Posts tagged 'unusual weapons'. The rarest types of weapons Non-standard weapons

Humans have been trying to kill each other since the beginning of time, and have developed many clever and downright stupid ways to achieve this goal. We present to your attention a list of the most ridiculous and strange military weapons in the world.

Dogs are commonly used in war for mine detection, guarding, sabotage, searching for the wounded and a variety of other tasks. They also inspired the American military to build “Big Dog,” a robotic creature created by engineers at Boston Dynamics. According to the creators' idea, this massive robot was supposed to save the strongest army from the need to carry equipment (up to 110 kg) manually in areas where conventional transport cannot be used.

However, in 2015, the military canceled the robot dog project, explaining that its size and the noise created when walking would give away the soldiers’ positions.

Thor must be sad - the military stole his thunder and lightning. Engineers at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey have found a way to harness lightning energy and have designed a weapon that shoots lightning along laser beams. This weapon is called "laser-induced plasma channel". However, the military preferred a more concise and succinct definition - “laser plasma gun.”

The laser beam, with high intensity and energy, strips electrons from air molecules and focuses the lightning, which travels along a straight and narrow path. This way it can be precisely aimed at the target. So far, such a plasma channel remains stable only for a short time and there is a danger that the energy could infect those who use it.

A research project called Project Pigeon involved the creation of a pigeon bomb. American behavioral psychologist B.F. Skinner trained birds to peck at a target on a screen in front of them. Thus, they directed the rocket to the desired object.

The program was revised in 1944 and then revived in 1948 as Project Orcon, but in the end, the new electronic guidance systems proved more valuable than live birds. So now only an exhibition at the American History Museum in Washington reminds us of this strange and unusual weapon.

During World War II, the Corps Marine Corps USA had an ambitious idea: to use bats like kamikaze bombers. How to do it? It's very simple: attach explosives to bats and train them to use echolocation to find a target. The military used thousands of bats in experiments, but eventually abandoned the idea because atomic bomb seemed a much more promising project.

It would seem, how can such lovely marine mammals get into the top 10 most unusual weapons? However, humans have adapted intelligent and trainable dolphins for a variety of military tasks, such as searching for underwater mines, enemy submariners and sunken objects. This was done both in the USSR, at the research center in Sevastopol, and in the USA, in San Diego.

Trained dolphins and sea lions were used by the Americans during the Gulf War, and Russia's combat dolphin training program was phased out in the 1990s. However, in 2014, the Russian Navy took on Crimean dolphins, a former Ukrainian “heritage”, as their allowance. And in 2016, an order appeared on the government procurement website for the purchase of 5 dolphins for the Russian Ministry of Defense. So, perhaps, while you are reading this article, fighting dolphins are plying the Black Sea.

At the height of the Cold War, the British developed a 7-ton nuclear weapon called "Blue Peacock". It was a huge steel cylinder with a plutonium core and a chemical detonating explosive inside. The bomb also contained very advanced electronic components for that time.

A dozen of these massive underground nuclear weapons were planned to be placed in Germany and detonated if the USSR decided to invade from the east. One problem: the ground freezes in winter, so the electronic equipment needed to run the Blue Peacock can malfunction. To overcome this difficulty, various ideas have been put forward, including the most absurd ones: from wrapping the bomb in fiberglass “blankets” to placing live chickens in the bomb with a supply of food and water necessary to survive for a week. The heat generated by the chicks will prevent the electronics from freezing. Fortunately, the British decided to reconsider their plan due to the risk of radioactive fallout, and thereby saved many chickens from an unenviable fate.

Weapons do not always injure the body; sometimes it can affect the mind. In 1950, the US Central Intelligence Agency investigated the combat use of psychoactive substances such as LSD. One type of “non-lethal” weapon developed by the CIA was a cluster bomb filled with the hallucinogen Bi-Z (quinuclidyl-3-benzilate). People involved in experiments with this substance reported having strange dreams, as well as prolonged visual and emotional hallucinations, unexplained feelings of restlessness and headaches. However, the impact of Bi-Z on the psyche was not predictable and reliable, and the program for its use was discontinued.

During World War II, the British did not have enough steel to build ships. And the enterprising Britons conceived the idea of ​​creating an icy killing machine: a massive aircraft carrier that would essentially be a fortified iceberg. Initially, it was planned to “cut off” the tip of the iceberg, attach engines and communication systems to it, and send it to the scene of military operations with several aircraft on board.

