Crossbow facts for kids

A drawing of an archer firing a crossbow

A crossbow is a special type of weapon. It shoots small arrows called crossbow bolts or quarrels. Most people believe the crossbow was first invented in China. But it also became very important in Europe during the Middle Ages. Today, crossbows are still used for sports and hunting.

What is a Crossbow?

A crossbow looks a bit like a rifle, but it shoots arrows instead of bullets. It has a main part called a stock, which you hold. On top of the stock is a prod. This prod looks like a bow. The crossbow also has a special part that helps load and shoot the arrows.

How a Crossbow Works

When you get a crossbow ready, a strong string is pulled back. This string is held in place by a small part called a nut. The arrow, or quarrel, rests on a flat area called the shelf. When you pull the trigger, the nut lets go of the string. The string then shoots the arrow forward very fast.

Parts of a Crossbow

The main parts of a crossbow were often made from strong wood like oak or hard maple. The prod (the bow part) was tied to the stock with strong ropes made of hemp or linen. The string itself was also made from tough fibers like linen, hemp, or even animal sinew. Sometimes, cotton was used too.

Crossbows also have a trigger. This is the part you pull to fire the arrow. Triggers were used on crossbows as early as the 1400s. Later, triggers like these were also used on guns such as muskets and rifles.

The famous inventor Leonardo da Vinci even designed some very clever triggers for crossbows. He made one called a "hair trigger" that needed only a tiny touch to fire.

Crossbows Today

Over time, crossbows were replaced in wars by weapons that used gunpowder. Early guns were not as accurate as crossbows and shot slower.

Today, shooting a crossbow is a popular sport. Modern crossbows are used for target practice and for hunting in some places. They are made from strong, light materials, just like modern bows.

Images for kids

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  A modern hunting crossbow from the 21st century.

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  Pieces of a crossbow trigger from the Han dynasty in China.

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  A crossbow nut from the 16th century, found in Germany.

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  A modern recurve crossbow with its arrows.

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  Another example of a modern compound hunting crossbow.

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  A heavy Wallarmbrust crossbow from the 15th century, used to defend castles.

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  Arrowheads and lead balls from the Han dynasty.

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  What you see through a modern crossbow's telescopic sight.

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  A bronze trigger and butt plate from the Warring States period in China.

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  A small guard with a crossbow on a model watchtower from the Eastern Han era in China.

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  Wheel-mounted and elephant-mounted crossbows used by the Khmer army.

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  A reconstruction of a Greek gastraphetes crossbow.

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  A crossbow based on drawings from a Roman grave.

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  A medieval crossbowman getting his crossbow ready behind a shield.

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  A drawing of a crossbow by Leonardo da Vinci from around 1500.

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  A modern copy of a mounted triple bow crossbow.

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  A modern crossbow used in competitions.

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  A battle scene from the Han dynasty showing a man using a winch to pull back a crossbow string.

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  Song dynasty cavalry soldiers riding horses and using crossbows.

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  A 15th-century crossbowman using a stirrup and a belt hook to pull the string.

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  A detailed drawing of a "goat's foot lever" on a crossbow.

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  An illustration of a "gaffe lever" on a crossbow.

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  Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci of his rapid fire crossbow.

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  A drawing showing the inside parts of a Balester hunting crossbow.

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  A 20th-century drawing of a windlass pulley used for crossbows.

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  A 15th-century crossbowman using a "cranequin" (a rack and pinion tool).

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  An iron cranequin from the late 15th century.

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  A mounted crossbow with two bows.

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  A mounted crossbow with three bows.

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  A multi-bolt crossbow.

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  Getting a Greek gastraphetes ready to fire.

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  Another view of a Gallo-Roman crossbow.

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  The earliest European picture of cavalry soldiers using crossbows, from 1086.

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  A late medieval crossbowman from about 1480.

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  A 15th-century French soldier carrying a crossbow and a large shield called a pavise.

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  A model of Leonardo da Vinci's rapid fire crossbow.

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  An early modern four-wheeled ballista pulled by armored horses (1552).

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  A 16th-century French mounted crossbowman. He uses a cranequin to load his crossbow while riding.

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  A small pistol crossbow for fun shooting at home, made in the early 19th century.

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  A French crossbow used to throw grenades around 1915.

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  A modern crossbow used for hunting.

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  A scientist using a crossbow to get samples from dolphins.

See also

In Spanish: Ballesta para niños