HK-36
The Iron Lord Protector (Neutral Good)
Image Source: Google search for "Faramir Longbow" link here
Intent: To create a thematic simple weapon, capable of keeping up with contemporary weaponry
Development Thread: If necessary
Manufacturer: Abregado-Rae Guild of Hammers
Model: Echani Graphite Bow
Affiliation: ARGH, Firemane, The Galactic Alliance, Open Market
Modularity: Variety of lengths and aesthetic choices to suit the user
Production: Mass
Material: Echani Graphite Shaft, Graphite Wire Bowstring
Classification: Bow
Size: Handheld
Length: Up to 2 meters, depending on how long the user wants it
Weight: Up to 1 kg
Ammunition Type: Arrows
Ammunition Capacity: Depends on how many the user can carry at a time
Effective Range: 180-300 meters (Depends on the length of the bow, strength and skill of the user, based on the research into English war longbows)
Rate of Fire: Single action
Special Features: Doubles as a melee weapon if necessary, capable of firing special trick arrows if such are created and available
Strengths:
- Simple- due to lack of any electrical components, this weapon does not require energy packs to run, it's also unaffected by Ionic, Electrical, or EMP weaponry. The maintenance is also pretty low, just keeping the Graphite shaft from breaking and the bowstring from snapping
- Silent- this weapon fires virtually silently, only the snap of a bowstring could be heard
- Versatile- due to its simplicity it's also a very versatile weapon, many kinds of arrows can be fired from it, if they are available to the user, creating an answer to pretty much any crisis. It could also be used as a melee weapon in a pinch, although not very devastating one.
- Graphite Construction- due to being made entirely out of Echani Graphite in some form, this weapon is lightsaber resistant, as well as extremely durable to other kinds of trauma, making it further useful on the battlefield and lowering its maintenance cost. The Graphite shaft also creates more tension in the bowstring, which allows the arrows to be fired at much faster speeds than mundane primitive bows, fast enough to easily break through armor up to rating 6, depending on the length of the bow, what kind of arrow is used, and the material of the armor, which makes the bow somewhat relevant when compared to other pieces of contemporary armament.
Weaknesses:
- Primitive- there's a reason why bows are not commonly used on the field of battle anymore, most contemporary weaponry can easily outperform them when it comes to firepower and rate of fire.
- Learning Curve- an easy weapon to learn but difficult to master, it takes skill and training to be able to hit targets accurately with arrows, especially at greater distances.
- Fire rate- the arrows can be fired only as fast as the user can pull the string, usually one arrow at a time.
- Strength requirement- while Graphite does allow the arrows to be propelled at greater speed, the increased amount of tension within the bow's shaft requires greater amount of strength from the user to pull the bow string than a mundane bow would, as well as stamina to keep using this bow over time.
Description: Based on ancient, primitive design with an updated twist, the Graphite Bows are the cheapest weapon made by Abregado so far. It is simply a bow, even without mechanical systems like pulleys, magnets, or plasma enveloping, the only thing that sets it apart from other bows is that these are made of Graphite spun on Abregado, allowing them to fire arrows much faster as the stronger material creates superior tension within the bow. The regular arrow this bow is shipped with has its shaft also made from Graphite, after all the process of spinning Graphite is itself called "fletching", its tip is forged from Durasteel, and the fletching is made from a synthetic plastic material. The durasteel tip arrows fairly decent armor penetration, the longest bows made so far breaking through mundane armor of up to rating 6, of course this efficiency goes down with shorter bows, but it can be brought back up if the user would be able to either make or acquire ammunition made from better materials, or with special functions.
As it stands, these bows have decent power, but not enough to justify supplying them to the army. Abregado keeps few around in its armories just in case of a catastrophic event where all electronic products stop working, but most of these bows are sold to public, usually kept around as toys for children, recreational products for sports, weaponry for hunters, or even tools of trade for few assassins who like to go back to their roots and deal bloody but silent death.
Although possibility of trick arrows being fired from this bow does provide potential in the future, there is also a rather steep learning curve associated with this weapon. Few people in modern times possess knowledge of how to aim the bow correctly, accounting for gravity and winds almost as by instinct, while many simply lack the strength and stamina to even pull the bowstring of this device far enough to let loose an arrow at good speed, not to mention training with it every day.
Primary Source: N/A
