The modern world offers people so many opportunities to lead an active and exciting way of life. There are lots of fascinating opportunities every person should try at least once to see what it is like. Compound bowhunting is just such great kind of entertainment that attracts more and more people every day. However, it is not as new as some people think. Compound bow history started a long time ago. Đ’ut how did this equipment appear and what are compound bows made of?
COMPOUND BOWS: THE HISTORY OF APPEARANCE
A modern compound bow has a design that has no analogs in history. When was the compound bow invented? A model was developed in 1966 by archer hunter from Missouri, Holless Wilbur Allen. So, this is an answer to a wide-spread question: “Who invented the compound bow?”. The reason for this was the situation on the hunt when he spent a whole day in a tree waiting for prey. However, at the right moment, the inventor of this equipment could not shoot because of the stiff muscles from immobility and cold.
WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT COMPOUND BOWS
Modern archery is much easier to handle compared to the first compound bows. The main difference of this design is the presence of two block mechanisms in the form of eccentric wheels (blocks with an eccentric axis) located at the ends of the arms. They redistribute the load of thrust, which allows to significantly weaken it towards the end. In addition, the eccentrics contribute to the achievement of the maximum tension force, and this is done in stages, evenly with the transfer of the load on the shooter’s hand.
The bowstring is wound on the blocks from the direction of the arrow, and cables are tied up in the counterweight. As a result, when the string is tightened, the blocks of compound longbow
are unwound, and the string is released by winding up the cables and shoulders, as well as accumulating potential energy. The presence of such a mechanism in compound archery allows you to stretch the bow with great tension, so you can achieve a higher rate of departure of the stele, have fewer mistakes and better shooting results. It’s simple: stronger tension implies an exact hit.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE ARCHERY
The choice of modern bow and arrow should be made depending on the “leading” eye and the main working hand of the shooter. In other words, a left-handed person closes the right eye when aiming; therefore, he/she needs a model with a left handle and vice versa. The next important point you should take into consideration when choosing your first compound bow is tension force. It directly influences the result of the shooting. The higher the force of the bow tension, the smoother the trajectory of the arrow. Hence, the more accurate the result of hitting you will have.
It should also be stated it is difficult to stretch the string as much as possible in case of cooling. That’s why a model with the easy adjustment of the tension force is the best option. Most vintage compound bows had the length of 28-30 inches. Such length is convenient for adults these days as well; thus, such equipment is the most popular purchase.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF ECCENTRICS FOR BOWS
Before considering the existing types of eccentrics as well as their features and differences, let us talk about one more important concept – a release. It is a special trigger mechanism, which is conveniently mounted on the brush and is used for cocking and holding the bowstring. The use of releases allows you to increase the accuracy and convenience of the shot.
As a result of the wide distribution of releases, eccentrics with a large release of force appeared. Relying on the compound bow information, the first devices were quick to double eccentrics with an oval shape. Such eccentrics allow you to change the amount of the relief effort and significantly improve the dynamics curve of the bow.
However, with the decrease in the length of these small arms and the requirement to increase the smoothness of the dynamics, the eccentrics inevitably changed in size. In parallel, there were such problems as an unintentional reversal of these block mechanisms, their asynchrony, unsatisfactory accuracy of work, etc. The problem was solved by combining two eccentrics into one, mounted on the lower shoulder. In the upper part, there was a round block in the form of a wheel for sliding the bowstring.
Block bows with mono-eccentric are easy to use and, therefore, ideal for an average consumer. Their main advantages are a low-volume shot, high speed of the boom movement, a clear and precise stop in the stretch.
The way out was the eccentric CPS (one-and-a-half or hybrid). It was developed by the American company Darton. However, there is still a more perfect type of eccentrics used in modern bows. It is binary. By the way, it was created with consideration of Darton’s principle. The advantage of these devices is improved synchronization, achieved thanks to the special shape of the cable section. Probably, the only drawback of such bows is their high cost.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it should be stated that the existing variety of bows is just impressive. It means everyone will find a suitable model at an affordable price and with the necessary characteristics, depending on the goal that is set for this device. Beginners should pay attention to bows with double round eccentrics; a professional shooter can choose more expensive versions with mono and bastard eccentrics. All in all, it’s up to you to decide. We hope our guide on bow and arrow history timeline will help do the right choice.
By the way, we will be glad to learn why this type of entertainment has caught your interest. Have you any experience of shooting? Write your answers in the comments.