Crossbows and the laws...

The Spanish one in short words:

Today I have been at the "weapon control" department of the police wich handles it (the Guardia Civil, very friendly agents) but this doesn't change the laws or the absence of them.

To have one, the only way is to get the shotgun license, which has as an extra, the crossbow license, with a maximum number of 12 weapons (seems enough for me). But as anyone wich will have a shotgun, I must pass a practical exam on its use, and to have either a hunting license or be a member of the olimpic shooting federation to explain my interest on having one (I have none! ).

No, research or reenactment is not an option. I'm sure that there is no Crossbow federation, competitions or anything related, and that crossbow hunting is nearly to marginal.

But now the better: making them.

Each crossbow, by law, must have a serial number. The serial number consists of the numbers of the years, weapon made that year and factory number. Still wondering what I must do to be considered one. Perhaps the funnier is to come...

I will write to demand that the crossbows, along any other weapons made or designed before than 1890, can be handled with the AE or "special autorization". That currently only apllies to firearms. I think that would be more logical than the current situation. What do you think on that? it's the simplest solution that I can think. And that way, mangonels, scorpios, trebuchets or any other siege weapon can be legally owned too (currently they are not at any law).

As a curiosity, as the law is written, no Museum in Spain can have a crossbow. Seems that while making the law they just forgot that My general impression is that they took in account the crossbow to includeo it, but did nothing more...they don't even say what it's one.

Building a trebuchet capable of hurling a hundred kilos stone to hundreds of meters is much easier! They are not in the law! Mad, mad, mad ...and my crosbow projects are stopped for the moment

I wonder how is the law in your country. There is a crossbow federation? How do you legally make one? It is possible to have one for reenactment? If the law is better in France, I can get there in two hours...

I am fortunate to live in the USA where there is not much restrictions (except maybe in some cities). I can make and use them here with no problems. Sorry to hear about your situation.



Todd

Seems very much like in Norway, if you own one purchased before 1993 you can legally own it but today it`s easier to get a modern semi auto handgun than a crossbow

The same goes for Denmark but in Sweden you can get a license but it has to be registered even if you make a medieval one yourself

I too think crossbows and crossbow designs made before modern times should be legal to build and own without any restrictions

I am very sorry to hear this as well.I though the law's regarding air rifle's and fire arm's were bad enough here in the U.K.Seem's they are not that draconian here after all then as you have to be over 17 year's of age to own a crossbow but you are not leagally allowed to hunt with a bow or crossbow.All i can say here is i wish you good luck on getting past that hurdle.

In Lithuania stuation pretty same as in Spain. You must have a hunting license to legally own a crossbow from 200 to 1200 newtons, but you can't hunt with crossbow or handbow in Lithuania. Bows/crossbows with draw weight under 200 N are not reglamented, but such draw weight for crossbow is quite low...

About building bows - I'm not 100% sure, but I believe that if you make one stonger than 200 newtons, it is considered the same as making a gun, which is, of course, illegal.

If 200 N (=45 lbs) is the legal limit, then rubber based slingshot crossbows might be an alternative. Rubber allows long tillers = long acceleration. With a rifle sized slingshot crossbow, you can easily achieve 80 Joules of energy with less than 45 lbs draw.

In Germany, we are quite lucky. Crossbows are entirely unregulated EXCEPT you must be 18 or older to own one. You may even shoot it in the open, without any permit.

So in Spain,Sweden or Lithuania you have to register one of these





Have you people ever tried ?
Even if they refuse you a lisence, the authorities will have to decide whether an unworked stick, piece of junk rope and a firewood log is to be considered an illegal firearm
And should that happen, you can start turning in your neighbors for posession of unregistered crossbows.
And obviously you will bring all your furniture, broom handles & whatnots to sheriffs office to be measured for 200N limit (at what draw length?). You are the law abiding citizen after all.






Anyway, in Finland no regulation for posession, building or selling, but any bow/airgun/spring engine is considered a "potentially harmful object" and posession in public places is illegal without a good excuse.

deletion

There's no license required for a bow or crossbow in Finland. One can hunt deers and similar animals with a bow but not with the latter one.

If it makes you feel better, it can be messy in each US state, and each state (CA, NV, MA, etc) can have completely different laws. I live in Massachusetts. It is legal to own all types of crossbows without restriction, and all archery equipment, but you have to have a special license to hunt with the crossbow, with certain restrictions. However, it is a felony to own a slingshot (not a sling), and double edged knives. You can get a permit to carry a concealed handgun (required to be loaded), which I have, and you can own fully automatic military weapons (M16, FN-FAL, Uzi, etc) and machine guns in my state with proper licenses, not common in a lot of states. Blow guns are a felony offence, however. I wonder if they are more dangerous?

We also have lots of odd old blue laws. Illigal to buy alchahol on Sundays in MA unless you live close to another state border, and up until a few years ago, illegal to get a tattoo in this state. Also illegal to be a Native American alone in the Boston city limits unless accompanied by a caucasian. Witchcraft I think is still punishable by death here, too.

Yeah Massachusetts laws suck, I can admit to that seeing how I've lived here my whole life. I cant even buy a slingshot online ! I have to make my own?! Why is that illegal when I can just as easily get a shotgun?

Don't even go there, man. A slingshot is a felony, period. You can go to prison for possessing one. Same thing with blowguns.

Very few restrictions or licensing for owning/building/using any normal or historical firearm/weapon in Florida USA. The major restriction is you cannot own a modern firearm if you are a convicted felon but this doesn't apply to archery stuff or other weapons. You do need a state permit to carry a concealed weapon and a federal tax stamp to make/buy various unusual weapons such as silencers and sawed-off shotguns.

For hunting in most public areas you cannot use a crossbow during archery season (deer/hog) but you can during muzzleloader or gun season.

In Canada its fairly open, crossbows are legal to own and hunt with no registration necessary. 

If you want to hunt you need a licence and a species tag.   Every province has their own hunting regulations.  There are restrictions on minimum (non-compound) draw weights depending on what game you are after. For deer its 120 lb draw and minimum broad head width of 7/8” and bolt weight at least 250 gn.  For grizzly and moose its 150 lbs minimum draw.   For bison its a 400 gn arrow but I don’t think you are allowed to hunt bison with a crossbow for some reason only with a regular bow.

In BC crossbows are treated the same as the longbow, the season opens early before firearm hunting.

Here in Arizona there are no restrictions on crossbow building or ownership (other than having to be at least 18 to purchase one in a store). Different cities do have varying discharge laws within city limits (okay to shoot in your backyard in some cities, but not in others, in other words). For hunting purposes, crossbows are legal for big game during "rifle" seasons, but you must have a disability permit to use one during archery seasons (must prove 90% impairment of function of one arm).  Aside from those who qualify for this permit, crossbows are illegal during archery seasons.  Minimums for big game hunting are: 

Draw weight: 125lbs.
Bolt length: 16"
Broadheads: No less than 7/8" diameter with metal cutting edges


No limitations for small game and varmint (rabbit, coyote, etc.) hunting that I know of.