Crossbows have been with us a long time, going all the way back to 400 BC in China. They were an important military weapon until rifles came along, and by 209 BC the Chinese had armed tens of thousands of troops with mass-produced horizontal bows. In the Western World, the crossbow — believed to be the forerunner of the catapult — made its appearance sometime prior to the 4th century BC.

It was Hollywood that introduced most of us to crossbows. Classic movies such as Ivanhoe, Prince of Persia: The Thief of Bagdad, and The Adventures of Robin Hood (the bad guys used crossbows) and even more modern movies such as Rambo, The Walking Dead and Lord of the Rings showcased these (often exaggerated) shooting wonders and planted the seed that these bows are not only deadly efficient, but a whole lot of fun to shoot.

It’s clear that horizontal bows have become increasingly popular in recent years, and as a result, so has the drive by manufacturers to expand their market share by producing faster, safer and more user-friendly models. Today’s crossbows are a modern marvel of space age technologies and materials. They are a joy to shoot and an effective hunting tool.

Because it requires less time and practice to become proficient with a horizontal vs. a vertical bow, crossbows help get more archers in the field and keep them there longer, providing the impetus for increased recruitment and retention among modern bowhunters. Most of today’s crossbows come equipped with everything needed to get hunters in the field immediately. But for those not satisfied with the status quo, there is available a plethora of aftermarket goodies that will take any crossbow to the next level of efficiency.

Arm your medieval minded bow patrons to the teeth with the very best in horizontal bows — those modern marvels that will take their bowhunting efforts to the next level of efficiency and fun.