Then the project, called Habakkuk, transformed into something more. It was decided to take a small amount of wood pulp, mix it with water ice to create a structure that would melt in months rather than days, have a durability similar to concrete, and was not too brittle. This material was created by the English engineer Geoffrey Pike and was called pikerite. It was proposed to create an aircraft carrier with a length of 610 m, a width of 92 m and a displacement of 1.8 million tons from paykerite. It could accommodate up to 200 aircraft.

The British and the Canadians who joined the project created a prototype of the ship from pykerite, and its tests were successful. However, then the military calculated the financial and labor costs of creating a full-fledged aircraft carrier, and the Habakkuk was finished. Otherwise, almost all Canadian forests would have been used up for sawdust for giant ships.

In 2005, the Pentagon confirmed that the US military had once been interested in creating chemical weapons, which could make enemy soldiers sexually irresistible... to each other. In 1994, a US Air Force laboratory received $7.5 million to develop a weapon that contained a hormone naturally present in the body (in small quantities). If enemy soldiers inhaled it, they would feel an irresistible attraction to men. In general, the slogan “make love, not war” could have been realized on the battlefield if the tests had not shown that not all soldiers lose their heads from desire. And gay activists were outraged by the idea that homosexuals have less fighting ability than heterosexuals.

In first place in the ranking of the most amazing weapons is a weapon that does not kill, but can hurt you, very painfully. The US military has developed a non-lethal weapon called the active knockback" These are powerful heat rays that heat the tissues of the human body, creating a painful burn. The purpose of creating such a heat gun is to keep suspicious people away from military bases or other important objects, as well as to disperse large gatherings of people. So far, the installation for “pain rays” is mounted only on vehicles, but the military said they hope to make their “brainchild” smaller.

Culture

Throughout the history of mankind, a huge number of different types of weapons have been invented, sometimes even the most unimaginable at first glance devices were used.

Weapon devices ancient world- this is a completely different story, because one could only envy the imagination of our ancestors with what precision they sometimes produced means of defense and attack!

Below are the most rare species weapons that, for some reason, did not last very long, but which fully lived up to their purpose.

1) Macuahutl

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.

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As the Spanish settlers noted, the weapon was made very carefully; when thrown, it was almost impossible to remove the obsidian from the wood, which indicated the strength of the device. Moreover, the teeth were so sharp that they were often used to decapitate a person.

The last mention of this weapon dates back to 1884. This copy was burned in a fire.

Rare weapon

2) Tepostopili

This weapon was very similar to the previous one, however, it was shaped like a spear. The tepotopile had the same obsidian ribs along the wooden grooves, however, the handle was approximately the height of a man, which allowed for a better grip on the spear and gave it better “pushing abilities.”

3) Kpinga

Kpinga is multi-lobed throwing weapon, which was used by the warriors of the Azande people who inhabited ancient Nubia. The length of the knife was about half a meter, with three iron blades protruding at different angles, which caused maximum possible damage to the enemy.

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In addition to the fact that the 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 the man had to give to the bride's family.

4) Qatar

The Qatar seems to have been the most unique type of Indian dagger. It is characterized by an H-shaped horizontal grip, similar to brass knuckles, so that two parallel bars created support for the hand.

When used correctly and skillfully, this weapon could even pierce chain mail. It is worth noting that, like the kpinga, the qatar was a status symbol among Sikhs and was also used at ceremonial occasions.

5) Chakra

Chakra is the throwing disc of an Indian warrior, the outer edges of which were pointed and also had a rounded shape. Depending on the size, these weapons were hung on the wrist or 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 an older Assyrian weapon. Initially it was made of bronze, then iron became the main material for its creation.

Super - a weapon that never existed

Thanks to its sickle-shaped shape, the khopesh made it possible to disarm an enemy in a short time by deftly picking up his shield. At the same time, only the outer edge of this weapon was sharp, which, nevertheless, could easily cope with chain mail.

7) Chu-ko-nu

This unique weapon was a Chinese repeating crossbow that was used as early as the 4th century BC. With its help, it was possible to fire 10 arrows at a distance of up to 60 meters in 15 seconds.

