The heavy bow on this one gives credit to the claim by eyewitnesses that some examples used in the 1930's shot up to 300 meters. This where most replicas are made with bows not more than 40 pounds. The bow of two slats of very thick-walled bamboo on this example, while I do not dare pull it all the way, surely exceeds 70 pounds in draw. While obviously lacking the accuracy of other archery gear, the lack of strength in these replicas is partly due to the abrasion of the mechanism but can also be contributed to the use of a somewhat light bow. Many a replica has been tested, and they often show that the weapon is neither very strong or accurate. Pitt Rivers Museum, accession number: 1914.27.1. Some of these arrows were poisoned with the very potent aconite poison, making it a formidable weapon against intruders.Ī bottle of aconite poison for a tiger trap type crossbow, collected in Ningbo, China, in 1914. Many of these smaller ones that have survived appear to be more suited for civilian self-defense. These military versions tend to be on the large side.
Written by Naer Jing-e of the Manchu Plain White Banner. A page from the Illustrated Handbook of Military Techniques (兵技指掌图说), showing these crossbows in use by the Green Standard Army of Zhili.