Weirdest weapons ever. Not a fool, but not quite a bullet ("non-standard" throwing weapon). The deadliest airgun
culture
Throughout the history of mankind, a huge number of different types of weapons have been invented, sometimes even the most unimaginable devices at first glance were used.
The weapons devices of the ancient world are a completely different story, because the fantasies of our ancestors could only be envied, with what accuracy they sometimes made means of defense and attack!
Below are the rarest types of weapons that, for some reason, did not last long, but which fully justified their purpose.
1) Maquahutl
This is a wooden sword, one of the main weapons of the Aztecs. The weapon was up to 120 cm long, and along its edges there were special grooves with built-up parts called obsidian.
10 Most Terrifying Biological WeaponsAs the Spanish settlers noted, the weapon was very well thought out, it was almost impossible to extract obsidian from the wood when thrown, which spoke of the strength of the device. Moreover, the teeth were so sharp that they often decapitated a person.
The last mention of this weapon dates back to 1884. This copy burned down in a fire.
rare weapon
2) Tepostopili
This weapon was very similar to the previous one, however, it resembled a spear in shape. The thepostopilla had the same obsidian ribs along the wooden grooves, however, the handle was about the height of a man, which allowed for a better grip on the spear and gave it better "pushing ability".
3) Kpinga
Kpinga is a multi-blade throwing weapon used by the warriors of the Azande people who inhabited ancient Nubia. The length of the knife was about half a meter, while three iron blades protruded at different angles, which inflicted the maximum possible damage to the enemy.
Americans almost created the weapon of the futureIn addition to the fact that kpinga was considered an indicator of status among the Azande, and could only be the property of proven and valiant warriors, it also acted as part of the ransom that a man had to give to the bride's family.
4) Qatar
Katar, apparently, was the most unique type of Indian daggers. It is characterized by an H-shaped horizontal grip, similar to brass knuckles, so two parallel bars created a support for the hand.
With proper and skillful use, with the help of this weapon, even chain mail could be pierced through. It is worth noting that, like the kpinga, the katar was a status symbol among the Sikhs and was also used at ceremonial occasions.
5) Chakra
Chakra is an Indian warrior's throwing disc, the outer edges of which were pointed and also had a rounded shape. Depending on the size, these weapons were hung from the wrist or around the neck, and then, at the right moment, thrown at the target.
6) Khopesh
The khopesh was an Egyptian sickle sword that was an "advanced" version of the old Assyrian weapon. Initially, it was made of bronze, then iron became the main material for creation.
Super - the weapon that never existedDue to its crescent shape, the khopesh made it possible to disarm the enemy in a short time, deftly picking up his shield. At the same time, only the outer edge was sharp in this weapon, which, nevertheless, could easily be dealt with chain mail.
7) Chu-to-well
This unique weapon was a Chinese repeating crossbow that was in use as early as the 4th century BC. With it, it was possible to fire 10 arrows at a distance of up to 60 meters in 15 seconds.
However, its penetrating power was comparatively small compared to modern single-shot crossbows, but its speed and poisonous arrowheads made it a very dangerous weapon that was used until the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895.
Australia
Since Australia banned possession of most firearms in 1996, armed assaults and robberies have risen by nearly 60 percent in the 8-year period of the law alone.
Bulgaria
The law of this state officially allows the carrying and possession of almost any type of firearm. After the Bulgarian authorities introduced such a law, an incredible decline in the number of serious crimes was recorded in a very short period of time.
Brazil
In a 2005 referendum held in Brazil, the overwhelming majority of the country's citizens voted against a ban on the sale of firearms. According to the results of the referendum, every Brazilian who has reached the age of 25 can have a firearm for hunting or for self-defense. It is known that the most acute social problem of the country is street crime. Through a referendum, according to the media, the government wanted to shift the solution of this problem onto the shoulders of ordinary citizens, disarming them.
UK
Since 1997, the UK has banned the possession of firearms. As a result, in 6 years, the number of rapes increased by 105 percent, the number of murders increased by 24 percent, armed attacks and robberies by 101 percent, and violent crimes by 88 percent. Thus, the crime rate just soared, and the UK took the top lines in the ranking of crime among the 18 most developed countries.
Germany
10 million German citizens are carriers of legal weapons. At the same time, despite the fact that the number of gun owners is growing every year, the number of crimes related to the use of weapons has fallen sharply.
Mexico
The Mexican constitution allows its citizens to possess weapons and use them to protect themselves and their property. In addition to this, in 2004 they passed a law on the possibility of having at home no more than two firearms. However, perhaps Mexico is one of the few countries in which the permit to carry weapons could not protect ordinary citizens from the wars constantly waged between drug cartels.
USA
Many American states (31) are known to allow the carrying of weapons. There is a regular decrease in the number of murders, robberies and other types of criminal activity in these states. It is worth adding that in those US states where weapons are banned, the crime rate is much higher.
Weapons come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny handguns to huge cannons that can shoot targets a kilometer in diameter. While the vast majority of weapons are understandable and common, as they follow familiarity, some of them are completely different from what we have seen before. Modern advances in weapon technology have allowed gun manufacturers to create products that look more like sci-fi movie props than guns. In this article, we take a look at the most bizarre weapons ever created and used, from loyal traumatic innovations to gigantic war machines.