However, its penetration power was comparatively poor compared to modern single-shot crossbows, but its speed and poisonous arrow tips made it very terrible weapon, which was used until the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895.

Australia

After Australia banned the ownership of most firearms in 1996, armed assaults and robberies increased by nearly 60 percent in just the 8-year period the law was in effect.

Bulgaria

The law of this state officially allows the carrying and storage of almost any type of firearm. After the Bulgarian authorities introduced such a law, very short period Since then, an incredible decline in the number of serious crimes has been recorded.

Brazil

In a 2005 referendum held in Brazil, the vast majority of Brazilian citizens voted against banning the sale of firearms. According to the results of the referendum, every Brazilian over 25 years old can have firearms for hunting or self-defense. It is known that the most acute social problem country is street crime. Through the referendum, according to the media, the government wanted to shift the solution to this problem onto the shoulders of ordinary citizens, disarming them.

UK

Since 1997, the UK has banned the ownership of firearms. As a result, over 6 years, rape increased by 105 percent, murder increased by 24 percent, armed assault and robbery by 101 percent, and violent crime by 88 percent. Thus, the crime rate simply skyrocketed, and the UK took the top lines in the crime rankings among the 18 most developed countries.

Germany

10 million German citizens carry 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 sharply decreased.

Mexico

The Mexican Constitution allows its citizens to own weapons and use them to protect themselves and their property. In addition to this, in 2004, a law was passed making it possible to have no more than two firearms at home. However, perhaps Mexico is one of the few countries in which permits to carry weapons have failed to protect ordinary citizens from the wars constantly waged between drug cartels.

USA

In many American states(31), as is known, carrying weapons is permitted. There is a regular decline in murders, robberies and other types of criminal activity in these states. It is worth adding that in those American states where weapons are banned, the crime rate is much higher.
Yawara
It is a wooden cylinder, 10 - 15 centimeters long and approximately 3 centimeters in diameter. Yawara is wrapped around the fingers, and its ends protrude on both sides of the fist. It serves to make the blow heavier and stronger. Allows you to strike with the ends of the ends, mainly in the centers of nerve bundles, tendons and ligaments.

Yawara - Japanese weapons, which has two versions of appearance. According to one of them, the Japanese brass knuckles are like a symbol of faith, which was an attribute of Buddhist monks - vijra. This is a small shaft, reminiscent of an image of lightning, which the monks used not only for ritual purposes, but also as a weapon, since they needed to have it. The second version is the most plausible. An ordinary pestle, which was used for pounding cereals or seasonings in a mortar, became the prototype of the yawara.

Nunchaku

It consists of sticks or metal tubes about 30 cm long connected to each other using a chain or rope. homemade weapons steel flails used to thresh rice.

In Japan, threshing flails were considered tools of labor and did not pose a danger to enemy soldiers, so they were not confiscated from peasants.

Sai

This is a piercing bladed bladed weapon of the stiletto type, outwardly similar to a trident with a short shaft (maximum one and a half palm widths) and an elongated middle prong. The traditional weapon of the inhabitants of Okinawa (Japan) and is one of the main types of Kobudo weapons. The side teeth form a kind of guard and can also perform a damaging role due to sharpening.

Unusual weapons of antiquity It is believed that the prototype of the weapon was a pitchfork for carrying bales of rice straw or a tool for loosening the soil.

Kusarigama

Kusarigama (kusarikama) is a traditional Japanese weapon consisting of a sickle (kama) and a chain (kusari) that connects it to a striking weight (fundo). The location where the chain is attached to the sickle varies from the end of its handle to the base of the kama blade.

Unusual weapons of antiquity Kusarigama is considered to be a medieval invention of the ninja, the prototype of which was an ordinary agricultural sickle, which peasants used to harvest crops, and soldiers used to cut their way through tall grass and other vegetation during campaigns. There is an opinion that the appearance of the kusarigama was determined by the need to disguise weapons as non-suspicious objects, in this case an agricultural implement.

Odachi

Odachi (“big sword”) is a type of Japanese long sword. To be called an odachi, a sword had to have a blade length of at least 3 shaku (90.9 cm), however, as with many other Japanese sword terms, precise definition There is no odachi length. Usually odachi are swords with blades 1.6 - 1.8 meters.

