Bidspirit auction | A RARE CHINESE REPEATING CROSSBOW

A RARE CHINESE REPEATING CROSSBOW CHU KO NU - A very rare example produced in the late Qing Dynasty, the hardwood stock embellished with four lines of untranslated Chinese poetry, the bow of two sections of exceedingly thick bamboo. The magazine with sliding cover intact, allowing it to be fired repeatedly. Bow retains original rawhide cord. Second half of the 19th century. Minor wear. Overall length 60.6cm./ 23 55/64 inches. The Chu Ko Nu remained in use virtually unchanged in form for many centuries, until late in the Qing Dynasty. It allowed 20 bolts to be fired in 15 seconds, thus a force armed with such weapons was able to direct a sustained and substantial barrage against its opponents. For quite similar, see the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution Collections, Bath. Condition II