The Modern Crossbow

by Terry Stewart

  The Crossbow

  Chapter 1

  HISTORICAL NOTES

  It is fairly certain that the crossbow was introduced as a military weapon into Britain by the Norman invaders in the year 1066, the weapon at this time having a wood bow. This crossbow was cocked by hand with the assistance of a foot stirrup on the forend of the stock. This held the stock firmly against the ground when drawing back the string.

  The crossbow at this time was considered the deadliest of all weapons and, due to the barbarous wounds inflicted by them, the Lateran Council in the year 1139, issued an interdict against the use of the crossbow in Christian warfare, although its use against infidels was permitted. King Richard I was an expert shot with the weapon. So fond was he of the crossbow that on one occasion when ill with fever during the siege of Ascalon he demanded to be laid on his palliasse and carried within bow range of the fort and proceeded to assail the enemy with bolts from his crossbow. Much of the crossbow's great popularity was certainly due largely to the encouragement Richard gave his troops to employ the weapon. It was more than unfortunate perhaps that Richard himself was killed by a crossbow bolt at the siege of Castle Chaluz near Limoges in France, 1199, although many considered his death in this manner just retribution for his defiance of the Papal interdict against the crossbow.

  During the reign of Richard I it is most probable that the bows were of a composite nature, steel bows being of a later date. During the Twelfth Century the crossbow was considerably improved and a heavy steel bow was in use with a mechanical aid, windlass, cranequin or lever being employed to cock it, many of these weapons having a draw weight of over one quarter ton; the heavier and more powerful siege crossbow drawing over half a ton.

  The bolts used in medieval times and shot from powerful battle crossbows were of seasoned hardwood about 12" in length, and from 1/2" to 5/8" in diameter. A sharply pointed metal head was fitted over the shaft; and the fletchings, usually two in number, were of varnished parchment or of thin leather. These sharply pointed bolts would pierce, at a fair range, most armour of the period; except perhaps when striking a glancing blow at a curved surface. To reduce the chance of bolts glancing off heavy armour, a type of bolt known as a quarrel was devised. This bolt had a four-sided head, usually with a small sharp point on each corner, and was capable of delivering a tremendous smashing blow to practically any surface, If on occasion the quarrel did not achieve complete penetration, it dealt a blow capable of unhorsing a mounted knight, or of smashing a foot soldier to the ground. The wounds caused by this type of bolt were of a particularly fearsome nature.

  The term quarrel is most probably taken from the French 'Carreau', meaning diamond or with square faces. Today when one uses the expression 'to pick a quarrel' we owe it to the medieval crossbowman's choice of a specially sharp or dangerous quarrel for use against a particular enemy.

  The most skilful crossbowmen were the Genoese who for centuries were employed by many countries on the Continent as mercenaries and formed the front ranks of the French Army at Crecy in 1346. So feared were they that in 1246, when against the Milanese, each Genoese crossbowman taken prisoner had an eye torn out and an arm cut off in revenge for the Milanese killed by his crossbow.

  For many centuries the crossbow was the most popular of weapons for both war and sport until it gradually fell into disuse with the introduction and development of the hand gun, though no doubt exists that the powerful Battle Crossbow of the Sixteenth Century was in many ways a superior weapon to any hand gun of that period and even to many flintlocks, wheel-locks, etc. of later date, it having a greater effective range, accuracy, rate of discharge and killing power. A possible explanation of the crossbow's demise in warfare may be attributed in part to the psychological and morale destroying effect of the early firearms on an adversary completely unprepared for such 'devilish devices' belching forth with great noise, smoke, flame and destruction.

  Chapter 2

  THE CROSSBOW TODAY

  The interest in the types of modern crossbows described in this book is largely due to the formation and existence of the American National Company of Crossbowmen and the American Crossbow Association, who have organised in America competitions based on the archery rounds as shot with the handbow. The N.C.C. are exclusively devoted to target shooting, with rounds conforming closely to the rounds shot by handbowmen. The A.C.A. also shoot target rounds but include competition with five shot repeating crossbows with a special rapid shooting round. An annual deer hunt is also organised using single shot hunting crossbows, and field shooting rounds with the hunting crossbow are popular.

  A similar organisation in Britain, known as The British Crossbow Society, has been formed and organises competitions with rules and rounds similar to those of the American N.C.C.

  Crossbow shooting had been popular for many centuries on the Continent especially in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and parts of Holland, where local and regional competitions are held regularly. The crossbows in use are mainly of the lever cocking type, some bolt shooting, others bullet shooting barrelled crossbows.

  The main form of competition is shooting the popinjay, which consists of a large brightly coloured wooden bird attached to the top of a mast over 100 feet high. Due to the manner in which the popinjay is constructed it breaks away in pieces when struck, each portion of the bird having a certain scoring value. The centre, or heart piece, is the last to fall; the man shooting down the heart, or the last portion of it, is declared the champion. The bullet shooting barrelled crossbow is used in Belgium for the same purpose and discharges a small round metal ball with great force and accuracy. The Belgian popinjay shoot is somewhat different from the one previously described, instead of only one popinjay there are a number of birds, each one having a different scoring value according to its position on the mast. Although shooting at the popinjay is by far the most popular, competitions are also held shooting at conventional circular straw targets.

