Speargun as a crossbow?

[Bain]

Would it be legal to use an underwater fishing speargun to fire legal arrows if it was within the crossbow parameters? Historically speaking you could create a similar weapon using twisted rawhide like catapults had in the place of modern day surgical tubing for a similar effect.

RE: #1

It would be really effective as a backup weapon you could just pull out and zap somebody is what I was thinking. They naturally hold onto the spear pretty well.

RE:#3

I was thinking more in the sense of a ranged weapon for a melee. You know, you're about to be outnumbered in a fight so you grab the speargun on a rifle sling on your back and take the numbers down to be a little more favorable haha.

[Derian]

Theoretically yes, though you're probably very unlikely to find it practical.

[Cyric]

in response to your edit, i don't think it would be terribly effective as a backup weapon, or as a main weapon. it would still have to be 15# (half draw) and that doesn't shoot anything very far.

[Derian]

Cyric is 100% right here. In the event you need a backup weapon, you're going to need it much faster than you could pull up and aim a crossbow. A short dagger would serve you much, much better.