How do repeater crossbows work

A more complex repeating ballista was described in the works of the Greek engineer Philon of Byzantium. This siege engine was called a Polybolos and was reputedly invented by Dionysius of Alexandria in the 3rd century BC. Two flat-linked chains were connected to a windlass , which by winding back and forth would automatically fire the machine's arrows until its magazine was empty.

The machine features the earliest recorded chain drive in the history of technology. The small and light arrow of the comparatively weak Chinese crossbow had little penetrative power.

For this reason the head of the arrow was sometimes dipped in poison, in order that a slight wound might prove fatal. Military Wiki Explore. Popular pages. Project maintenance. Register Don't have an account? This looks somewhat similar to the original Repeater Crossbow, but the steel has been replaced with gold and the beam component has ridges. The Golden Repeater Crossbow deals the same damage as the normal variant, differences are merely aesthetic. It is obtained by getting 3, Food from killing animals.

The Diamond Repeater Crossbow is obtained upon gathering 7, resources while holding it and does the same damage as the normal variant. It is blue colored, and the ridges have become sharper compared to the Golden Variant. The Ruby Repeater Crossbow is obtained once you have gathered 12, resources while holding it. The trigger consists of a little piece of hard wood. When the lever is fully pulled back the trigger pushes the stretched bow-string upwards out of the notch that holds it, B, fig.

The trigger works in an upright slot. It has its upper end enlarged to prevent it from dropping out of the slot in which it moves up or down, fig. The magazine, full of arrows, pushed forward by the lever. The bow-string is caught in the notch above the trigger. The crossbow just before it is discharged. The trigger, as its lowest extremity is pressed against the surface of the stock by the action of the lever lifts the bow-string out of the notch.

B, fig. The lever is here pulled back, with the result that the bow is bent and the bow-string stretched. By pulling back the lever a little farther than shown in this sketch, the projecting end of the trigger will be pressed against the surface of the stock of the crossbow. This causes the upper end of the trigger to lift the bow-string out of the notch and set it free.

The arrow is then discharged and the crossbow returns to the position shown in fig. From this description, it will be understood how simple and rapid is the action of the crossbow. All that need be done to shoot off the arrows contained in its magazine, is to work the lever to and fro as slowly or as quickly as desired. It is even possible to discharge a dozen arrows in fifteen seconds.