Why has the church labeled it a weapon of the devil?

Article author: Václav Suchan, blesk.cz

The crossbow has become an increasingly popular sporting tool in recent years. But like any weapon, it can become a dangerous tool. This is confirmed by the crime in Bushey, UK, where a BBC sports commentator's wife (†61) and two daughters (†25, †28) were killed by a crossbow.

John Hunt is the BBC's chief racing commentator. According to the British media, it was he who found his loved ones in the house last Tuesday, beyond help. The murder weapon was believed to be, among other things, a crossbow in the hand of an ex-boyfriend of one of the daughters. He was arrested the following day.

Czech crime

Crossbow murders have also been committed in the Czech Republic. In 1994, the perpetrator hit a currency trader in the head with an arrow. He then threw him into a cesspit and poured several layers of concrete over him. Ten days before the statute of limitations ran out, police arrested the shooter in 2014 and a court sent him to prison for 12 years.

The devil's weapon

The crossbow is the second oldest weapon in human history after the bow. In 1139, a church council banned its use by Christians in combat. And it was called the devil's weapon because, unlike arrows from a bow, it caused certain death.

And the present?

Until 2021, the crossbow was classified as a category D mechanical weapon in our country, and its sale was restricted by the age of 18. With few exceptions, the crossbow could not be visibly carried in public or handled in any way. This was changed by an amendment in 2021 and the restriction was dropped, although it is a very effective, yet silent weapon that is in the arsenal of some armies.

The three types

The three types of crossbows are reflex, pulley and pistol. Traditional reflex crossbows have an arcuate curved arm with an arc at each end called a reflex. This accelerates the arrow in the final stage of the shot. These crossbows are more accurate and reliable than pulley crossbows. They offer comparable or often even higher arrow speeds. Pulley arrows have the advantage of easier cocking in the final phase. But, for example, the bowstring on a pulley crossbow cannot be changed by the shooter.

Pistol crossbows are smaller in size and are cocked with less force, most commonly at a cocking force of 80 pounds (40 kg). It is essentially a small bow attached to a crossbow body made of lightweight metal or composite, and held in place by a steel compression spring.

Trigger and safety

An important part of the crossbow is a reliable trigger mechanism, which, unlike firearms, must hold all the cocking force while being accurate and smooth. "For safety, modern crossbows have a trigger that is always fitted with a safety. But, for example, the high-end Canadian crossbows have two safeties; the second safety will not allow the shooter to pull the trigger without a seated arrow. This is very important, because a shot without a loaded arrow can completely destroy the crossbow," says František Cerman, an expert on these weapons from kuse.cz.

Power of charge and range

The pistol crossbow has an accurate range of up to 20 metres. Modern reflex or pulley crossbows can be accurately shot up to 100 metres; a safe hunting shot is considered to be up to 50 metres. Currently, the most powerful mass-produced crossbows are capable of a range of up to one kilometre! The most powerful pulley crossbows have a cocking force of up to 200 lb (100 kg), reflex crossbows up to 360 lb (180 kg). Such crossbows are not capable of being cocked by the shooter's hands alone. That is why manufacturers attach cocking aids to their crossbows. These can be cranked or bowstrung.

The current Czech legislation does not allow the use of crossbows for hunting in the Czech Republic, but in the USA, Canada and some European countries it is possible.

Tournaments

Crossbows are nowadays most commonly used for sport shooting. The most popular competition discipline is shooting at 3D rubber dummy animals in their life size and appearance. This is in a natural environment. The crossbow shooter goes around approximately 30 positions, hunting one dummy at each. These are at different distances from the shooter (6 to 54 m). According to František Cerman, it is absolutely essential to be able to estimate the distance of the target well for a successful shot.

Czechs are among the most successful shooters at European or world 3D championships! A bullet fired from a high-end mass-produced sport crossbow, for example Excalibur Micro or Bulldog with a loading force of 130 kg, flies at 139 m/s, which corresponds to 500 km/h!

Pistol crossbows can be bought for as little as €60, while quality reflex or pulley models range in price from €400 to €2,000. For example, the Excalibur Micro Suppressor costs €1,000.

The materials used in the construction of crossbows have changed over the years; wood, horn, and later steel have been replaced by composites, plastics, duralumin, carbon, and Kevlar, which contributes to their lower weight and higher performance.