Unusual weapons of antiquity The Odachi completely fell out of use as a weapon after the Osaka-Natsuno-Jin War. The Bakufu government passed a law according to which it was forbidden to have a sword of more than a certain length. After the law went into effect, many odachi were trimmed to conform to the regulations. This is one of the reasons why odachi are so rare.

Naginata

Known in Japan at least since the 11th century. Then this weapon meant a long blade from 0.6 to 2.0 m long, mounted on a handle 1.2-1.5 m long. In the upper third, the blade expanded slightly and bent, but the handle itself had no curvature at all or was barely outlined. At that time, they worked with naginata using wide movements, holding one hand almost at the very blade. The naginata shaft had an oval cross-section, and the blade with one-sided sharpening, like the blade of the Japanese yari spear, was usually worn in a sheath or sheath.

Unusual weapons of antiquity Later, by the 14th-15th centuries, the naginata blade shortened somewhat and gained modern form. Nowadays, the classic naginata has a shaft 180 cm long, onto which a blade 30-70 cm long is attached (60 cm is considered standard). The blade is separated from the shaft by a ring-shaped guard, and sometimes also by metal crossbars - straight or curved upward. Such crossbars (Japanese hadome) were also used on spears to parry enemy blows. The blade of a naginata resembles the blade of an ordinary samurai sword; sometimes this is what was mounted on such a shaft, but usually the blade of a naginata is heavier and more curved.

Qatar

The Indian weapon gave its owner wolverine claws; the blade lacked only the strength and cutting ability of adamant. At first glance, the katar is a single blade, but when the lever on the handle is pressed, this blade splits into three - one in the middle and two on the sides.

Unusual weapons of antiquityThree blades not only make the weapon effective, but also intimidate the enemy. The shape of the handle makes it easy to block blows. But it is also important that the triple blade can cut through any Asian armor.

Urumi

A long (usually about 1.5 m) strip of extremely flexible steel attached to a wooden handle.

Unusual weapons of antiquity The excellent flexibility of the blade made it possible to wear the urumi secretly under clothing, wrapping it around the body.

Tekkokagi

A device in the form of claws attached to the outside (tekkokagi) or inside(tekagi, shuko) palms of the hand. They were one of the favorite tools, but, to a greater extent, weapons in the arsenal of the ninja.

Unusual weapons of antiquity Usually these “claws” were used in pairs, in both hands. With their help, it was possible not only to quickly climb a tree or wall, hang from a ceiling beam or turn around a clay wall, but also with high efficiency to resist a warrior with a sword or other long weapon.

Chakram

The Indian throwing weapon “chakra” may well serve as a clear illustration of the saying “everything ingenious is simple.” The chakra is a flat metal ring, sharpened along the outer edge. The diameter of the ring on surviving specimens varies from 120 to 300 mm or more, width from 10 to 40 mm, thickness from 1 to 3.5 mm.

Unusual weapons of antiquityOne of the ways to throw chakram was to unwind a ring on index finger, and then with a sharp flick of the wrist, throw the weapon at the enemy.

Skissor

the weapon was used in gladiatorial combat in the Roman Empire. The metal cavity at the base of the scissor covered the gladiator's hand, which made it possible to easily block blows and also deliver his own. Scissor was made of solid steel and was 45 cm long. It was surprisingly light, which made it possible to strike quickly.

Kpinga

A throwing knife used by experienced warriors of the Azanda tribe. They lived in Nubia, a region of Africa that includes northern Sudan and southern Egypt. This knife was up to 55.88 cm long and had 3 blades with a base in the center. The blade closest to the hilt was shaped like male genitals and represented the masculine power of its owner.

Unusual weapons of antiquity The very design of the kpinga blades increased the chances of hitting the enemy as hard as possible upon contact. When the owner of the knife got married, he presented the kpinga as a gift to the family of his future wife.

Edged weapons have always accompanied great warriors in their battles. Each country has its own national weapon with centuries-old history. Cold steel, a sharp blade can both cause fear and become a faithful defender on the battlefield. As long as history has existed, weapons have existed for as long.

Urumi

Let's start with the unusual edged weapons of India, and first of all, this is the urumi. The exact date of appearance of this sword is unknown, but presumably it began to be used during the 9th century. BC e. This is a long, double-edged sword made from flexible steel. The length was 6 meters.

