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Day 1: War Through the Ages: Ancient Arms, Roman Antiquities & Medieval Relics

Sat, Feb 28, 2026 11:00AM EST
  2026-02-28 11:00:00 2026-02-28 11:00:00 America/New_York Treasure Trove Treasure Trove : Day 1: War Through the Ages: Ancient Arms, Roman Antiquities & Medieval Relics https://live.treasuretroveauctions.com/auctions/treasure-trove/day-1-war-through-the-ages-ancient-arms-roman-antiquities-medieval-relics-21418
Step into history with Treasure Trove’s largest Militaria auction to date, presented across two unforgettable days. Day One spans the ancient and early modern world, featuring antiquities, arms, armor, and military artifacts from Classical civilizations through the American Revolutionary War, Civil War, and into World War I. Day Two turns to the modern battlefield, showcasing an exceptional selection of World War II and post-war militaria, including uniforms, helmets, daggers, medals, field gear, and historically significant wartime relics.
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Lot 101

Extremely Rare German Incendiary Crossbow with Steel Bow & Goat’s Foot Lever, circa 1600–1700

Estimate: $17,500 - $26,000
Starting Bid
$750

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $50
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$20,000 $2,500
$50,000 $5,000
$150,000 $10,000

This extremely rare German incendiary crossbow, dating to circa 1600–1700, represents one of the most specialized and elusive forms of late medieval and early modern projectile weaponry. Constructed with a wooden tiller and a powerful steel bow, this configuration reflects post-1500 advancements that favored durability, resistance to moisture, and greatly increased draw strength over earlier composite bows. The crossbow is equipped with a period goat’s foot lever (pied-de-chienne / gaffe), a mechanically efficient spanning device utilizing leverage and double hooks to cock the heavy steel bow.

What distinguishes this example is its incendiary capability. Crossbows specifically designed to fire flaming or incendiary bolts were produced in exceptionally limited numbers, intended for siege warfare, ship-to-ship combat, and the ignition of structures or equipment. While effective, such designs carried inherent risk and added complexity, making them far rarer than conventional military crossbows. The increased mass and reinforced construction necessary to support incendiary use further underscore the specialized nature of this weapon.

The crossbow stands among the most influential weapons in military history. Originating over 2,500 years ago, crossbow technology spread from Asia into Europe, where it reshaped medieval warfare by allowing relatively untrained soldiers to defeat heavily armored opponents. Its battlefield dominance was so feared that in 1139 the Second Lateran Council under Pope Innocent II sought to restrict its use among Christian forces. By the 16th and 17th centuries, steel-bow crossbows represented the technological apex of the form, persisting in specialized roles even as firearms gained prominence.

Large steel-bow incendiary crossbows with intact spanning mechanisms are exceptionally scarce survivals. Examples retaining strong structural integrity and correct period configuration are virtually unknown on the open market. This piece stands as a museum-grade artifact of late medieval warfare and represents a singular opportunity for advanced collectors to acquire one of the rarest functional variants of the European crossbow.

★ ★ ★ ★
Very Good/Fine – Shows light to moderate wear, may have minor imperfections. A very fine example of the collectible. May also be labelled as Collector Quality.

 

Condition assessed using Treasure Trove Auctions’ proprietary grading scale. While we strive for accuracy, all ratings are subjective and based on our best evaluation as determined by a dedicated team of researchers, from expert appraisers to knowledgeable historians and veteran collectors. Full grading details can be found on our Authentication page for reference. For a more in-depth condition report or additional images, please contact us and we will be more than happy to oblige.

 

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