North American Native crossbow???

[JW_Halverson]

I do not believe I have ever seen reference to a Native American crossbow, but some guy is making some pretty wild claims on another site about them. Of course, when asked for references, he falls back on the standard evasive statement "I'm not doing your research for you, bub".  After 15 years of combing about every book on the subject of Native American archery, I have not seen diddly squat of something that if it existed SOMEONE would in this craft would have paid at least passing notice of it.

Anything that is not post-reservation era/pre-20th century? 

[Marc St Louis]

The only thing I have ever heard was that the Inuit made "set" bows.  If he is claiming actual crossbows then he is full of..you know what

[Pat B]

Maybe post Spaniards.

[Oglala Bowyer]

I would have to agree with you JW in regards to researching and personal invites to multiple museum collections and never seeing anything regarding cross bows by NA.

[Hawkdancer]

Haven't read any mention of the Spanish bringing crossbows, but it is possible.  The English, probably not; the Vikings, assuming they made it here, quite probably.  There is the possibility of natives capturing a crossbow, and trying to reproduce it, but I haven't seen any proof, either.  I am leary of people who " aren't going to do your research for you" - usually means there isn't any basis for their claims!
Hawkdancer

[Ed Brooks]

He was talking about the Choctaw people in the 1540s
De Soto wrote: They(the natives) are never quite but always running and crossing from one side to the another so that the crossbows or the arquebuses (guns) can not be aimed at them; and before a crossbowman can fire a shot the Indiana can shot 3 or 4 arrows, and very seldom does he miss what he shoots at. If the arrow finds no armor, it penetrates as deep as a crossbow. (Elvas 1o993:59 [1575])
I got this from the Choctaw web site. Ed

[Hawkdancer]

Well, I missed that reference, even after reading it like yesterday or Monday!  Like that exact paragraph! Opps!  My bad!  I'm sure that if the Native Americans made crossbows, it would have been noted rather obviously, and not tucked away in an obscure report.
Hawkdancer

[PatM]

That paragraph doesn't say the Natives used them.

 Laubin's book discusses crossbows as a post contact weapon.

[GlisGlis]

Never found a single evidence of xbow use by native americans.
I'd try to call the bluff and see if that guy reveals his sources 
btw where is the original thread/site?

[JW_Halverson]

Never found a single evidence of xbow use by native americans.
I'd try to call the bluff and see if that guy reveals his sources 
btw where is the original thread/site?

I called his bluff and stated that extraordinary claims require extraordinary proofs. Just the usual puffery and cocksure strutting rooster behavior.

This was on a flintlocks era Facebook page.

That paragraph doesn't say the Natives used them.

 Laubin's book discusses crossbows as a post contact weapon.

The quotes I have seen quoted from Laubin's book didn't appear to reference anything contemporary to period that the bows were supposedly made/used, nor reference to any collected piece in a museum or held privately. But since I don't have a copy of that book, I cannot say for sure if there is additional writing on the subject.

[PatM]

 Laubin's book references a statement made in 1927 referring to crossbows made and used in the 1860s as well as a museum worker telling him about a couple of Cherokee crossbows.

[Ed Brooks]

That paragraph doesn't say the Natives used them.

 Laubin's book discusses crossbows as a post contact weapon.

Sorry for any confusion I was posting this in reply to Hawkdacer is all. Ed