The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of June 7, 2026

A crossbow bolt lies horizontally, its long shaft made of dark, grained wood showing slight surface wear. On the left end, a thin piece of dark leather fletching projects downward. Transitioning to the right, the cylindrical wood meets a tapered steel tip fixed firmly to the shaft. This metal head terminates in a sharp, four-sided pyramidal point, its cool grey surface contrasting against the warm tones of the dark brown wood.

Crossbow Bolt

1500s-1600s

Germany

wood, leather, steel
Average: 37.2 cm (14 5/8 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1916.1750
Location: Not on view
  • Ex-coll.: Thill; Frank Gair Macomber, Boston ( cat. 77).
  • Gilchrist, Helen Ives. A Catalogue of the Collection of Arms & Armor Presented to the Cleveland Museum of Art by Mr. and Mrs. John Long Severance; 1916-1923. Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1924. Mentioned: p. 173, G3; Reproduced: Plate XXXVII, G3 archive.org
  • {{cite web|title=Crossbow Bolt|url=false|author=|year=1500s-1600s|access-date=07 June 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.1750