PHASR laser rifle
Developed by the US Department of Defense at Kirkland Air Force Base, the PHASR non-lethal laser rifle was created for use by military and law enforcement personnel. The flashgun shooter temporarily blinds the enemy with focused laser beams. Another additional effect of PHASR is that two lasers operating at different wavelengths can also disorientate the enemy. The PHASR is also equipped with a rangefinder so that the laser can be calibrated to the correct distance, so as to avoid permanent damage to the victim's vision.
Thunder generator
The thunder generator is not a menu item from the weapon selection in your favorite video game, but a completely real weapon. The first prototype was designed by an Israeli farmer to scare off potential pests that could damage crops, but the thunder generator has since evolved into a non-lethal weapon to disperse crowds. Funded by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the thunder generator has become capable of hitting the enemy with a shock wave of fire at a distance of up to 150 meters, using a mixture of gas from liquefied petroleum, without causing much harm to human health. Although, the device is capable of causing quite serious damage to anyone who is closer than one meter from the device at the time of the shot.
duckfoot pistol
Duckfoot pistols were produced in the 19th century and, unlike other pistol variants, were equipped with several barrels pointing in the same direction. Such a pistol had four separate barrels, which were fixed in a structure resembling a duck's leg. This unique arrangement allowed the shooter to fire on multiple targets at the same time. This feature made it very popular among those who had to deal with attacks from criminal groups such as prison guards or couriers. This pistol was far from being an ideal weapon, as its heavy construction and high recoil made it difficult to conduct aimed fire.
Active electromagnetic pulse system
The Active Denial System resembles some kind of extraterrestrial anti-aircraft complex, not a modern weapon. Acting as a powerful radar, it shoots a beam of electromagnetic waves at a frequency that allows them to be absorbed into the top layer of the skin without much harm to the body as a whole. Those exposed to such rays will experience a painful burning sensation on the skin, as electromagnetic waves are similar in their action to a microwave oven. The effects are temporary and transient and only occur while the impulse is on the skin, but the Active Denial System is very useful as a non-lethal weapon, as it can hit an opponent even in tight clothing.
Auto Assault 12 Shotgun
Shotguns have long been an indispensable melee weapon, thanks to their high stopping power and ability to hit a large area. The main disadvantage of such a weapon is that it cannot offer continuous firing. The Auto Assault 12 was designed to solve these problems. It is capable of firing at 300 rounds per minute and can be loaded with 8 or 32 round drum magazines. As an additional option, the automatic shotgun can also use various types of ammunition, including conventional or rubber bullets, shot, and high explosive mines.
Vomit gun
The so-called gag pistol is another weapon that aims to have the most effective non-lethal effect. It can be suitable for ensuring the effective work of law enforcement agencies and the military to neutralize threats without causing irreversible damage to the enemy's body. This weapon is essentially a flashlight that emits a pulsing light that can cause a person to feel nauseous and even vomit violently. Although the US military abandoned the project, two enthusiasts have created their own version of the vomit gun and are selling it for less than $250.
German railway guns Gustav and Dora
During World War II, the Nazis developed a number of different powerful guns that were supposed to help them become an invincible military force on the planet. One of these projects was the giant railway guns Dora and Gustav. They were the largest artillery piece ever made and were so large that they had to be delivered disassembled and assembled in position. With a caliber of 32 inches and projectiles that weighed over 4,535 kg, this gun was capable of hitting a target at a distance of 150 km, and breaking through three meters of concrete barriers. This gun was used only once, as its sheer size and weight made it extremely difficult to transport it to firing positions. 
Pistol grip Braverman
In adventure films, we often see pistols disguised as ordinary household items, such as a pen or cane. The Braverman Pistol Grip differs from a regular shooting pen in that it can be folded to resemble a real pistol, making it much easier to fire this disguised weapon. Such pistols were created in the 90s, today there are about 4000 barrels, which makes them collectibles.
Hand Mortars
This prototype of the modern grenade launcher was used mainly from the 16th to the 18th century. Unfortunately, the weapon was extremely unreliable and posed a constant threat to the safety of the shooter. Grenades often stuck in the barrel and exploded, while in other cases, the fuses blew too soon and caused an explosion ahead of time. 
Digital pistols from Digital
Digital releases pistols that look just like weapons from a sci-fi movie. The digital pistol has a security code that can only be disabled if the shooter is wearing a special wristwatch that sends a signal to unlock the pistol. The wrist watch becomes active only after the user confirms his identity with fingerprints. In fact, this means that only a specially authorized user can fire this pistol, which reliably protects the weapon from theft or use against the owner. 
The main advantage of such samples is that in order to obtain a permit for them, a five-year experience in owning smooth-bore weapons is not required, and even the possibility of legal reloading of cartridges. Well, plus the joy of the owner from the possession of "almost a real carbine." It is not surprising that in 2018 the number of such models increased by several times, and more serious samples of 9.6 / 53 Lancaster were added to them (see “).
Against this background, the problems of the Yankees look ridiculous, but they still exist. For example, in relation to the possession of full-auto, that is, a full-fledged automatic weapon. Or rifles and shotguns with barrels less than 16" and 18", respectively.
The Franklin Armory Company entered the battle for the rights of American shooters. Only she, unlike the authors. But it was indeed the Reformation!
This device has rifling along the entire length of the barrel, only they are ... straight. The company positions the novelty in this way - non-rifle, that is, “not a rifle”. And since the rifling is still there, it’s not a gun. And, therefore, this work of engineering does not fall under the restrictions for either rifled or smooth-bore weapons. What's the move!?
