Medieval Crossbows ᐉ Archery ᐉ Medieval Armoury Shop

The crossbow is a propelling weapon that shoots arrows or bodoques, and is made composed of a bow positioned horizontally on a platform with a mechanism for tightening the string and another for shooting. It is still used today, albeit primarily for recreational purposes such as target shooting and hunting, despite the fact that it is a very old combat instrument.

Although the current nomenclature is stable, it has undergone various changes over time and between cultures, such as in the Middle Ages, when it was given a variety of other names, most of which were derived from the word ballista.

Crossbows were used extensively in European, North African, and Asian battles. They are thought to have originated in East Asia, specifically ancient China, based on the main source of archaeological evidence. One of the first textual allusions to crossbows may be found in the works of Mozi and Sun Tzu's followers in The Art of War, which was written between 500 B.C. and 300 A.D.

The crossbow, which is a development and enhancement of the bow and arrow, became widely employed in the West in the 10th century. The primitive wooden bow was replaced by an arbalest, a powerful metal bow made up of one or more metal rods linked together (like a carriage spring).

In today's sporting versions, the original braided vegetable or gut string has been replaced with wire and finally synthetic fibers. In current times, the original vegetable stick arrow has been replaced with a short metallic arrow capable of piercing armor and constructed of carbon. The arrow was placed in a grooved rail that ran perpendicular to the center of the arch and on which the driving rope or wire moved.

Crossbows of many varieties can be found in our catalog. The majority of them are designed for medieval re-enactments or larp wars, but we also have a selection of tactical crossbows for shooting practice. At medievalarmoury.com, you may purchase a medieval crossbow right now.