Today's Crossbows
You can pay some very hefty prices for a Crossbow - it certainly pays to shop around. It should always be on a web shopper's list to check ebay - not only will you save money on used Crossbows, but the prices on new ones can be well below what you find elsewhere, even on the net. Merchants use ebay as a way to sell excess, last year's models, etc.
About Crossbows
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles. A mechanism in the stock holds the bow in its fully-drawn position until it is shot by releasing a trigger. Crossbows played a significant role in the warfare of North Africa, Europe and Asia. Crossbows are used today primarily for target shooting and hunting.
Although some crossbows (ancient or modern) are drawn using only the unassisted arm strength of the archer, more powerful crossbows required some sort of mechanical device to draw the string. These drawing mechanisms were of many different forms, using levers, ratchets and pulleys in various ways, allowing to use weapons with a draw force far in excess of a bow.
The mechanism that holds the drawn bowstring, called a nut, was usually made of bone, ivory or metal, and the trigger mechanism of metal. Sophisticated bronze triggers with safety notches are known to have been used on crossbows from ancient China. Complicated iron triggers are known in Europe from the early 1400s. As a result crossbows could be kept cocked and ready to shoot for some time with little effort, allowing crossbowmen to aim better.
The bow (called the "prod" or "lath" on a crossbow) of early crossbows were made of a single piece of wood, usually ash or yew. The Saracen introduced composite bows, made from layers of different material—often wood, horn and sinew—glued together and bound with animal tendon. These composite bows could be much more powerful than wooden bows. As steel became more widely available in Europe around the 14th century, spring steel prods came into use. The crossbow prod is very short compared to ordinary bows, resulting in a short draw length. The resulting thick prods are less efficient at releasing energy, but more energy can be stored. A recurve crossbow is a bow that has tips curving away from the archer. The recurve bow's bent limbs allow for a draw length with the same limb length and less hand shock. A compound crossbow is a modern crossbow similar to the compound bow that has pulleys or cams at the end of each limb through which the bow string passes. As the bow is pulled back (drawn) the pulleys or cams turn which, in turn, reduce the amount of force needed to completely draw the bow. Traditionally the prod was often lashed to the stock with rope, whipcord, or other strong cording. This cording is called the bridle of the crossbow.
The strings for a crossbow are typically made of strong fibers that would not tend to fray. Whipcord was very common; however linen, hemp, and sinew were used as well. In wet conditions, twisted mulberry root was occasionally used.
The problem when handling crossbows was the comparably short draw length and the great amount of energy needed. Very light crossbows could be drawn by hand, but for others the help of devices was needed to increase the power. The simplest version was a hook attached to a belt and drawing the bow by straightening the legs. Other devices were different levers, ratchets and windlasses. The later could also be stationary devices for the use by several crossbows. |
