Crossbows - Your
perfect hunting accomplice
History
Crossbow derived its name from the word
ballista, which is a torsion siege engine that resembled a crossbow. Crossbows
have played an important role in wars and hunting. This was used in Europe,
East Asia and the Mediterranean. Invented in China, the crossbow was and
upgrade to the weapons used in warfare. Prior to crossbows, hunters and
warriors used the traditional bow and arrow and this was the most specialized
weapon used at that time. The bow and arrow required a lot of physical
strength, expertise, and training.
Due to these abilities, archers or bowmen
were considered superior. The crossbow broke this norm and gave everyone the
ability to shoot with accuracy. The weapon was cheap and simple to use. Due to
the simplicity of the crossbow, all soldiers and hunters rather than a few
specialized sharpshooters could use the weapon. This enabled all countries to
have a large range of crossbow men at their disposal. The crossbow era also
ended the reign of the armored aristocratic knight in Europe.
Origin
The crossbow is said to have originated in
China around 5th Century BC. The crossbow was used for military purposes during
the 4th Century BC. While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact origin of the crossbow,
many indications lead to China as the inventors of the weapon. Crossbows in
China date back to as early as 6th Century BC. The earliest crossbows were made
with bronze triggers and were found in the tombs of many Chinese warriors.
Repeating Crossbow
The repeating crossbow was also developed
in China. The repeating crossbow combines the actions of stringing the bow
along with placing the bolt and shooting. This could be completed with a single
hand movement and also helped keep the crossbow stationary. The repeating
crossbow had a higher rate of firing than a normal crossbow. This helped
warriors during combat and warfare.
Crossbows today are used mainly for
sporting and hunting purposes. Modern archery has bow hunting as a shooting
sport. Since crossbows are less regulated than firearms, it is a popular weapon
for hunting. Many hunting spots have a crossbow only season as well.
Military Use
Crossbows are no longer used for
assassination as in the medieval times. Although some armies are still equipped
with crossbows, they are used to establish a zip-line for difficult terrains. Brazil
also trains its soldiers in the use of crossbows. This is however only for
improving precision. The US army trains a team of soldiers in crossbow warfare
to detonate and trip landmines. In Serbia, the crossbow is still used as a
sniper weapon. Special Forces in Turkey and Greece also continue the use of
crossbows. Spain uses the crossbow as a weapon too. In Asia, China is a great
exponent of the crossbow. They have a specially trained unit called the Snow
Leopard Commando Unit. The last use of crossbows was seen in the riots in
Xinjiang that broke out in July 2009.
Legal Issues
The crossbow is known to generate far
greater force and precision than a bow and arrow. One of the advantages of a
crossbow is holding the tension for a long time and being prepared. With a bow
and arrow, even the strongest archer could not hold the tension for long. The
only disadvantage of a crossbow is that it is heavier than a bow and has a slower
rate of shooting. The Catholic Church banned the use of crossbows against
Christians in 1139.
Crossbows face a legal issue when it comes
to its lethal potential. Many consider it as lethal as firearms. Although there
are many countries that have banned the weapon, there are countries where the
crossbow owner does not need a license. Most federal countries have legalized
the crossbow for hunting activities.
Modern day crossbows
Barnett
BCX-CRT
There are various types of crossbows
available in the market today. The Barnett BCX-CRT crossbow package is an
entry-level piece intended for beginners. Although it is designed for novice
hunters, the experience shooters will also not stay away from this due to its
swiftness and accuracy. The crossbow also offers low noise output and generates
a lot of power.
Invader G3
The Invader G3 by Wicked Ridge is also an
amazing crossbow available in the market. It is a lot less expensive than the
Barnett BCX and does not compromise on performance as well. The Invader G3 has
a simple mechanism and is a better crossbow for someone who has some experience
with crossbows. Although not the quietest, it is a powerful crossbow to own.
Matrix 380
Another amazing crossbow is the Matrix 380
by Excalibur. This is a higher priced crossbow and is reliable, powerful, and
amazingly accurate. This crossbow comes with a safety feature that helps during
transportation. The drawback to this crossbow is that it is heavy to operate.
Also, if you are not using the upgrades that come along with it, you may go in
for a less expensive model.
TenPoint
Vapor
The TenPoint Vapor is also a crossbow that
offers incredible accuracy. This crossbow is known to be as accurate as a
rifle. If you are looking for a silent crossbow, then this is not for you. The
only disappointing factor of this crossbow is the accessories that come with
it. If you are ready to invest the money, TenPoint is one of the best in the
industry.
Matrix 405
Mega
Lastly, the Matrix 405 Mega by Excalibur is
definitely the top of the line. This crossbow if perfect for beginners or
professionals. The crossbow even comes fitted with an amazing scope. There is
hardly any downside to this crossbow except for maybe the price.
With the range of crossbows available in
the market today, you need to decide what you will use it for. You need to
decide if you want to use it only for target practice or hunting. You need to
decide what you are looking for in your crossbow as well. You need to decide
the speed, accuracy, noise, arrow track, draw weight, and the overall weight of
the crossbow. There are additional features also available with many crossbows.
Make a wise decision.