In the past, it was used by assassins who carried the weapon concealed on a belt wrapped around their torso. Thanks to the combination of the effect of a sword and a whip, they could deliver slashing and lashing blows. It earned its fame dangerous weapons India.

Pata

Pata also comes from India. Initially, this bladed weapon was used by the ancient warrior caste - the Marathas. This sword was attached to a plate gauntlet, the design of which made it possible to protect the warrior’s arm up to the elbow. The warrior's wrist remained motionless, and all actions with this weapon had to be performed from the elbow.

From the memoirs of one British officer it is known that the technique of working with pata involves rotational strikes with constant movements, and only a few could skillfully wield this weapon. Most often it was used by horsemen. The length of this weapon ranges from 60 to 100 cm, weight - 1.5-2 kg.

Skissor

Scissor is an exotic, little-studied edged weapon of the Roman gladiators of the same name, which protected the warrior’s arm up to the elbow, just like the stata. In addition, it was quite effective in battle, because it simultaneously dealt serious blows to the enemy and blocked counter-attacks.

The length of the scissor reached 1.5 meters, the weight did not exceed 3 kilograms.

Lantern shield

This unique edged weapon dates back to the early Middle Ages. The shield had a round shape, was made of wood and upholstered in leather. A glove with blades was attached to a small round shield, and in the center there were long spikes and a lantern.

It is known that not a single shield was released by the master until it had passed the bulletproof test. To do this, a test shot was fired at him from an arquebus as an experiment. It was used in fights and as a means of protection against criminals on dark streets.

Khopesh

Khopesh is one of the types of edged Egyptian weapons, which was originally made of bronze, later - of iron. It had a sickle-shaped structure and a wooden or metal handle.

Due to the specific shape of the blade, they could disarm the enemy, stab or chop. Only the outer edge of the blade had sharpening. Khopesh is a symbol of the New Kingdom, many pharaohs were depicted with it in their tombs, including Tutankhamun.

Macuahutl

Macuahutl is an ancient Aztec melee weapon, the exact origin of which is still unknown. Its shape resembles a club with spikes; its length did not exceed one meter.

The base of the macuahutla was made of wood, and sharp pieces of volcanic glass were attached along it. The wounds inflicted by these weapons were terrible: it was possible to decapitate the enemy and deprive him of his limbs with one blow.

Kpinga

Throwing edged weapon of the peoples of Africa with several blades. It was used in war and hunting. It symbolized power, human status and good financial standing. Several blades increased the area of ​​damage inflicted on opponents. The weapon was thrown horizontally and could kill several opponents at a time.

The length of the kpinga was about half a meter. There were many variations of weapons, and the shapes could vary.

Tekko-kagi

These are the edged weapons of secret ninjas, thanks to which warriors easily ran up steep walls with claws like a wolverine, or knocked out blades from the enemy. Its sharp claws protruded from 10 to 30 cm.

Melee weapons caused unhealed wounds and left scars on the body.

Shuko

Shuko is a bladed weapon of ancient Japanese ninjas. It looks like a ring with spikes. They wore it one or two at a time, with the spikes inward or outward.

Intended to deliver shocking blows and subjugate opponents. Such a weapon could easily kill, especially if smeared with poison. Shuko was often used by female ninjas.

Odachi

Odachi is long japanese sword. The length of the blade was 1 meter 80 centimeters. These blades are very rare, as they went out of use back in 1615.

At that time, it was officially forbidden to carry swords of a certain length in Japan. Odachi could be used as an offering to a temple or for ceremonial purposes.

Below is a video that talks about the most unusual species edged weapons:

This article will talk about what is beyond the mainstream. And there are, albeit outlandish, but very effective types of weapons, and ammunition for them...

1. Sarbakan

Many people have heard about the sarbakan as a jungle weapon. But for those who have read “The Countess of Monsoreau,” it’s time to think: where did these weapons come from in France in the 16th century, why did they suddenly become so fashionable among the French aristocracy, up to and including the king? Or is this Dumas's invention?