  Shooting the crossbow is very popular in many parts of Switzerland today. The National hero, William Tell, is depicted on Swiss postage stamps complete with crossbow. Other stamps frequently show the crossbow, which is also the trade mark of Swiss manufacture. Due to the expensiveness of the Swiss-made crossbow few men have their own. A club of from twenty to fifty members may boast from between one to three crossbows. In the case of a club possessing only one crossbow, all the members would of necessity shoot in rotation using the same crossbow. This type of crossbow is very heavy, weighing around 35 lbs, with a draw weight of up to 200 lbs, the bow being bent by a lever. All shots are taken from the kneeling position in an indoor range at a distance of 33 yards. Only one bolt is used, each one made to fit a particular crossbow and not interchangeable with others that may be in the club's possession. The bolt used is short and unfletched with a threaded head that screws itself into the target on impact and is removed by simply unscrewing. The target is a wooden board about two inches thick with an eight inch diameter face which has nine rings and a centre spot. The centre spot scoring ten and the nine rings scoring from nine for the inner ring, down to one for the outer ring.

  A Chinese repeating crossbow

  15th century military crossbow with windless attached

  An English bullet-shooting crossbow of about 1810

  A 10th century primitive crossbow with a solid wood bow

  An Austrian hand crossbow. Early 19th century

  A modern hunting crossbow

  Chapter 3

  THE HUNTING CROSSBOW

  The crossbows used in Britain and America today are the ones dealt with here and are within the capabilities of a competent handyman to construct, or are reasonably enough priced If you should wish to purchase one commercially.

 
A crossbow is basically a short powerful bow set transversely at approximately right angles in a rifle type stock, and designed to shoot a short arrow or bolt, utilislng the mechanics of the bow for shooting and sights similar to those of a rifle for aiming, the bolt being discharged by mechanical release.

  The crossbow's great accuracy at close range, combined with its silent operation, makes it a fine hunting weapon capable of killing various game species and vermin, from the humble rabbit to the stately deer. It may be shot from standing, kneeling, sitting, squatting or lying positions, and may be carried in a drawn position with the bolt in place ready for immediate release; all these factors being an immense advantage over the conventional bow and arrow.

  The crossbow's disadvantage in medieval times was its slower rate of discharge compared with the longbow, although this has been greatly exaggerated by historians. The modern crossbow is hand loaded and I personally have discharged an 85 lb. hunting crossbow four times in sixty seconds. This included taking a bolt from the quiver, cocking the weapon, placing the bolt in position, taking fair aim and pressing the trigger. Whether for hunting or target practice, today rapidity of discharge is of no consequence. During a hunt a miss will not, as a rule, permit you a second shot, your quarry being off before you could reload, and in competitive shooting rapid discharge is not required.

  The Hunting or Sporting crossbow weighs usually between five and six lbs. the total stock length being about three feet, with a bow length of from two feet eight to three feet. A hunting crossbow of larger dimensions than this is inclined to be rather too cumbersome in the field for hunting purposes as it tends to obstruct easy movement through the undergrowth.

  Hunting crossbows require a sufficient velocity and draw weight combined with as flat a trajectory as possible to shoot the type of bolt suited to kill the game on which they are to be used, and a range and accuracy suited to that special purpose. For example, an 85 lb. to 100 lb. draw weight crossbow is used on large game such as deer, etc. It drives a heavy broadhead bolt at comparatively short range with terrific power. The bolt for hunting small game, being a blunt headed bolt of light weight, is driven with terrific velocity and flatter trajectory to greater ranges by the same crossbow.

  A crossbow drawing from sixty to seventy pounds is quite adequate for small game hunting, any poundage much below sixty would not be likely to have the required hitting power to kill humanely enough unless it had extraordinary cast for its weight.

  On the whole, it is best to use only draw weights of 60 lb. or over for a hunting crossbow. The best all-round crossbow for hunting game, large or small, will draw between 75-85 lb., my personal preference being an 80 lb. draw weight, as this will kill any game species or animal in Europe or the American Continent.

  Despite this fact I frequently receive letters from potential crossbowmen enquiring if I am able to supply a bow to draw from 150 to 200 lb. or more. A flatter trajectory may be obtained with a very heavy draw weight, but it is not always the case. Such a heavy draw weight would require some mechanical device to cock it, adding more weight and encumbrance in the field with the added loss of time to load if an unexpected target suddenly presented itself. A crossbow drawing 75 lb. should kill any animal just as surely as a 150-200 lb. draw weight. Provided your hunting crossbow is accurate, combined with a good cast and fairly flat trajectory, a draw weight of from 75 to 85 lb. is more than sufficient for general hunting purposes.

