Infantry in the Middle Ages heavy toll on the English invaders of their lands. Adapted by the English, the longbow was nevertheless a difficult weapon to master, requiring long years of use and practice. Even bow construction was extended, sometimes taking as much as four years for seasoned staves to be prepared and shaped for final deployment. A skilled longbowman could shoot 12 arrows a minute, a rate of fire superior to competing weapons like the crossbow or early gunpowder weapons. The nearest competitor to the longbow was the much more expensive crossbow or Arbalest, used often by urban militias and mercenary forces. It required
Firearm as a blunt weapon Firearm as a blunt weapon Firearm as a blunt weapon or firearm as a blunt instrument is the practice of using a firearm as a blunt weapon, rather than the conventional role of shooting with it. Examples of this include: Use of a firearm as a blunt weapon is usually seen in close quarter fighting, or when ammunition for the firearm has run out. It is also an effective battle strategy when ammunition supply is low, since knocking out enemies without firing the gun allows the user to save as many bullets as possible for later, more critical use. New