Overseas legislators are in anguish and sadness, who still have not found a reason to attack. Grinding their teeth in impotent anger bourgeois LROshniki and fiscals from the Ministry of Finance, because in order to acquire "shortenings" it was necessary to obtain a special permit, as well as pay a tax of 200 bucks!
And the Franklin Armory, meanwhile, feel on horseback. Since they also managed to maintain a normal “arched” butt and a general classic look, and not put bastard “stops” that transfer other similar civilized samples into the category of pistols, remove “pistol” grips, etc. Take a look at the photo of such a device - br-r ...
But "Reformation" looks like a decent assault rifle.
And everything would be fine, only the same domestic. 366TKM is a completely normal, albeit somewhat unusual, weapon for shooting and hunting. And the straight rifling of the "Reformation" makes the ballistics of the classic .223Rem no. From the word at all. I had to create an original bullet for them with plumage, stabilizing its flight. Here she is in the photo.
Oh yeah, but what about the full-auto mode? And here "Franklin Armory" showed extraordinary ingenuity. It was she who not so long ago created the "Binary Fire System", or "Double Fire System". Simply put, this is a USM, in which the descent occurs both when the hook is pressed and when it is released.
The actual rate of fire is not much different from that of a full-fledged automatic weapon. However, formally "Reformation" is not.
These are such stalkers and, I’m not afraid of this word, rebels wound up in the town of Minden, in Douglas County, Nevada. There is no Russian Guard on them ...
In conclusion - a video about the capabilities of the "Binary Fire System". True, the main character here is not the "Reformation", but one of the previous models with this option.
By the way, in the "spy" literature, air pistols and rifles are often used, for example, to remotely break illumination sources that interfere with the operation, destroy security cameras, and even deliver tiny microphones to an object of interest. Well, let's believe the authors ... Not without such devices and cinema. In the picture - a spring-piston pistol " walther LP53″ in the hands of the protagonist of one of the best Bond films.
After many, many years, this legendary weapon was replaced by a much more advanced descendant (see ").
Oddly enough, no information could be found about the use by people in uniform of the recently actively developed super-powerful pneumatic weapon of the BigBore class (in the photo - 12.7 mm "").
Maybe because even these monsters with a muzzle energy of under a thousand (!) Joules cannot compete with the classic firearms (see ""), not to mention the samples developed specifically for the needs of special services ("). Or maybe they just try not to advertise such options for their use. In general, it seems that the “combat” pneumatics are still in service, except that, unlike crossbows, they prefer to hide in the shadows.
P.S. By the way, in our opinion, the priority in the use of pneumatic weapons in war in modern times should still be given to an unknown Austrian master who created the “Partisan PCP Rifle” in 1940. Now let's talk about her.
"Partisan PCP-rifle" in the fight against the Nazis
There is very little information about this unique example of a truly combat pneumatic weapon. It is known that it was created in 1940 or a little later by some Austrian partisan, a former cyclist. Therefore, the choice of pneumatic principle with pre-pumping (PCP) is not surprising.
Almost everyone knows about the powerful Austrian Nazi “fifth column”, which enthusiastically and actively promoted the Anschluss, but for some reason much less is told about the existence of the Resistance movement. At first, back in the late 1930s, it was mainly engaged in sabotage, but then moved on to armed struggle. Partisan groups and detachments were formed.
Well, okay, whoever is interested, he will find where to read about it in detail. Let us return to the actual hero of our story. The rifle of an unusual caliber 11.76 mm (.463) fired lead bullets, but its real performance characteristics are unknown, and one can only guess about effective fire distances and lethality. It seems that it was used to remove sentries, as well as to eliminate representatives of the commanding staff and drivers of vehicles. There is information, however, rather vague, that they worked on a target even at 100 yards.
Pneumatic Combat Knife
We are not talking about the so-called "shooting knives", like the good old NRS family (Special Scout Knife) or the 2018 new Arsenal RS-1 (see article ""), only where compressed air is used instead of powder gases. Owners of gas-balloon acid pistols, be proud of your devices! It's a joke... Although not quite a joke: carbon dioxide canisters are used in really serious samples. For example, in a powerful hunting arrow thrower "" or in.
However, in presenting to you today " WASP Injector Knife» Liquefied gas is not used to, say, throw a blade at the enemy. He himself is a striking element. Upon impact and penetration into the body, the instantly expanding CO2 from the cylinder through the channel enters the hole in the upper part of the blade and literally breaks into the flesh. In this case, a massive tissue rupture occurs, and under water this action will even intensify. In addition, the freezing effect is also added.
The manufacturers themselves address it:
- divers, divers, surfers - for example, against sharks;
- hunters - for example, against bears;
- pilots flying over water or over forests - in case of an emergency landing, again against the unfortunate :)) sharks and bears;
- power (military and police) special forces - "for special operations" *.
* The latter raises some doubts, since a person is not a shark or a bear; in principle, an ordinary knife is quite enough for him. Especially in trained hands.
However, the developers did not accidentally give this name to their offspring. Well, "Injector" and "Knife" do not need to be translated, but "WASP" is nothing more than the former (still 60s) name of a special assault unit, now commonly known as SWAT. That is, the secret marketing message sounded, probably, like this: “Buy, you bastards, rather, our knives for your commandos!”.
