• CrossbowMen crossbow shooting image by Igor Zhorov from Fotolia.com
  
  The crossbow is small bow that shoots short, dart-like arrows and is held like a gun. This weapon has helped those who love the thrill of bow hunting, but cannot pull back a bow due to disability, age or strength, continue the tradition of bow hunting. There are a few main parts to a hunting crossbow that are noteable.
  
  

Claw

• The claw is the mechanism that catches the string of the bow as it is pulled back and holds the string in place. The claw is attached to the trigger with a spring that when the trigger is depressed will open the claw, release the string and launch the arrow. This is a modern mechanism that has replaced the nut, which is a roller release that would hold the string on a notched nut which would turn when the trigger was depressed.
  
  

Tickler (Trigger)

• The tickler is the depression mechanism that has, on modern crowsbows, been replaced by a trigger. The trigger opens the claw mechanism which releases the string and launches the arrow.
  
  

Tiller (Butt)

• The tiller or butt is the body of the crossbow. Modern crossbow tillers are more like a rifle stock so that the hunter may aim the crossbow more easily, much like a gun. Older crossbows were held out in front of the archer and aimed using a pin to line up the target with the arrow.
  
  

Binding Block

• The binding block is the block on which tthe bow limbs are mounted to the tiller. Long bolts are typically used to connect the binding block to the tiller and usually attach the stirrup to the tiller as well.
  
  

Stirrup

• A stirrup is a bracket that is mounted by attaching bolts through the binding block and into the tiller, in order to have something to step in when cocking the crossbow. This allows leverage to pull back the bow, especially since many crossbows that are made for huntiing have a draw weight of 150 lbs. Compare this to the average hunting bow draw weight of 50 lbs.
  
  

Lathe

• The lathe is the actual bow limbs of the cross bow. Sometimes referred to as the prod, the limbs are typically made out of wood and laminate combinations for modern hunting crossbows. Older crossbows were made of wood and backed with sinew (small intestines) instead of laminate.