No, it's not fiction. “Blowgun”, “blowpipe”, sarbakan - all these are the same weapon, although they exist in several quite different versions. It was brought to Europe shortly after the beginning of the Age of Great Geographical Discoveries and immediately became a favorite “toy” of the most different strata of society. True, the sarbakan did not become a truly military weapon there - unlike in the “native” lands. In Europe, it was used both for fun and for practicing aiming skills, sometimes even as a means of secret communication (sarbakan bullets were sometimes rolled out of secret notes, which could thus be silently “transported” out the window or directly into the hands of the recipient) . This “spittle tube” is still used as an entertainment and gaming device, especially among teenagers. Writers, as we see, do the same, especially in historical novels (and in science fiction). But still, few teenagers, science fiction writers and lovers of historical fiction imagine its capabilities as a combat or hunting weapon.

First and foremost. For some reason, everyone, well, everyone really loves to shoot from the sarbakan with thorns plucked from the trunk of the nearest palm tree or the branch of the nearest bush. In vain! You need to make a very even and extremely carefully processed arrow 20-30 centimeters long, less than a knitting needle thick, you need to wrap its handle near the middle with a special seal so that it fits properly to the barrel, you need to painstakingly sharpen the tip, sometimes even make it there are cuts in front of the tip so that it breaks off in the wound (and, accordingly, so that the poison, which accumulates primarily in the depths of these cuts, can do its job without interference)... Simpler than making archery arrows, but also a whole story .

Although, in fact, the “projectile” of a sarbakan may resemble not a knitting needle, but, excuse the expression, Tampax. But this is already a weapon of exclusively “human-to-human” relations, and only for very close combat, urban, even rather corridor combat. A dense short strand of fibrous (not necessarily cotton) “body” soaked in poison, and a triple needle-like sting protruding from it in the form of a mini-spear. This tip, of course, is forged. And a spoked arrow usually does without metal on the tip.

(Those poisoned arrows that the ninja used were just such “tampaxes”, not thorns. The source of the poison in this case was the root of aconite. But in general, of course, the art of “fukibara-jutsu”, combat shooting from blow pipes, even in Japan it was characteristic not only of ninjas. But in any case, it was an attribute of close sabotage combat, and not of a field battle or siege battle. However, during a siege, sometimes there was an urgent need to use saboteurs...)

It's still "first and foremost." Let's move on to the second. Sarbakan as a weapon is not just a combat weapon, but also a fairly “important” one, noted primarily in the Indonesian-Malay region - as well as in South America. Sarbakan of the Old World is a little more powerful and easier to use, because it is equipped (well, not always - but often) with a mouthpiece. It was he who came to Europe at the just post-medieval stage. Modern readers of “The Countess of Monsoreau” probably cannot understand in any way: through what bell one of her heroes manages to make sepulchral sounds, confusing the royal soul. And this is the mouthpiece funnel. There is nothing like this in the “harkalkas” of today’s teenagers who shoot elderberry or rowan, but they are a degraded type of “weapon” not intended for murder (and thank God!).

A “combat” shot from such a sarbacan is carried out with a strong and sharp exhalation: not costal, but diaphragmatic. In Indian style, without a mouthpiece, they shoot differently: you should press it tightly with your lips and plug the hole with your tongue, and then with a powerful but smooth exhalation (also due to the diaphragm), you puff out your cheeks to capacity - and a moment before that, “from -kaza” remove the tongue.

(Did you, dear reader, manage without such tricks in your adolescence? But - we bet you anything! - you didn’t shoot a single conquistador with your then “harkalka”, and, most likely, you didn’t have many jaguars to your credit. ). It seems that no science fiction writer has ever tried to penetrate armor from a sarbakan. And the same conquistadors (they had a catastrophic lack of armor) usually tried to cover themselves and their horses with special “robes” cut from. blankets This cover did not provide a complete guarantee, but it still made it possible to save a lot of “hit points.” True, still less than in computer game Diablo, where Indian-pygmy-looking savages (where are you adepts of political correctness looking?!) hit you from sarbakans almost point-blank, in volleys, but manage to only minimally spoil your well-being.

But still, jokes aside: what is the combat distance of such shooting?

The most complete data appeared after, during the Second World War, American and Australian instructors tested the possibility of involving the Dayak tribes of Indonesia in the guerrilla struggle against the Japanese who occupied the islands. The Dayaks, naturally, acted with their traditional weapons, of which the sarbakans showed themselves best in the jungle war.

At a distance of 20-25 m, the wind arrow confidently hit a target the size of an orange, piercing it quite deeply.