Pneumatics of the new time in war and hunting
Oddly enough, but the impetus for the emergence of pneumatic riflemen was given by the emergence and increasing distribution of firearms. Even the great Leonardo and Benvenuto Cellini seem to have had a hand in their development, but objective information about this has not come down to us. But later devices are evidenced not only by descriptions (sometimes with detailed drawings), but also quite real working samples stored in museums. Like the two hand-pumped guns kept in the Stockholm Museum, made in the 17th century for Queen Christina Augusta by craftsman Hans Köhler.
There were also very unusual samples, for example, this one - with a balloon made in the form of a sphere, created by the Dutch master Andreas Dolep in 1695.
For the most part, all these weapons were used for hunting purposes and tasks, including using arrows rather than bullets, as described in our article ““. Although there is information about the acquisition by the conspirators of a powerful pneumatic rifle for a classic contract political assassination - an attempt on Cromwell in 1655, which did not take place for various reasons.
However, in the general series there is one striking exception - the famous Girardoni rifle. Here it is, at the end of the 18th century, it was actually put into service in Austria. Moreover, during the wars with France, it managed to establish itself so much that Napoleon ordered to shoot shooters captured with this pneumatic weapon in their hands on the spot. A lot has been written about this legendary specimen and very professionally, information is widely presented on the Internet, therefore I will not delve into the essence of the issue. I will stop at just one moment.
Pay attention to the photo. Here the Girardoni rifle is presented complete with a spare cylinder. It is not difficult to guess that he simultaneously acts as a butt. A very original idea! The most interesting thing is that, for example, the "Condor" of the overseas company "AirForce" was made according to the same scheme:
Until recently, this arrangement was a kind of hallmark of this arms company, and now many leading manufacturers are demonstrating a similar approach.
It is impossible not to pay attention to the fact that until now it has been said about pre-pumped air rifles / shotguns - a kind of prototype of the current PCP pneumatics. However, a truly unique specimen is stored in the Vienna Historical Museum - probably the world's first spring-piston air rifle (photo taken from the wonderful article “History of Combat Pneumatics“).
Since we are talking about the 1590s, the answer to the question “what appeared first - PeTsePe or“ springs ”? - does not seem to be so clear.
Although ... Now we turn to pneumatics with pre-pumping, firstly, obviously older than all the samples considered above, and secondly, compared to them, much more deadly. So,
The deadliest airgun
If the conversation turns to the history of pneumatic weapons, then the Girardoni PCP rifle, created in 1780, is first of all remembered, and much less often - the spring-piston device of 1590, now stored in the Vienna Museum. Of the exotic, of course, wind pipes, best known as sarbicans, but under different names and still used not only by various kinds of natives, but also in the immobilization of animals. But there were also truly combat samples of pneumatic weapons of unprecedented efficiency. We will talk about them now, again moving along the reverse time scale.
Pneumatic artillery
It owes its appearance to the appearance of powerful explosives for filling shells, primarily to the famous invention of A. Nobel. The term "dynamite guns" was even assigned to such guns. But the thing is that although the same dynamite was much more “phlegmatic” than its base, nitroglycerin, it clearly did not reach the stability of later compositions, and such a filling could well detonate in the bore directly at the moment of the shot. Is it necessary!? Moreover, the propellant charge itself, based on the then gunpowders, was extremely sensitive to storage conditions, which was especially felt in the navy.
A peculiar way out (at least temporarily) was found in the second half of the 19th century in the form of pneumatic artillery guns, much more "calm" than firearms counterparts. The most famous are three 15-inch guns installed on the experimental American ship USS Vesuvius. They were designed by gunnery officer Edmund Louis Gray Zalinsky, who even started his own gun company, the Pneumatic Dynamite Gun Company. Interestingly, Zalinsky was soon replaced as chief designer by a former artillery officer of the Russian army by the name of Rapieff (that is, Repyev, according to the Topwar portal).
Pictured is the Rapieff-Zalinski variant, designed for coastal defense.
The compressor, designed for a pressure of 140 atm, was powered by a steam engine, but the actual working pressure was about 70 atm (by the way, the situation is about the same with modern PCP air rifles). And, despite the not too great range and accuracy, the power of the charge, unattainable for the then gunpowder artillery, was extremely destructive even in relation to battleships. It is not surprising that similar developments were carried out in a number of other countries, in particular, Italy and Germany.
But time passed, and the appearance of smokeless powders, which have a uniform and completely controlled combustion, as well as new, more resistant to stress, explosives, gave a new impetus to the development of classical artillery. And the "dynamite guns" at the beginning of the 20th century retired. True, there is information about the use of pneumomortars during the First World War, but they also lost to their then actively developing counterparts of the modern type. Now, it is combat pneumatic artillery that is missing as a class, but such samples are used, for example, as anti-avalanche guns.
"Greek fire" - a medieval wunderwaffe
Now let's get acquainted with the device, the probable appearance of the prototype of which is generally attributed to almost two thousand years ago, and the real one - to 673 AD. The "Greek fire" created then by Kalinnik helped the Byzantine emperor Constantine IV to defeat the Arab fleet in 678, with a repeat in 717-718.
The picture shows, in our opinion, a rather fantastic version of a throwing device that anticipated modern flamethrowers and, in fact, is related to the current pre-pumped air rifles. And the pump here is not HILL's :))? Most likely, in real life, devices like traditional bellows were used. Although everything is possible, because long before the events described, the ancient Greek inventor Heron of Alexandria created a water pump for extinguishing fires based on classic cylinders with pistons. Moreover, similar hand-held devices transported by horses were used by firefighters even in developed countries in the last century.
