One sentence I start all my safety instructions with:
Bow and arrow were a weapon 50.000 years. So just because we are lucky enough, that acccording to german law it is sports equipment now, and not regarded as weapon, it still is dangerous. So safety first!
Bernie
Some facts for you, that might also change your mind a bit and be more cautious:
- “Wundballistik bei Pfeilverletzungen”, Doktorarbeit von Hubert Sudhues, Universität Münster 2004, Med.Fak.; a quote from the Abstract: ” … In nonbone tissue, the penetration depth was substantial (17-60 cm) and depended on velocity and especially on the type of arrowhead. All arrows penetrated deeply into the large body cavities and injured organs as long as no thick bone bad to be perforated. Flat bones such as ribs were always perforated. …”, its a good read, and includes a short history of archery, a history of archery wound statistics, and physics of archery.
- The longest, most accurate shot was at 330 meters with a modern recurve bow
- The longest distance shot was 1.222 meters with a modern (specialized) recorve bow.
- Medieval archers (English Archers) were effective at around 370 meters.
- Note: I have not found sources for the last three, only repeated and repeated citations of citations. If anybody knows or finds the real source, let me know, please. But with my experience so far, this is believable.
So please think about that, when a dog or a kid crosses your path next time, and you think “Don’t worry, my arrow can never go that far.“
Official legal stuff
I gathered a few direct citations of the german Waffengesetz (Stand: Zuletzt geändert durch Art. 2 Abs. 10 G v. 20.3.2026 I Nr. 95).
Zitat Anlage 2 (zu §2 Abs 2 bis 4) des Waffengesetzes:
Abschnitt 3: Vom Gesetz ganz oder teilweise ausgenommene Waffen
Unterabschnitt 2:
Vom Gesetz mit Ausnahme des § 42a ausgenommene Waffen: […] 2. Schusswaffen (Anlage 1 Abschnitt 1 Unterabschnitt 1 Nr. 1.1), bei denen feste Körper durch Muskelkraft ohne Möglichkeit der Speicherung der so eingebrachten Antriebsenergie durch eine Sperrvorrichtung angetrieben werden (z. B. Blasrohre).
(My translation:)
Quote Annex 2 (to §2 para 2 to 4) of the Weapons Act:
Section 3: Weapons fully or partially exempted from the law.
Subsection 2:
Weapons exempted from the law with the exception of § 42a: […] 2. Firearms (Annex 1 Section 1 Subsection 1 No. 1.1) in which solid bodies are propelled by muscular force without the possibility of storing the propelling energy thus introduced by a locking device (e.g. blowpipes).
All types of bows (not crossbows) belong in this definition of subsection 2, since a solid body is indeed fired. However, the bow (unlike the crossbow) cannot store energy.
And on “carrying weapons” (again the german quote as well):
§ 42a Verbot des Führens von Anscheinswaffen und bestimmten tragbaren Gegenständen
(1) Es ist verboten
1. Anscheinswaffen,
2. Hieb- und Stoßwaffen nach Anlage 1 Abschnitt 1 Unterabschnitt 2 Nr. 1.1 oder
3. Messer mit einhändig feststellbarer Klinge (Einhandmesser) oder feststehende Messer mit einer Klingenlänge über 12 cm zu führen.
(My translation:)
§ 42a Prohibition of carrying apparent weapons and certain portable objects.
(1) It is prohibited
1. apparent weapons,
2. cutting and thrusting weapons according to Annex 1 Section 1 Subsection 2 No. 1.1 or
3. to carry knives with a blade that can be fixed with one hand (one-handed knives) or fixed knives with a blade length exceeding 12 cm.
The bow is to be classified in the group “sporting equipment”. The bow is therefore not subject to a weapons license and is therefore not subject to all the restrictions of the Weapons Act or the Weapons Ordinance.
Nevertheless, the bow has been a weapon for more than 50,000 years, but it is not a firearm according to the Weapons Act and may be used for “sporting purposes”.
And even if you were “allowed” to use it, just save yourself the trouble and don’t walk around with a bow openly in the supermarket. 😉 Police officers also don’t know the paragraphs, especially about the bow, by heart, and it’s just stupid if you have to go to the police station first until everything is cleared up.