At a distance of about 35 m (and they don’t shoot further in the jungle), it pierced an army uniform - but, in fact, there was no need for that, since the accuracy was maintained sufficiently to choose to hit parts of the body that were not covered by thick clothing.

The maximum firing range was not tested - both the Dayaks and the instructors approached the matter practically. However, at a distance of 10-15 m, the sharpest light arrow was guaranteed to pierce a person’s chest, which in the jungle could ensure certain death without the use of poison, and even without hitting the heart. The latter wouldn't matter: at such a distance, an experienced shooter would hit... a pushpin!

Conclusion: at a double or triple length of the tube (we’ll see a little further what that length is!) the arrow will pierce the blanket. But it’s not always possible to make a combat shot at such a distance. Unless from an ambush.

And the dimensions of a hunting-combat sarbakan are quite respectable: at least 2 m in length, quite often 2.5-3. Sometimes it was even equipped with a sight and a kind of front sight (!), sometimes with a light support (!!). In very special cases, the “podshanik” could be alive: then the sarbakan was controlled together with the “squire”, who placed the barrel on his shoulder or bent back (!!!).

Usually, the shooter managed without such extremes. But you can’t pass off a powerful sarbakan as a pipe! Here, even the noiselessness of the shot (to be honest, it is far from complete) is not of much use in terms of camouflage. This refers, of course, to a situation where, in addition to the “target” hit by the first hit, there are also its comrades, armed and ready for battle. Even if none of these candidates for new targets hears a powerful “push” exhalation at 20-35 meters - and it sounds like a muffled cough, so it can really dissolve in the noise of foliage, waves, hooves , - then they are still able to ask the question: why did that not at all suspicious passer-by suddenly, with a completely relaxed and natural movement, innocently bring to his lips an absolutely unattractive shaft one and a half times his height?! (Fig. 1)

Don’t worry, readers: there are smaller sarbakans. And with a cane and a flute. And even with a fountain pen. But. It is still impossible to confidently shoot from them at tens of meters, even if only a few. Punching through clothes thicker than a shirt, too.

However, for a sarbakan, truly deep penetration is not necessary: main job takes on the poison. However, not everything is so simple here either.

In general, poisoned arrows deserve a separate article, if only because they are also associated with a large number of errors that have taken root in the mass consciousness (even among weapons experts). However, that is why a few words can be said about them right now:

Very many authors poison the arrows of their heroes once, and then wear them (together with the heroes) in this form for a long, long time: in field conditions, and, as a rule, in an open quiver... No, wear - they really can, and the wound from such an arrow will probably heal worse than from a completely unpoisoned one. But in this case, you should forget about any rapid action of the poison, which manifests itself right “on the spot.” Even the famous curare, which survives for a very long time in laboratory conditions (on a boom in the ideally dry air of a museum display case too!), will very soon weaken in a “field setting.” By the way, it is extremely sensitive to humidity - so much so that on a rainy and foggy day it is better to lubricate the arrow not just before hunting or fighting, but right before the shot: of course, if you want the victim to fall down as if killed even from a non-fatal wound ... In general, poison (both liquid and mushy) during a campaign should be carried not on arrowheads, but in a bottle with a ground-in lid (Fig. 3).

By the way, about non-fatal wounds. If these lines are read not just by a “consumer” of weapons literature, but by its creator, the author, concerned with the above (i.e., instant damaging effect) - still let him take care to wound his enemy quite deeply, and even closer to vital organs. True, you can do this with a very thin and light arrow - and then the sarbakan close range not inferior to the onion. But still, from the sarbakan on the spot, and even with one shot, they put down, first of all, small game. If you need to do this with a dangerous enemy (especially a two-legged and armed one), then they strike from an ambush, from a minimum distance, delivering poison directly to the area of ​​the heart and lungs or to the “key nodes” of the head and neck: yes, to At such a distance, even spit can penetrate the human body. With any other hit, the adversary, of course, will also die - but he will have time to shoot back and scream, raising the alarm.

Sometimes the poisonous effect can be achieved without poison. For example, a bronze tip, remaining in the wound (and some of them were attached to the shaft very weakly so as to “come off” during the first attempt to pull it out), very soon, on the same day, begins to oxidize so that either surgery or amputation can save it.

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