Crossbow History and Concept
Posted on | April 29, 2010 | No Comments
Most historians agree that the crossbow was invented in China as an advanced bow at or around 678 BC. The concept for its invention was to be able to have a ready weapon at all times. The conventional bow could not be held at the ready while moving. The reason for this is that conventional bows when drawn have 100% holding weight. This means that if the draw weight is 100 lbs then so is the holding weight. Do you think even well trained soldiers could hold 100 lbs and move through obstacles? The reason it was invented was to bring an end to the constant warring of the Chinese Empires. How well it worked is a mystery to most scholars. The earliest record of crossbows used in warfare was during the Han Dynasty at the battle of Ma-Ling. Also, Emperor Quin Shi Huang’s tomb shows that the Terracotta Army used crossbows as well. Later on the Chinese developed a repeating or reloading crossbow to make a single soldier even more deadly.
The concept to crossbows are quite simple. The earliest crossbows were nothing more than a conventional bow with a stock and trigger on it. The invention of the crossbow combined with a mechanical way to draw it made a soldier very dangerous. Suddenly a soldier with a bow pull strength of 100 lbs could easily pull a crossbow of 250 lbs. Not to mention, he could have it ready indefinitely making him much more efficient. Until the invention of the rifle, the crossbow was used to penetrate knights armor at shorter ranges. Even after the invention of the rifle, the crossbow was still useful, effective and used widely in combat.
Today, the interest in crossbows (and catapults) is still very common. Of course, modern crossbows are used mainly for hunting. Collectors look for other variations but crossbows are most commonly used to hunt. The reason people hunt with crossbows is simply to make it a challenge! Also, the bow hunting season is usually longer! So, crossbows are fun and they have been around for a long, long time.
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