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| What is the crossbow? How did it come to be? And why has there been so many restrictions placed on the crossbow throughout history?
What is the crossbow? The crossbow is no more than a bow that is mounted on a stock with the stock having a mechanical release. In the past, there has been alot of different kinds of crossbows, some were big and bulky with hand cranks that were used to draw the heavy weight of the weapon. These were very powerful weapons usually mounted on castle walls and were used in war. The crossbows that were used in the past for hunting howevere, were smaller with less draw weight and more practical.
Most of todays hunting crossbows have a draw weight of 150lbs not exceding 200lbs. The crossbow shoots a short arrow better known as a bolt. With practice, the crossbow can be shot at ranges 60 to 70 yards accurately, but that is on a clear range with no obstacles with little or no wind. For hunting however, the crossbow performs best when limited to around 30 yards. As a reminder to hunters, as a hunter we owe it to the animals that we hunt, to make good clean quick kills consistently.
How the crossbow came to be
How the crossbow came to be is hard to say for sure. But like most of mans inventions, it was probably out of necessity, whether for hunting, war or both. The earliest proof of any kind of the crossbow dates back to sometime in the 4th century b.c., where it was used in battle in China. The crossbow has since been introduced, reintroduced, invented and reinvented by different cultures such as Chinese, Italian, English, German, and American to name a few. There is a good chance that the crossbow is a part of your heritage even thought there are some that would deny it.
Why has the crossbow had so many restrictionsplaced against it, in the past and the present?
The first restrictions on crossbows dates back to the year 1139. Christians use of the crossbow was restricted. The laws were used as a method of control against the christian people.
In 1503, the first of English laws were passed to restrict the crossbow. Here in the U.S., today, there are laws that deny the use of the old archery weapon in archery season. And in some places like New York, the crossbow is not even allowed to be sold. One thing that these restrictions have in common are that they are against common people.
Whether it was for defending themselves and their beliefs as in the past or the right to practice an old tradition of hunting with crossbows, the reason for restrictions for the use of the crossbow seem clear to me.
The truth is first, there was the spear, then came the bow and arrow. But both of these weapons took god given talent and alot of practice for them to be affective. Then came the crossbow. It was the first archery weapon to level the playing field. It made everyone closer to equals when it came to launching the arrow. It made it easier for people to defend themselves in the time when archery weapons were the premiere weapons. It allowed all people equal participation in all archery events. And the reason for the restrictions, is because there are some that do not like the idea of having to share with others and don't like the idea of equal participation for everyone.
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