A repeating crossbow is a crossbow where the separate actions of stringing the bow, placing the bolt and shooting it can be accomplished with a simple one-handed movement while keeping the crossbow stationary. This allows a higher rate of fire than a normal crossbow: there is a magazine containing a number of bolts on top of the bow, and the mechanism is worked by moving a rectangular lever forward and backward.
Our replica is made of high quality ash beech and spruce wood. The surface is soaked with dark wax. The mechanics, form and function imitate the historic template very well. This crossbow is suitable for practical use during leisure activities. More information...
Chinese medieval repeating crossbow Chukonu
The use of crossbows in European warfare is again evident from the Battle of Hastings until about the year 1500. They almost completely superseded hand bows in many European armies in the 12th century for a number of reasons. Although a longbow achieves comparable accuracy and faster shooting rate than an average crossbow, crossbows release more kinetic energy and can be used effectively after a week of training, while a comparable single-shot skill with a longbow takes years of strength training to overcome the draw strength of the longbow, as well as years of practice needed to use it with skill.
Specifications:
- Length of the tiller: 80cm
- Length of the lathe: 70cm
- Weight: 2.1 kg
- Draw weight approx. 50,5 lbs (32 kg) on the string and about 6,6 lbs (3 kg) on the lever
- The capacity of the magazine: 10 arrows
- 12 arrows included
- Recommended arrows 255/8 (13 g, length 28cm)
- String: 700 B
- Delivery incl. 12 bolts
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Made in Czech Republic
The use of this historical crossbow is at your own risk.
Please do not shoot from the crossbow without an arrow. This way you can damage the bowstring!
The Chinese repeating crossbow chu-ke nu is a device with a simple design. The bow string consisted of animal sinew twisted into a cord of suitable strength. Zhuge Liang improved the design of the repeating crossbow, and made a version which shot two to three bolts at once and was used in massed formations. For this reason, it was named after him. Other repeating crossbows fired as many as 10 bolts before exhausting the magazine. The bolts of one magazine are fired and reloaded by simply pushing and pulling the lever back and forth. The weapon used by the ancient militaries was developed into a composite-recurve variety for more power. The recurved repeating crossbow is generally still weaker than the regular recurved crossbow, and was mainly used for sieges or behind shield cover. The Chinese repeating crossbow had a maximum range of 120 meters, with an effective range of 60 meters, far less than that of a non-repeating crossbow.
Please read how to replace a crossbow string.