P.S. And let's finish such a serious topic with a "moment of humor." Somehow this comment was born by itself:
And the pump on the Roman ship is not Hillovsky at all! We turn on the mind and take into account the political, historical and geographical circumstances. The capital of the then Byzantium is now the capital not of Great Britain, but of Turkey. So, we can say with certainty that the “siphonophore” pump was also produced not by “Hill”, but by “Hatsan”! And the picture should look like this:
M-yes, it turned out to be a good basis for an article for publication in some publication on Alternative History and Chronology ...
The top photo shows an almost complete analogue of our slingshot-arrow-throwers, if otherwise - a “sling” (well, that's what we called them). Here, arrows, or rather, darts, have a hook in the area of the tip, which holds the strands. Once upon a time, we made them from electrodes with a special kerf-hook, but now, as you can see, this is a completely industrial product.
By the way, the top sample itself is positioned as “Powerful Hunting Tool Sniper Slingshot Folding Catapult Wrist Fishing Broadheads”, that is, “A powerful sniper slingshot-catapult for fish extraction mounted on the wrist” (!) and costs 35.99 USD.
And below is a more sophisticated and somewhere even “tactical” version of such a device. A lot of similar products are sold on Aliexpress or eBay.
In the photo below, we see a slightly different approach, largely borrowed from compound bows. Some of these hunting slingshots are equipped with archery shelves, known as "hairy" or Whisker, archery sights with several "pins (front sights). The tension and retention of the cords, as well as the shot itself, are carried out using.
The author of this creation, called "Falcon Slingbow", Randy Ratlin - is not a teenager. Yes, and his weapon is quite adult, the pulling force is 18 kg, or almost 40 pounds. According to the generally accepted classification among bowhunters, this is just the minimum level for hunting bows. Moreover, for individual "amateurs", which we can hardly imagine, the author produces perfect monsters with a force of 90 kgf! But even if we are talking about pounds, then with such a “slingshot” an enthusiast would quickly find himself in the friendly arms of the corresponding comrades.
And it's really not a joke. The red deer shown in the photo was caught by bowhunter Sandy Brady from an Elite Slingbow hunting slingshot at a distance of just under 15 meters (how he got there, another story, one word - well done!).
You will laugh, but not only, say, hares, but even wolves were and are still being hunted in general with the help of ... whips. This weapon is not remote, but the so-called "manual", but very effective, moreover, like slingshots, it is now a common product that can be purchased at a specialized store (see "").
"Gearhead Archery T15 Pro Bows" - onion slingshot or horned bow?
Anyone who can immediately name the structure depicted in the first photo, uh, can immediately be given the title of archeri-guru of the 3rd rank ahead of schedule. Although fans of compound bows will simply guess about its purpose - by the characteristic loop on the bowstring, etc. "hairy" shelf "Whisker".
This unusual throwing weapon with the solid name "Gearhead Archery T15 Pro Bows" really has something to do with bows. More precisely, we have before us a kind of centaur, made up of a slingbow hunting slingshot and some archery structural elements.
Ordinary "SlingBow" in appearance is very reminiscent of classic slingshots, except that due to the serious effort of tension, there is a hand rest in the base here. And so the Gearhead Archery company from the state of Wisconsin decided to bring the “slingshot” shooting technique as close as possible to the archery that is much more familiar to bowhunters. The result of research in this direction was the T15 Pro Bows.
It has both rubber bands and a bowstring with the already mentioned release loop. STS vibration dampers are installed in the base. Drawstring length from 18 to 32 inches, pulling force up to 29 lbs, that is, according to Russian law, bringing the sample under the category of throwing weapons. This is already quite a hunting indicator. The manufacturer itself positions the T15, made of aluminum and stainless steel, mainly as a device for bowfishing (bowfishing) - archery hunting for fish:
For what those who wish can purchase a special body kit:
As you can see, this is a fairly simple device, where instead of an inertia-free coil, an ordinary plastic flask is used for laying the line. By the way, it is quite possible to build something similar for bowfishing with a crossbow or a bow from an ordinary PET bottle, except that the styling itself will have to be done neatly by hand, and not using a mechanism.
The Gearhead Archery T15 hunting slingshot is available in two versions, the second is the T15 XL (pictured) - as the name suggests, it is even closer in size to compound bows, its height reaches 23 inches instead of 16 for the T15 Pro . He also has a classic archery 3-pin sight in the base.
By the way, since I had to say, not quite the usual appearance is inherent in all products of the Gearhead Archery company, which produces a fairly wide range of arrow throwers. Here is a photo of the "T30 CARBON FIBER COMPOUND BOW", a typical representative of the entire model line.
It feels like the developers there are led by a former civil engineer - that compound bows, that crossbows are very reminiscent of some kind of truss structures, something like railway bridges. Obviously not elven devices, rather dwarves could create something similar. Only not Tolkien's, but Cruz's from the cycle "By the Great River", eagerly adopting the achievements of a fragment of technocratic earthly civilization that has fallen into their primordial world.
