A crossbow is an ancient weapon, composed of a bow mounted on a stock that launches projectiles, known as bolts. A mechanism in the stock allows the bow to be in its fully-drawn position at all times. The crossbow is fully-drawn until it is shot by releasing a trigger. These danderous weapons are known for their role in Asian and European warfare. Today however, crossbows are mainly used for target shooting and sport hunting. It is likely that the crossbow was first used by tribes of South-Eastern Asia, where today it is still used by the hunter-gatherer and nomad tribes, both for hunting, warfare, and “toys”.
A recurve bow is a more modern version of the traditional bow. Older recurves and some modern hunting recurves are one-piece bows. By far, the greatest number of archers choose to shoot recurve bows, the modern version of the traditional Longbow.
Little is known of primitive archery. Some authorities date the origin of archery as early as the Aurignacian period, about 25,000 years before the modern era. it is believed that archery has been in existence for over 100,000 years. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, archery's importance as a cultural advance ranks with the development of speed and the art of making fire. Together with fire, the wheel, and speech, archery is considered one of mankind's most important initial developments.
A compound bow is usually a composite recurve bow coupled with pulleys known as eccentric cams. Compound bows are much more technically sophisticated than the recurve, the bow employing wheels or 'cams' at the tip of the limbs.
