Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Ballistic parameters and trauma potential of carbon dioxide-actuated arrow pistols

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Legal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Medical literature abounds with reports of injuries and fatalities caused by arrows and crossbow bolts. Crossbows are of particular forensic and traumatological interest, because their mode of construction allows for temporary mechanical storage of energy. A newly developed type of pistol (Arcus Arrowstar), which belongs to the category of air and carbon dioxide weapons, discharges arrow-shaped bolts actuated by carbon dioxide cylinders. As, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, literature contains no information on this uncommon subclass of weapons it is the aim of this work to provide the experimental data and to assess the trauma potential of these projectiles based on the ascertained physical parameters. Basic kinetic parameters of these carbon dioxide-actuated bolts (velocity v = 39 m/s, energy E = 7.2 J, energy density E’ = 0.26 J/mm2) are similar to bolts discharged by pistol crossbows. Subsequent firing resulted in a continuous and fast decrease in kinetic energy of the arrows. Test shots into ballistic soap blocks reveal a high penetration capacity, especially when compared to conventional projectiles of equal kinetic energy values (like, e.g., airgun pellets). To conclude, these data demonstrate the high efficiency of arrow-shaped projectiles, which are also characterized by a high cross-sectional density (ratio of mass to cross-sectional area of a projectile).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Germerott T, Jänisch S, Tröger HD, Günther D (2010) Homicide by bow and arrow. Arch Kriminol 225:18

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Eriksson A, Georén B, Oström M (2000) Work-place homicide by bow and arrow. J Forensic Sci 45:911–916

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Hessler C, Hamel W, Kluge S, Mayer U, Grzyska U, Westphal M, Püschel K (2012) Tödliche Armbrustverletzung im Jugendalter. Arch Kriminol 229:90–95

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Fieseler S, Kunz SN, Peschel O, Zinka B (2011) Suizid mithilfe einer Armbrust. Rechtsmedizin 21:489–492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Zatopkova L, Hejna P (2011) Fatal suicidal crossbow injury—the ability to act. J Forensic Sci 56:537–540

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Jain DK, Aggarwal G, Lubana PS, Moses S (2010) Penetrating craniofacial arrow injury. J Neurosci Rural Pract 1:17–19

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Chang WK, Hsee LC (2010) Crossbow injury in a developed country. Injury 41:1090–1092

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Smyk D (2009) Crossbow injuries: a case report. J Forensic Legal Med 16:343–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Osborne SF, Papchenko T, de Souza CF, Polkinghorne PJ, Hart R (2009) Orbital crossbow injury. Clin Exp Ophthalmol 37:527–529

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Krukemeyer MG, Grellner W, Gehrke G, Koops E, Püschel K (2006) Survived crossbow injuries. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 27:274–276

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Grellner W, Buhmann D, Giese A, Gehrke G, Koops E, Püschel K (2004) Fatal and non-fatal injuries caused by crossbows. Forensic Sci Int 142:17–23

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Karger B, Bratzke H, Grass H, Lasczkowski G, Lessig R, Monticelli F, Wiese J, Zweihoff RF (2004) Crossbow homicides. Int J Legal Med 118:332–336

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kaye K, Kilgore KP, Grorud C (2004) Transoral crossbow injury: an unusual case of central nervous system foreign body. J Trauma 57:653–655

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Joly LM, Oswald AM, Disdet M, Raggueneau JL (2002) Difficult endotracheal intubation as a result of penetrating cranio-facial injury by an arrow. Anesth Analg 94:231–232

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Suess O, Kombos T, Suess S, Stendel R, Da Silva C, Brock M (2002) Self-inflicted intracranial injury caused by a crossbow arrow. Eur J Trauma 28:310–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Salam AA, Eyres KS, Magides AD, Cleary J (1990) Penetrating brain stem injury from crossbow bolt: a case report and review of the literature. Arch Emerg Med 7:224–227

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Byard RW, Koszyca B, James R (1999) Crossbow suicide: mechanisms of injury and neuropathologic findings. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 20:347–353

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Opeskin K, Burke M (1994) Suicide using multiple crossbow arrows. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 15:14–17

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Downs JC, Nichols CA, Scala-Barnett D, Lifschultz BD (1994) Handling and interpretation of crossbow injuries. J Forensic Sci 39:428–445