A few words about bowfishing in Russia
Immediately explanation. In Russia, bowfishing, that is, “hunting” for fish with a bow, as with any throwing weapon, is prohibited. Usually in regional documents it looks like this: “Users of aquatic biological resources are not entitled to harvest (catch) aquatic biological resources using piercing fishing gear, with the exception of amateur and sport fishing, carried out using special pistols and guns (hereinafter referred to as spearfishing)”
As you can see, there are exceptions - these are spearguns and crossbows for spearfishing. And the whole difference lies in the very name of this type: shooting is carried out from an underwater position, that is, no shooter equipment should be on the surface. And therefore, ordinary bows and crossbows are not even technically suitable for this, since their elastic elements are not designed to work in a dense environment.
However, if you are really interested in this case, then you will be able to find opportunities for legal bowphishing. For example, in private farms with artificial breeding of fish, mainly carp and grass carp. Of the "wild" species, the pike is the most common, which, with skill, can be easily seen under a layer of water.
"STS Raptor" Jurassic Bow
This photo is fully consistent with the phrase "Do not believe your eyes!", Here, in fact, everything is not what it seems.
Firstly, this is by no means a virtual sample of a Hi-Tech bow created in a 3D editor, but a real serial product sold and bought for shooting and hunting. Secondly, this is not a bow at all, but the most slingbow hunting slingshot.
The archery company STS (Shoot Tech Systems) generally stands out for the extremely non-standard appearance of its products, in particular, the AR-480 and AR-480 Mark II crossbows. But the point is not in appearance, but, say, in the double bowstring system, which allows you to shoot not only arrows, but also steel balls, acting as a Schnapper. Moreover, a 7-gram projectile develops up to 480 fps, or 146 meters per second. But back to the hero of our today's story.
So, his name is RAPTOR 28” (28 is the distance in inches from the axis to the axis of the blocks, ATA). The prototype, which appeared back in 2009, bore the same name - in the wake of the popularity of the most memorable characters in Jurassic Park. And it was there that the developers first applied the dual string system.
What does it give? Take a look at the photo. The upper jumper between the bowstrings allows the use of classic archery arrows, only with a shank turned 90 degrees. Below is a "nest" for steel balls, and not simple, but magnetic - it's clear why. Speed performance in Schnapper mode is up to 485 fps depending on the type (and weight) of the projectile, and the 350-grain arrow accelerates to 295 fps, i.e. 90 m/s.
By the way, our old Bavarian friend Jörg Spreyv shot a Raptor through a chronograph and got real 488 fps, or 149 m/s with a 10mm ball (weight, alas, was not specified). The 12 mm analogue showed 119 meters per second. To be honest - very, very impressive!
And now the most interesting. The Raptor does not have traditional beam elastic elements, that is, flexible arms, all the mechanics are based on rubber bands (6 for each arm - see photo), which classifies the product as a “slingbow”. Tension force is adjustable from 40 to a solid 80 pounds, its reset is also adjustable and is 60-80%.
The disadvantages of such a unique sample stem from the design features. This is an immediately noticeable complexity of the nodes (photo below), a certain bulkiness, and most importantly, fairly rapid wear and the appearance of "fatigue" of the rubber bands. Their replacement is not very difficult, they themselves are sold in kits plus the necessary silicone grease.
The manufacturer recommends its product for hunting use - with balls for "small game", that is, small animals and, first of all, feathered ones, but with arrows - for any game, as with ordinary blockers. However, we have not been able to find any descriptions or videos with hunting scenes from the Raptors. Apparently, although this is extremely interesting (though not cheap), it is still more of an entertaining device.
"Hawaiian sling", or Slingshot for a partisan
Remember, in pink childhood, from an ordinary spool of thread and an elastic band from panties, we built a formidable weapon for throwing pencils? So, without knowing it, the younger generation reproduced the design of the so-called Hawaiian Sling, or Hawaiian slingshot:
Why Hawaiian? — well, the devil knows. Maybe the islanders from time immemorial, with the help of just such devices, hunted for one of their staple foods - fish. That's just where they took the rubber bands before the invention of rubber .... Most likely, primitive in comparison with modern spearguns and crossbows, but a fully functional device was popular with numerous tourists.
As you can see, this weapon is specifically for spearfishing. Even in its simplest form, the barrel is made of wood to provide buoyancy to the instrument.
Entrepreneurs could not pass by such a tempting opportunity either - what kind of amateur performance is this when every oncoming one is able to build such a wonderful device for himself? For free! Here, get a real industrial product.
The photo shows the first version of not just some Hawaiian Sling, but a whole Guerrilla sling, that is, the Guerrilla Slingshot. Oh how! The wooden fin on the hull, presumably, just provided at least some buoyancy and served as a convenient handle for carrying or catching floating weapons at depth.
However, the manufacturer - Headhunter Spearfishing Co - was not satisfied with his brainchild, and Guerrilla sling 2.0 was born:
The hull is completely made of Burmese teak, therefore, everything is wonderful with its seaworthiness. Other changes were made to the design, in particular, increasing the range by as much as 33 percent.
Last but not least, the Guerrilla Slingshot Version 2.0 is priced at $200. By the way, the manufacturer produces not only a whole range of ammunition, consumables and accessories, such as harpoons, tips, reels, cords, special gloves, but also T-shirts and caps traditional for such companies with their own symbols.
Here, learn, comrades, how literally from scratch you can build a profitable business. This is not school reels with rubber bands for you (us) ...
P.S. To be honest, we do not quite imagine a partisan hanging around under water and leading an invisible battle with chubs and pikes. For the purposes of the "people's war" :)) the weapons described in the first two chapters of this article would be much more suitable.
