The more posts that I read about folks coming to this site because of hostility or even getting booted off other sites along with the protective way that Christine watches over her flock, I am starting to think that HuntingNet.com is a "Shelter for Battered Crossbow Users".
Also, if you folks have not been in the field journals and read Christine's entries your missing the boat. She is quite a lady and we are truly lucky to have such a very special "Den Mother". Thank you Christine. We love you.
Below is some interesting Crossbow History that fills in a few more details about where and what this unique weapon is all about. Study this information and memorize the details. Remember, KNOWLEDGE, is what is breaking down the walls of ignorance and enlightening the hunting masses. Some stand with their hands over their ears, eyes closed and chant "La, la, la, la, la, la, la," in an effort to fight the truth. But you, my friends, are the light and the way. Keep up the good work!
CROSSBOW HISTORY
Many scholars believe the crossbow first appeared in China, probably by the 6th century BCE and perhaps as early as 2,000 BCE[1][2] . Other sources (Steven Selby, 2001) agree to East Asia as origin of the crossbow, but question whether it first appeared in China. A weapon similar to the crossbow, known as a ballista, was used around the Mediterranean by the Roman Empire and others during the Hellenistic Period.
The bow (called the "prod" on a crossbow) of early crossbows were made of a single piece of wood, usually ash or yew.
During the Crusades, Europeans were exposed to Saracen composite bows, made from layers of different material--often wood, horn and sinew--glued together and bound with animal tendon. These composite bows could be much more powerful than wooden bows, and were adopted for crossbow prods across Europe.
As steel became more widely available around the 14th century, spring steel prods came into use. The crossbow prod is very short compared to ordinary bows, resulting in a short draw length. This makes crossbows inefficient at storing energy, and to compensate they must have very heavy draw weights.
Although some crossbows (ancient or modern) are drawn using only the unassisted arm strength of the archer, more powerful crossbows required some sort of mechanical device to draw the string. These drawing mechanisms were of many different forms, using levers, ratchets and pulleys in various ways.
The use of these devices allowed soldiers to use and fire weapons with a draw force far in excess of what they could have handled with a bow.
In the later years of the crossbow it had enough kinetic energy to penetrate any knight's armor hit squarely (some knights carried their own crossbows into battle): some reached a draw force of nearly 350 lbf (1600 N), compared to the 60-180lbf (300-900 N) draw force for a longbow. Moreover, crossbows could be kept cocked and ready to shoot for some time with little effort, allowing crossbowmen to aim better and to "cover" a target area, while archers could not keep their powerful bows pulled for long periods of time.
The arrow-like projectiles of a crossbow are called "bolts." These are much shorter than arrows and typically two to three times heavier.
There is an optimum weight for bolts to achieve maximum kinetic energy, which varies depending on the strength and characteristics of the crossbow. Bolts must be sealed with a proof to ensure their consistent weight.
In order to accommodate the groove that the bolt rests in, bolts typically have only two fletches, rather than the three fletches commonly seen on arrows.
Crossbow bolts can be fitted with a variety of heads, but the most common is a four-sided point called a quarrel.
Some crossbows were made to fire stones or lead bullets. Primarily used for hunting wildfowl, these had a double string with a pouch between the strings to hold the projectile.
The mechanism that holds the drawn bowstring, called a nut, was usually made of bone, ivory or metal, and the trigger mechanism of metal.
Bronze triggers with safety notches are known to have been used on crossbows from at least 200 BCE in China.
Complicated iron triggers are known in Europe from the early 1400s. Leonardo da Vinci designed many trigger mechanisms for crossbows, ultimately producing a "hair trigger" that could be released with very little finger strength.
The prod was often lashed to the stock with rope, whipcord, or other strong cording. This cording is called the bridle of the crossbow. Much as a horse's bridle, it tends to loosen over time, and must be carefully respliced when appropriate.
The strings for a crossbow are typically made of strong fibers that would not tend to fray. According to W. F. Patternson, whipcord was very common; however linen, hemp, and sinew were used as well. In wet conditions, twisted mulberry root was occasionally used.
According to Guinness World Records(2004), the earliest reliable record of crossbow usage is in the Battle of Ma-Ling, Lingyi, China at 341 BC. By the 200s BC, the crossbowwas well developed and quite widely used in China. Crossbows have been found among the soldiers of the Terracotta Army in the tomb of emperor Qin Shi Huang (260-210 BCE) [3].
The first western reference to the crossbow is to the gastraphetes ("belly-bow") of early Hellenistic period (ca. 400 BC). The Romans called the crossbow an arcuballista (hence name "arbalest"). They did not employ it as a massed weapon, but used it as a scout weapon and for hunting.
Other sources note its usage in Western Africa from where enslaved inhabitants brought it to America.
Light hunting crossbows were traditionally used by the Inuit in Northern America, as well as being found throughout Eurasia and the Indonesian Islands. The crossbow was also often used on horseback, especially in Scandinavia.
Crossbow Rivalry of Two Italian Towns Dates to Middle Ages
"Bless these cavalieri for transferring their noble weapons into instruments of peace." With these words and a sprinkling of holy water, a local priest completed the blessing of arms that opened the crossbow competition in Gubbio, Italy, last May.
The target-shooting contest that pits the bowmen of Gubbio against their challengers from Sansepolcro, a neighboring city in Umbria, has been held regularly for several centuries.