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Mullan FJ, O'Kane HO, Dasmahapatra HK, Fisher RB, Gibbons JR (1991) Mediastinal transfixion with a crossbow bolt. Br J Surg 78:972–973

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Saw EC, Arbegast NR, Comer TP (1973) Crossbow arrow injury of the abdomen. Arch Surg 106:721

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Taupin JM (1998) Arrow damage to textiles—analysis of clothing and bedding in two cases of crossbow deaths. J Forensic Sci 43:205–207

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Rogers C, Dowell S, Choi JH, Sathyavagiswaran L (1990) Crossbow injuries. J Forensic Sci 35:886–890

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Gresham GA (1977) Arrows of outrageous fortune. Med Sci Law 17:239–240

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Karger B, Sudhues H, Kneubuehl BP, Brinkmann B (1998) Experimental arrow wounds: ballistics and traumatology. J Trauma 45:495–501

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Kneubuehl B (1997) Bogen, Armbrust und andere Federwaffen (1). IWM 12:782–783

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kneubuehl B (1998) Bogen, Armbrust und andere Federwaffen (2). IWM 1–2:76–77

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kneubuehl B (1998) Bogen, Armbrust und andere Federwaffen (4). IWM 4:240–242

    Google Scholar 

  29. Kneubuehl B (1998) Bogen, Armbrust und andere Federwaffen (5). IWM 5:328–330

    Google Scholar 

  30. Missliwetz J, Wieser I (1985) Medizinische und technische Aspekte der Waffenwirkung I. Bogen und Armbrust. Beitr Gerichtl Med 43:437–444

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Frank M, Schikorr W, Tesch R, Werner R, Hanisch S, Peters D, Ekkernkamp A, Bockholdt B, Seifert J (2013) Ballistic parameters and trauma potential of pistol crossbows. Int J Legal Med 127:777–782

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (2014) Liste der PTB angezeigten und geprüften Schusswaffen gemäß § 9 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 Beschussgesetz (BeschG). http://www.ptb.de/cms/fileadmin/internet/fachabteilungen/abteilung_1/1.3_kinematik/1.33/Anzeigeliste.pdf. Accessed 21 May 2014

  33. Kneubuehl BP, Coupland RM, Rothschild MA, Thali MJ (2011) Wound ballistics. Basics and Applications, Springer-Verlag, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  34. Franke E (1981) Ermittlung der Bewegungsenergie der Geschosse. In: Zobel KF (ed) PTB-Bericht W-19 Gesetzliche Munitionsprüfung. Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig und Berlin, pp 27–31

    Google Scholar 

  35. Kneubuehl BP (2013) Geschosse, Gesamtausgabe. Ballistik, Messtechnik, Wirksamkeit, Treffsicherheit. Stocker-Schmid, Dietikon

  36. Sellier K (1977) Schußwaffen und Schußwirkungen II. Forensische Ballistik, Wundballistik. Verlag Max Schmidt-Römhild, Lübeck

  37. Sellier K (1978) Verletzungsmöglichkeiten durch Harpunen. Arch Kriminol 162:10–16

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Sellier K (1969) Die biologischen Grundlagen des Durchschlagvermögens eines Geschosses in Beziehung zum neuen Bundeswaffengesetz. Arch Kriminol 143:145–147

    Google Scholar 

  39. Weymann A, Sebening C (2013) A rare, combined cardiac and hepatic crossbow injury. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. doi:10.5761/atcs.cr.12.02083

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, University Medicine Greifswald, Sauerbruchstraße, 17475, Greifswald, Germany

    Tien Thanh Nguyen, Rico Grossjohann, Axel Ekkernkamp & Matthias Frank

  2. Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin (ukb), Warener Str. 7, 12683, Berlin, Germany

    Tien Thanh Nguyen, Axel Ekkernkamp & Matthias Frank

  3. Department of Legal Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Kuhstraße 30, 17489, Greifswald, Germany

    Britta Bockholdt

Authors
  1. Tien Thanh Nguyen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rico Grossjohann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Axel Ekkernkamp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Britta Bockholdt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Matthias Frank
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthias Frank.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Nguyen, T.T., Grossjohann, R., Ekkernkamp, A. et al. Ballistic parameters and trauma potential of carbon dioxide-actuated arrow pistols. Int J Legal Med 129, 511–515 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-014-1081-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-014-1081-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation