Copper bolt heads are a rare item. Cortes ordered 8000 made from his native allies during the Conquest of the Aztec and they were delivered in 8 days. Copper bolts remained in service for decades while the crossbow remained the primary range weapon of the Spanish. Copper heads have been found in New Mexico and the American Southeast most likely from Desoto's expedition around the same time as Coronado's.
by Mr_Emperor
3 Comments
The natives were capable of producing and forming copper into 8000 bolt heads in 8 days? Are you really sure they don’t produced the wooden shafts in this time instead?
Really leaned into the nipple-rivets.
In the conques of the Yucatan chronicles it is mentioned that a spanish crossbow man and a maya bowman had a duel, in wich they taunted and deceived each other, because both were good used their own weapons.
I kinda remember that in the end the Maya warrior faked injury and used his bow superior fire rate to get the best of the spaniard.