This weekend, the Gubbio team travels to Sansepolcro for the second stage of the colorful event, known as the Palio della Balestra.
"The first match was played in 1461, on the 17th of May. We have original documents about the competition that year," said Orlandi Ubaldo, president of the Crossbowmen's Society (Balestrieri) of Gubbio and the only contender in this century who has won the event three times.
Today, the event is held every year in Gubbio on the last Sunday in May, and in Sansepolcro on the second Sunday of September.
"It is now more than 350 years that the palio has been held here. It was interrupted only for the World War II, and one time Napoleon forbade it," said Ubaldo. This year his group is printing a list of all the winners from 1864 to 1974.
In a nod to the contest's deep roots, the contenders don medieval costumes and observe historical customs that include awarding the winner a specially designed palio banner (originally a pallium, or special fabric to sew a new suit), followed by a torch-lit victory procession through the town.
The crossbow was powerful in battle because its bolts (a shorter version of arrows) could penetrate the chain mail of opponents. Leaders of the Catholic Church, outraged by the lethal weapon, deemed the crossbow "unfit to be used among Christians" and tried to ban it from warfare in 1139"”without success. Richard I ("the Lionheart") died of a crossbow wound on the battlefield in 1199.
Under the feudal system of the Middle Ages, when landowners were responsible for their own local defense, the crossbow was prized by town militia and troops of mercenaries.
"The protection of one's castle or town was important. Civil outbreaks and invasions happened often. Perhaps it was more commonplace in Italy because there were so many city-states," said Pyhrr. "Many commercial towns had their own militia, and groups of crossbowmen were part of the militia."
A number of Italian towns, he noted, became famous for their skilled crossbowmen. "It seems to have become something of a major export, a commodity"”mercenaries that could be rented out. It brought fame to Genoa and some other cities," said Pyhrr.
Hunting and Sport
The crossbow became obsolete in warfare in the 15th century after firearms were introduced. It continued to be used widely for hunting, however, and also became popular for sport.
"Shooting societies remained in place from the 16th century," said Pyhrr. Companies of crossbowmen organized inter-city competitions to display their skills and keep the ancient art alive.
Crossbows are still used for hunting in some parts of the world, especially Africa and Southeast Asia, but the practice has been outlawed or restricted in many countries, including the United States.
The basic design of the crossbow has changed little through the ages; it consists of a bow fixed horizontally atop a stock, or handle; string; nocks, or notched end pieces of the bow to which the string is attached; and a trigger to release the arrow-like bolts. The bolts are made of wood, with tips of steel and feather fins.
Medieval crossbows had a bow constructed of composite layers, to make it "soft and springy," said Pyhrr. The materials for the various parts were all natural, including wood, bone, tendon, and glue. Steel-made bows, which were stronger than composite bows, came into use by the 14th to 15th century.
Many modern crossbows are made of lighter materials and have sighting mechanisms and other modifications to make them more efficient.
Today, the Gubbio and Sansepolcro contenders are required to use crossbows modeled on the traditional design, although the style and size can vary slightly to suit the individual owners and teams. "Some balestre (crossbows) are handed down from the families, but some of the balestrieri are very good at creating and producing them for competition," Ubaldo said.
"To become a balestriere is very hard," Ubaldo explained. An aspiring bowman must practice and master the sport on his own, and pass an exam to demonstrate knowledge about crossbow engineering and the traditional palio.
A committee of highly experienced marksmen in the Crossbowmen's Society ultimately decides whether to admit the newcomer into the group. "To enter is quite impossible. There have been just two new balestrieri in the last four years," said Ubaldo.
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Daniel James Hendricks
POB 251
Glenwood, MN 56334
320-634-3660
Email: bowtwang@charter.net
Website: www.horizontalbowhunter.com
I wonder if there is a chapter in NY or maybe one in the works. There seems to be a lot of hostility towards xbow users coming from there. I know I've been feeling it on another forum!
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Virginians for Hound Hunting Reform
It doesn't start out as bashing. The intent is there and after a while it turns to it. On the other forum we're at the "bash the messenger" stage. You know where after you counter all their arguments and they start on you personally after all else fails. Going to be some shocked compound hunters in a few other states in the next few years. They just can't get it - but they will.
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Virginians for Hound Hunting Reform
It doesn't start out as bashing. The intent is there and after a while it turns to it. On the other forum we're at the "bash the messenger" stage. You know where after you counter all their arguments and they start on you personally after all else fails. Going to be some shocked compound hunters in a few other states in the next few years. They just can't get it - but they will.
Yup I believe you are dead on the money on that one.
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OHA Life member, NRA member, DVC# ON 452
Another fine writing DJH! And your right Christine is our "Den Mother"! She is easy to talk to and I enjoy the PM's that me and her have exchanged. I don't know alot about her but she does do a good job watching after us.
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Hunting is like Marriage, you get out of it what you put in it. Sometimes you score and sometimes you don't, but its always fun going out!
This thread reminds me of an old BoB Dylan tune of off his John Wesley Hardin album. I was having way more fun than I should have back then,so the only lyric I can remember is "Come in She Said, I'll Give You Shelter From the Storm. LOL, there's gotta be a couple of ya remember that one!
Shelter for Battered Crossbow Users
