applied, wear on the inside of the nut would be expected from repeated firing, certainly if the trigger was made of iron. Too bad not all pieces have been drawn, for the iron bar with the two projections described may have been the triggerbar, revolving on those two projections. However, with out a picture, that is impossible to judge, as the position of said projection on the bar is not described.
Thomas, you are right in questioning the existance of a lip. It is one of the weak points of the slider theory, as this would not really be needed other that as a stop to the trigger bar, but that would have been limited by the handle anyway. However, the lip is indeed not very sturdy. It could have been worn, presuming the crossbow placed in the grave had seen some use. Given the forces applied, wear on the inside of the nut would be expected from repeated firing, certainly if the trigger was made of iron. Too bad not all pieces have been drawn, for the iron bar with the two projections described may have been the triggerbar, revolving on those two projections. However, with out a picture, that is impossible to judge, as the position of said projection on the bar is not described.
