chinese crossbow

ausjulius · 23rd October 2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenlander

Cossbows i believe were a Chinese invention. Originally used as a siege device for attacking fortified towns. Aparently around the sixth century BC according to the source I am reading, although this seems too old I think.

seems to be a good date, the romans had thema slo,
and from what i recall the sythians were the frist people known to use them and they used them as childrens toys...

many of the siberian natives have had crossbows for untold 1000snds of years , but mostly these were used for making traps , and they used the bow for hunting them selves,

i think the chinese were the first to use the crossbow as a military weapon,,

they made repeating crossbows with poisoned arrows and two man operated magazine fed crossbows with 20 arrow hopper fed magazines, they still used these int he 19th centuary,

fenlander · 25th October 2006, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ausjulius

seems to be a good date, the romans had thema slo,
and from what i recall the sythians were the frist people known to use them and they used them as childrens toys...

Yes i just checked further, they used crossbows a little earlier than the Romans.
Do you know which poisons they used on their arrows (or should I say bolts) ?
I was told the crossbow was banned in the renaissance by the church. Does anyone know why ? Not that it was any great loss with the English long bow being far more effective.

v

Philip · 25th October 2006, 08:52 PM

For chemical warfare, you'll find mention in the volumes dealing with chemistry in the late Joseph Needham's monumental series SCIENCE AND CIVILIZATION IN CHINA, published over several decades by Cambridge University. Needham was painstakingly thorough, his volume on gunpowder (Vol. V, section 7) contains formulae and comparative studies with Western forms of this explosive, along with the weapons using it.

For incendiary and aquatic ordnance, see Ralph D. Sawyer, FIRE AND WATER: THE ART OF INCENDIARY AND AQUATIC WARFARE IN CHINA, Boulder (CO): Westview Books, 2004. There is brief coverage of poisons in there.

Folks, please don't try this stuff at home!!!

25th October 2006, 08:52 PM	#3
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	references on chemical and explosive ordnance For chemical warfare, you'll find mention in the volumes dealing with chemistry in the late Joseph Needham's monumental series SCIENCE AND CIVILIZATION IN CHINA, published over several decades by Cambridge University. Needham was painstakingly thorough, his volume on gunpowder (Vol. V, section 7) contains formulae and comparative studies with Western forms of this explosive, along with the weapons using it. For incendiary and aquatic ordnance, see Ralph D. Sawyer, FIRE AND WATER: THE ART OF INCENDIARY AND AQUATIC WARFARE IN CHINA, Boulder (CO): Westview Books, 2004. There is brief coverage of poisons in there. Folks, please don't try this stuff at home!!!