The reason was our recent article about the SlingBow hunting slingshots (we will return to it later), in particular, about the very non-standard products of the overseas company Gearhead Archery. The indelible stamp of "constructivism" (or some other "-ism") is carried by all the products of the company.
Take a look at the picture - we have a T18 from the Hunter series and a T30 Carbon Fiber Compound Bow:
And below we see two versions of the Carbon Spyder Turbo ZT by Hoyt, the most famous company in the archery community.
And no matter what anyone says, but when looking at Hoyt's models, the thought involuntarily creeps in that it obviously could not have done without elves :)). In bizarre forms one can see the interweaving of the roots or branches of the wonderful trees of the mallorns of the pointed-eared forest people.
Well, which of the fantasy races could build structures like the T30, there is also no particular doubt - of course, the gnomes! Only not Tolkien's, but, rather, Cruz's from the cycle "By the Great River", eagerly adopting the achievements of a fragment of technocratic earthly civilization that has fallen into their primordial world.
And, to be honest, I would prefer the Hoyt version (I convulsively feel the tips of my ears - suddenly mutations have begun!). What would you choose, comrade in arms?
However, one should not think that the Gearhead Archery bows are nothing more than some kind of engineering curiosity, a product of the fantasy of a hereditary bridge builder. They are quite effective in real use. This photo was published by a colleague from Oklahoma under the nickname "hogwildok". It is interesting that the trophy itself with a very unusual color matches the tool of its extraction.
And now I came through to get acquainted with the creations of the guys from Wisconsin in the field of crossbow building. As you can see, the aesthetics of the "railway bridge" can be clearly seen here. However, the 2018 X16 Tactical model shown in the photo stands out from the general range of already non-standard brothers. She can fold in half. To be honest, we haven't seen anything like this anywhere else.
Specifically, this version is made of aluminum, there is also a carbon version and is $500 more expensive - 2,299 instead of 1,799 USD. In general, all products are not very pleased with the price, but this is a payment for originality, which a real lover of "extreme" puts in the first place.
Moreover, not only the exterior is original - take a closer look at the "double" blocks and a completely unusual configuration of cables. According to the manufacturer, this design reduces their wear, improves accuracy and gives an increase in speed with a modest tension force. And this is true, at least with regard to the last statement.
The "X16 Tactical" is available in 125 lbs as well as 76 lbs. That is, the second option with a huge margin even fits into the framework of Russian legislation (with a threshold of 95 lbs). And the first one is able to accelerate the arrow to quite hunting 350 feet per second, or 107 m / s.
In 2019, this very creative weapons company made minor changes to the X16 design. The highlight of the products of this manufacturer - the aesthetics of the "railway bridge" and the original double blocks - remained intact, but the stock was completely redesigned. Gone is the primitive and not very ergonomic "stick", it was replaced by a detail that fits perfectly into the overall style, equipped with an adjustable cheek.
All major performance characteristics, including 350 fps with just 125 pounds of pull, remain the same. It is interesting that in the production line there are versions with a force of 75 and 90 lbs, that is, without any “weakening”, which initially fit into the requirements of the Russian GOST for “products structurally similar to weapons”.
This is where we part with the astonishing work of Gearhead Archery. However, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the article mentioned at the beginning of the chapter, in which you will find a lot of interesting things, for example, this slingshot (yes, it’s her, and not a compound bow at all!) “STS Raptor”:
Chapter II. Not a single design...
The last two or three years have been marked by the release of several models of crossbows, breaking out of the slender ranks of quite classic counterparts. Firstly, there is a clear trend towards the creation of compact (and ultra-compact) powerful hunting models.
Including in the niche of recursives, where, due to structural features, this is noticeably more difficult to achieve than with blockers. The initiator, as usual, was the Canadian Excalibur.
Crossbow "Excalibur Assasin" - "limbs with a rope", yeah ...
It seems that the age of the classic "Excaliburs" is fading into the past. Where are you, simple as nails, and reliable as hammers, good old Equinoxes, Vortexes and Exocets!? Joke…
In fact, this Canadian company can only be applauded. In fact, the only trendsetter on the planet in the niche of hunting recursive crossbows has remained true to this scheme and is not going to “change” it with blockers :)). And it gets harder every year to do so. Even in the budget segment, such sophisticated devices now dominate, which until recently it was difficult to imagine. Their speeds have gone beyond the 400-foot mark (although this race seems to have slowed down a little in favor of the most optimal performance lately - see below).
The best from PM for Defender of the Fatherland Day
The designers of such weapons sought to either surprise the enemy with an unusual approach, or tried to make their creation as futuristic as possible. Such thoughts visited both the creators of non-lethal hand guns and serious military equipment.
The "Digital Revolver" from the German company Armatix seemed to have crawled out of science fiction. The safety of this pistol can only be removed by a signal from the special wristwatch attached to it. Which are activated by reading the owner's fingerprint. Theoretically, such a weapon could never be used against its owner.
The hand-held mortar was used between the 16th and 18th centuries, allowing explosive projectiles to be fired at the enemy. This insane prototype grenade launcher was even less reliable than many firearms of its time - the grenade periodically stuck in the muzzle or simply exploded prematurely.
R. Braverman's Stinger shooting pen was clearly inspired by the James Bond spy action movies. Unlike other shooting pens, this one folds into a pistol-like shape for ease of firing. In total, about 4 thousand copies were produced.
