This vintage book contains a detailed treatise on the crossbow, being a historical account of its development and evolution throughout the centuries. The crossbow was a revolutionary advancement in ballistic weaponry which was arguably the forerunner to hand-held guns. This volume explores its history and discusses how its design and development varied from country to country. Contents include: "The Slurbow", "The Sixteenth-century Sporting Crossbow", "The Cranequin, and How it was Applied to Bend the Steel Bow of a Crossbow", "The Sixteenth and Early Seventeenth Century Spanish Sporting Crossbow, with a Steel Bow of Moderate Strength which was Bent by a Cranequin", et cetera. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern edition complete with an introductory essay on History of Archery by Horace A. Ford.