A crossbow is a ranged weapon that uses an elastic launching device consisting of a bow-like assembly called a prod, mounted horizontally on a main frame called a rudder, which is held manually similar to the stock of a long firearm. Crossbows fire arrow-like projectiles called lightning or fighting. Both types of crossbows used a trigger to release the cocked rope. Roman crossbows used a rotating nut held by a lever, and Chinese crossbows used a system of hooks and levers.
Since the two types of crossbows have such different firing mechanisms, historians believe that the two cultures developed them independently of each other. The bowstring is pulled back and cut into two finishing nails. These nails were smoothly filed to reduce wear on the bowstring. Two wooden blocks are attached to each side of the stock by a long bolt and nut.
A third block is attached to the bottom to connect the first two blocks together. This allows the blocks to rotate up and down. It allows me to activate the crossbow while keeping my hand on the handle. When the trigger is pulled, the wooden blocks push the bowstring off the nails and the arrows are released.
The curved metal piece is designed to hold the arrow in place. As with vertical archery, crossbows use a bow that must be stretched, the energy stored in the bow stretched, retained to allow the archer to aim and release the arrow when ready. In vertical archery, the archer pulls the bow and the archer's fingers hold the bowstring until he relaxes his hand, releasing the string and sending the arrow on its way to the target. In crossbows, the archer's arm holding the bow is replaced by a stock and the fingers that hold the string are replaced by a release mechanism (trigger).
These two weapons harness the power of stored energy. When a crossbow is mounted, the rope pulls the ends of the prod together. This creates something called elastic potential energy. When you release the rope, the potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and you release the bolt.
Crossbows are ancient weapons, with the oldest European crossbow dating back to the late 5th century BC in ancient Greece. And now is a good time to learn how to use a crossbow, as many states have recently begun to allow crossbow hunting for big game hunting. Because gravity affects bolts differently in different ranges, the best crossbow visors will incorporate multiple sights.