"Dora" and "Gustav" - German super-heavy artillery guns of the Second World War. The length of their guns reached 32 meters, caliber - 807 mm. They fired seven-ton projectiles at a distance of 25 to 37 km and were used in exceptional cases. "Dora" was used during the storming of Sevastopol in 1942, but without much success. Despite the monstrous power, the gun was extremely inaccurate.
The "vomit gun" is not the most pleasant invention, claiming to be the best non-lethal weapon of all time. In fact, this is a flashlight, the light of which causes nausea and vomiting. The US Air Force abandoned this project, but it was assembled by hobbyists from LEDs and computer parts.
Auto Assault-12. Shotguns, depending on the design, shoot either rarely or for a short time. The AA-12 is specifically designed to eliminate both problems. It fires 300 rounds per minute, is loaded with an 8-round box magazine or a 32-round drum magazine, allowing for long-term fire and uses any ammunition - buckshot, rubber bullets, and even explosive shells.
The Active Rejection System is a mobile electromagnetic installation designed to disperse crowds. Its radiation, similar to microwave radiation, causes pain shock and light burns in people. Although this weapon is considered non-lethal, its long-term effect is not yet fully understood.
"Duck's foot" is a unique multi-barreled pistol of the late 19th century. Thanks to the barrels looking in different directions, it allowed you to shoot at many targets at the same time and was effective during riots on ships or in prisons. However, it was used infrequently - due to the large weight and low accuracy.
That we are all about iPhones, yes, about iPhones, let's talk about weapons, or rather, about advanced developments and weapons that differ from the usual machine guns, tanks and aircraft.
The creators of modern films and games have long accustomed us to guided bullets, X-ray sights and other gadgets that bring armed conflicts to a new level, it's time to find out how things are with technological weapons in reality.
1. PHASR laser rifle
The name of this futuristic weapon stands for "Personal Stopping and Annoying Action Rifle". This is a non-lethal weapon developed by the US Department of Defense.
The rifle allows you to hit the enemy with focused laser beams. This allows you to temporarily blind and disorient the enemy.
The weapon has a rather high-tech filling, laser emitters operating at various wavelengths and a rangefinder are installed inside. The system before the “shot” determines the exact distance to the target in order to adjust the beam power. This avoids irreversible damage to the organs of vision of the victim.
2. Active electromagnetic pulse system
The rather bulky Active Denial System is installed on a suitable vehicle and looks like mobile radars or anti-aircraft guns.
Such weapons strike with a directed beam of electromagnetic waves at a certain frequency. Waves affect the outer layers of human skin and cause itching and burning. It becomes very difficult for a person under such influence to fight and even move around.
The action of the installation is similar to the principle of operation of a microwave oven and allows you to hit the enemy even in very tight clothes. The effect is temporary and disappears almost without a trace.
3. Digital Gun Digital
Digital has been developing weapons with various protective systems for several years. Some models are successfully sold in the US, and some never go into mass production.
One of the latest developments of the company is a gun with two-factor user authentication.
The pistol will be unlocked and will only fire when it receives the owner's fingerprint and a signal from his wristwatch. So the other person will not be able to use the weapon. If the wearer senses danger and the possibility of being forced to fire a shot, they can quickly lock the weapon after hours.
Unlocking in this case will require a password and will be possible only after a set time.
4. Acoustic weapon LRAD Sound Cannon
This installation is designed to suppress riots and disperse crowds. It is already in service with law enforcement agencies in some US states.
Sound Cannon allows you to hit targets with strong sound pressure. The emitted high-frequency sound can reach a volume of more than 160 dB. Being in the range of a weapon without protective equipment is quite difficult.
The sound is broadcast in a directional direction, the maximum volume is achieved only in the 30-degree sector, which allows other units to be quite comfortable nearby.
5. Boat-submarine
The Dutch company Ortega demonstrated a tactical submarine for special forces groups at one of the weapons exhibitions.
Such a boat can move both on water and at a depth of up to 95 meters. At the same time, the maximum speed of 16.7 km/h and 20.4 km/h, respectively, develops.
The boat can accommodate up to 3 people and equip it with various weapons systems.
6 Metal Storm
The Metal Storm is the fastest fire weapon in the world. Such an installation is capable of firing about a million bullets per minute. At the same time, more than 16,000 bullets will be fired in the direction of the target every second.
The developers managed to achieve good accuracy of fire. This allows you to break through armor and strong protection of almost any target.
7. Corner Shot Launcher
The dream of any cheater in action. With such a device, you can shoot from around the corner without the risk of catching a bullet in response.
Installation is simple to disgrace: a folding design, a camera directed in the direction of fire and a monitor for the shooter.
Almost any small arms can be installed in the design.
8. Grenade launcher XM-25
An infantryman's personal weapon for defeating an enemy in cover or behind terrain is already in service with special units of the United States and Germany.
The XM-25 differs from a conventional grenade launcher in a complex computerized filling. Each projectile has a built-in block with a programmable detonation time.
When firing, the rifle independently calculates the range to the object and sets the desired detonation time for the projectile.
So in most cases, it is possible to avoid a grenade detonation on approach to the target or a too late burst when the projectile ricochets and flies to the side.
This is what some types of modern weapons look like. But these are only well-known and accessible samples. Advanced organizations and countries are already armed with even more advanced technologies, which we will be able to learn about only after some time.