The one my brother made back in 57 or 58 was pretty crude. We didn't have a cranking devise. That would have come in handly. Yep, those things were pretty powerful. "I wonder if they are lethal?
Certainly could see how they could change the methods of combat. The long bows were more accurate. However they usually didn't exceed about 40 lbs of pull. Enough power to bring down a man or deer at 50 yds or less but not strong enough to puncture armour.
Keith