It's just a legislative oversight. Crossbows were made firearms in the 1990 Firearms Act, and the restricted firearms list is a list of firearms that are not restricted. Crossbows aren't on that list (because noone was thinking about them at the time), hence they're restricted.

If you heard one going off you wouldn't think it was quite. They are classed as a firearm because they have a stock and a trigger. I believe they are restricted because it is hard to justify having one: you can't hunt with it and there re few places where you can target shoot with them.

Yet a bow of such power would not be considered a firearm. The stock and trigger equates to ease of use and the ability to hold a bolt in place, therefore they are categorized as a firearm. The power rating is necessary to distinguish between toys and something that can cause real damage.

I don't want to be pedantic about this anyway. I just thought I'd let everyone know what I heard from an RFD at the weekend. By sheer coincidence there was a very powerful crossbow in the shop that had been brought in, 150 pounds draw:eek:

PS Sorry Murph, didn't want to hijack your for sale thread or anything

That's not why they were restricted Ivan, noone went after crossbows. Noone thought of them at all, that was the problem.

how much ye lookin for it . .where ye from