William the Apple Whacker

by
posted on March 19, 2014
mehall_ah2015_fs.jpg (6)

undefinedI was in elementary school when I first heard about William Tell, the legendary Swiss archer who shot an apple off his son’s head. I never knew the full story—only that the stakes were awfully high—so I went in search of the details.

According to late 13th and early 14th century Swiss lore, in the canton (district) of Uri there was a Swiss baliff named Gessler, who demanded the people genuflect to his hat on a pole. When Tell refused, Gessler was enraged and demanded that Tell shoot an apple off his son's head with a crossbow for punishment. Quite the marksman, Tell split the apple and was free to go until he announced he had a second arrow that he would have used on Gressler had the first one hit his son. Gessler ordered his crew to place Tell in shackles on their ship as they headed out to sea. Tell escaped and jumped from the ship with crossbow in hand and swam to shore. He assassinated Gressler in 1307 and started a rebellion.

While many historians say the story is fabricated because historical conditions do not support it, there is no way to prove Tell did not exist. The legend remains a part of Swiss culture. Centuries later, Tell is still considered the Swiss National Hero of Liberty and is commemorated through monuments, coinage, theater and music.

Today in Uri, in the center of Switzerland and north of the Alps, stands a bronze statue of Tell holding his crossbow accompanied by his son. It was erected in 1895 and is said to be built at the place where Tell broke free of Gessler's boat and came ashore. Behind the statue is a bronze plate with the following inscription:

ERZÆHLEN WIRD MAN VON DEM SCHÜTZEN TELL SO LANG DIE BERGE STEH'N AUF IHREM GRUNDE.

This translates to: “It will be talked about (in the sense of stories will be told about) the marksman Tell as long as the mountains stand on their base.”

As for shooting apples with your own bows, old fruits and veggies of any kind sure make for good biodegradable practice targets, providing you have a good backstop for your arrow—and providing the apple isn’t sitting on someone’s head!

Latest

LEDE Marlin Dark
LEDE Marlin Dark

Hardware Review: Marlin Model 1895 Dark

If you think lever-action rifles should only have walnut stocks and a blued-metal finish, then the new Marlin Dark series with its polymer buttstock and aluminum AR-esque handguard probably won’t be your thing. That’s a shame, because this recent offering in Marlin’s line of modernized, capable lever-action rifles has a lot going for it in terms of performance, functionality and fun.

ATN Shipping TICO LTV Thermal Clip-On

This thermal clip-on device is a huge night-time gear multiplier for hunters and observers, transforming any daytime scope into a thermal sight.

MidwayUSA Named Official Sponsor of the 2025 NRA Annual Meetings

Glock, Inc. is the Presenting Sponsor of the Freedom Experience on Saturday, April 26th

First Look: Montana Rifle Company Marshall Hunting Rifle

Montana Rifle Company (MRC) has announced its Marshall Hunting Rifle—a rifle the company bills as being 10,000 rounds in the making.

Spring Gobbler Gear Roundup

Mike Roux lays out his winter's turkey gear discoveries, just in time for spring gobbler season.

National 4-H Shooting Sports Signs on as Official +ONE Partner

The National 4-H Shooting Sports program has joined the +ONE Movement, a national mentorship initiative led by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) that encourages peer-to-peer mentorship in the hunting and shooting sports.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.