Brief Description:  A stone bow (or prodd) is a bullet-shooting crossbow that shoots stones, clay balls, or lead pellets instead of bolts. Developed as a lightweight, sporting weapon for hunting small game like birds and rabbits, it typically features a double-stringed prod and a distinct downward-curved wooden stock.

Key Features and Design:

The Prod and Double String: The bow's prod was traditionally crafted from wood or steel. Unlike standard crossbows, it utilizes a double string separated by two pillars. In the center of these strings is a pouch (often made of leather or twine) designed to cradle the spherical projectile.

The Curved Tiller: The stock (or tiller) of the stone bow is distinctly curved downward between the prod and the trigger mechanism. This dip is necessary to provide clearance for the double string and pouch as they travel forward upon release.

Ammunition: As the name implies, natural stones were used, but uniform clay balls or heavy lead pellets were preferred. Because clay balls were cheap and easy to mass-produce, the weapon was popular for taking down small targets where traditional bolts would be easily lost in the brush.

Trigger Mechanism: It typically uses a "teeter-totter" or pivoting lock mechanism. When the user draws the bow by hand, the pouch is hooked onto the trigger mechanism. Squeezing the trigger releases the catch, causing the strings to snap forward and propelling the pellet cleanly without obstructing its path.

Hand Spanning: Because stone bows were not used for armor-piercing combat, they required less draw weight than military crossbows. They were almost exclusively spanned by hand, often by placing the butt of the stock against the stomach or groin while pulling the string backward.

Sights: Stone bows often featured primitive, adjustable iron sights, sometimes utilizing a spike on the front and a notch on the rear, allowing hunters to manually adjust for windage and elevation.