  A hunting crossbow must be as accurate as a target crossbow. The target crossbow's apparently greater accuracy is mainly due to the sights having more adjustment for elevation and windage and all shooting being done at known ranges. The hunting crossbow's accuracy is adversely affected by outside circumstances such as varying shooting positions in the field, causing variations in holding, trigger pressing, etc. It is clear therefore that the potential accuracy of a hunting crossbow must be at least equal to that of a target crossbow.

  Chapter 4

  HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR CROSSBOW

  A crossbow may seldom, if ever, be used efficiently for both hunting and competitive target shooting, each type differing in individual features that are applicable to their own particular purpose.

  Target crossbows are required for practice and competition, killing power is not necessary, the one and only absolute essental is accuracy to enable the crossbow to attain the highest score possible. The entire design, construction and mechanics of the weapon in every detail are devoted entirely to that single purpose.

  Many varied and unusual designs are seen on target crossbows and, to the uninitiated, may appear weird if the comparison taken is from a rifle. Many crossbows made by amateur enthusiasts, and sad to relate some commercial makers, look very much like rifles in design, an obvious lack of knowledge of good design together with a desire to streamline for appearance being the cause. What seems to be forgotten is that a crossbow is not a rifle, will not shoot like a rifle, and due to the high bolt trajectory, in comparison with that of a rifle bullet, calls for an entirely different approach to design. By a combination of experiment, trial and error, shooting, designing and making crossbows for a number of years, I found that my designs were gradually falling into a certain constructional pattern that had basic principles essential to a properly designed crossbow whether it was for target practice or hunting. These principles of design may only be disregarded at the expense of the crossbow's potential accuracy and power.

  A modern target crossbow designed by the author

  Stocks

  The essential property of a good crossbow stock wood lies in its non-warping properties, and being of hard enough composition to withstand the inevitable knock or so it will receive.

  Many hardwoods are eminently suitable for stock construction having a straight grain and a density able to withstand knocks and bumps; however, some are too light in colour for hunting stocks, beech, oak. etc., and rather heavy when made into a stock. Others are rather difficult to work, mahogany for example: besides being a little soft in composition it has a slight tendency to tear during planing operations.

  The following hardwoods are among the best for stock construction, being of straight grain, medium to hard composition, easy to work, and polishing up beautifully. The best of all woods I consider to be walnut, French walnut preferably; failing that English or African walnut. Mansonia is also a fine stock wood with an exceptionally beautiful grain and colour. My third choice is sapele, a beautiful reddish hardwood with an appealing striped grain. Sapele is known in the trade as a bastard mahogany, and although I do not generally recommend mahogany for crossbow stocks, sapele is an exception, not being a true mahogany it is of a rather harder texture and exceptionally attractive when polished.

  Many of the light coloured woods of heavy weight, such as Japanese oak and beech, are ideal for laminated barrels on a darker stock such as walnut. For a complete stock it is best to avoid these woods if you are able to obtain a darker coloured wood of light to medium weight.

  Barrels

  Crossbow designs are numerous and no one particular design will suit every crossbowman perfectly. However, basic principles of good design never vary and the following should be taken into consideraion when purchasing or constructing a crossbow. The bolt shooting crossbow, in the true sense of the word, does not have a barrel, but simply a straight groove running from the start of the latch recess to the extreme fore-end of the stock along which the bolt will fly with one feather down the slot. This slot or groove should be half an inch deep by one eighth, or a maximum of three-slxteenths of an inch wide, as smooth as glass and perfectly straight. The bolt groove should be chamfered only sufficiently to lay the bolt on; the bolt must lie on and not in the bolt slot as any unnecessary depth of chamfer causes undue friction on the bolt, resulting in drag, this in turn affecting the cast of the bolt and also accuracy to some extent.

  Most crossbow barrels are self, that is, the complete stock is entirely of the one wood. Others have laminated barrels of a particularly good no
n-warping hardwood either glued to or bolted through the stock.

  Perhaps the best barrel is of metal, either alloy or brass, consisting of angle guides screwed to either side of the stock along the full length of the bolt slot. This type of barrel will ensure perfect accuracy under all weather conditions, metal not being subject to the slight warping that may be likely to occur in a wooden barrel. Metal barrels are less liable to accidental damage than wood, and if they are accidentally dented the angle guides may easily be replaced.

  The bow string bearing down on the barrel is responsible for a great loss of cast when shooting and this must be reduced. This reduction or partial elimination of friction may be obtained by having the barrel as narrow as possible. A self wood or laminated barrel should be rounded off one quarter of an inch each side of the bolt groove, and a metal angle strip barrel should be kept to the minimum width.

  Fore-ends

  The fore-end of the stock, where the left hand grips, should provide a steady firm hold at the correct distance forward to suit the individual. As the average stock thickness of a modern crossbow is only one inch I find it best to build up the fore-end to a thickness of about two inches to provide a firm hold.