Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: twilightandmist on January 24, 2013, 07:48:24 pm

Title: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: twilightandmist on January 24, 2013, 07:48:24 pm
so this is my first crossbow. it draws 125# at 20 inches, and uses the skane lockbow release mechanism rather than a rolling nut. prod is osage, as is the tickler, the tiller is walnut. enjoy! and as always, comments and questions are more than welcome :)
(http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s620/cmac7254/IMG_0179_zps5ebe2c56.jpg)
(http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s620/cmac7254/IMG_0181_zps54d4514c.jpg)
(http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s620/cmac7254/IMG_0180_zpsa8400657.jpg)
(http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s620/cmac7254/IMG_0183_zps0249929b.jpg)
(http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s620/cmac7254/IMG_0182_zps5a57ed34.jpg)
(http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s620/cmac7254/IMG_0184_zps883dbbae.jpg)
(http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s620/cmac7254/IMG_0185_zps7727e486.jpg)
(http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s620/cmac7254/IMG_0186_zpsdbc4b185.jpg)
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: Del the cat on January 24, 2013, 08:00:20 pm
Nice bow.
I'd consider a binding of thread spiraling along the prod, say one turn every inch, just to help hold it together if it blows.
If it goes bang when you are aiming there is a severe risk to your eyes.
I backed mine with rawhide, for that reason. I'm not normally a worrier about health and safety, but eyes are vulnerable.
Del
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: twilightandmist on January 24, 2013, 08:34:34 pm
Thank you del! and would a braided leather wrapping work? if so i could make it to match my bull's horn quiver i made for my bolts :)
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: kevinsmith5 on January 24, 2013, 08:35:56 pm
Have you been able to shoot much? Curious about how a basic design like that does.
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: Will H on January 24, 2013, 08:39:25 pm
Very cool.  8)
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: twilightandmist on January 24, 2013, 08:39:56 pm
Ive put about a hundred shots through it, and ive gotten one squirrel  >:D its a fantastic design, simple, fast, and effective. also the fewest moving parts, which is my favorite part :)
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: bow101 on January 24, 2013, 08:47:56 pm
Nice bow.
I'd consider a binding of thread spiraling along the prod, say one turn every inch, just to help hold it together if it blows.
If it goes bang when you are aiming there is a severe risk to your eyes.
I backed mine with rawhide, for that reason. I'm not normally a worrier about health and safety, but eyes are vulnerable.
Del


I tend to agree about the risk factor.!!!! :o
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: twilightandmist on January 24, 2013, 10:26:06 pm
yeah, you got a good point there. just did overlapping x lashings on both limbs, should hold it if she blows :)
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: Carson (CMB) on January 24, 2013, 11:39:38 pm
I like that design.  I haven't been to interested in making a crossbow myself, as most look like a lot of work.  But that looks like the ticket. 
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: silverfox on January 25, 2013, 02:47:39 am
Great job, it really looks cool
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: PrimitiveTim on January 25, 2013, 02:56:49 am
That's too cool!  I'd love to see a video of it shoot.  What kind of tips do you plan on putting on that dart if any.
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: Del the cat on January 25, 2013, 04:18:47 am
Thank you del! and would a braided leather wrapping work? if so i could make it to match my bull's horn quiver i made for my bolts :)
Probably... the whole point is, you hope you'll never actually find out :laugh:
Del
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: Dane on January 25, 2013, 09:27:30 am
Excellent job. I would recommend you smooth the rails on the top of the crossbow stock so you lengthen the life of your string. And do keep in mind that the string loops are half the strenght of the string itself, since they split in half for the loops. A fatter string slows the speed of the bow a little bit, but far better than a broken string and maybe broken archer.

Dane
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: Tom Leemans on January 25, 2013, 10:51:57 am
I've always wanted to make one like I saw in high school. A friend brought one in to school (yeah you could do that back then). It was one his brother, who was quite a bit older than him, brought back from Viet Nam. It was as simple as could be. Memory doesn't recall the woods but it was a tapered stick with a groove on top for the bolt, a simple L shaped trigger mounted in a mortise that basically works the same way as this one. At the business end, there was a square hole that was where the bow slipped through. The "bow" cross section was square in the center where it fit snugly in the stock, was around 36" NTN and had a "D" cross section, fairly straight taper to the tips. I remember it had a natural fiber string. The bolts were pretty small in diameter and looked like giant bamboo skewers that were fatter at the back end. This thing was whisper quiet and very fast! You could take it down and fit it into a sleeve in about 10 seconds. I would imagine stringing it would go pretty easy with a boot type stringer.
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: twilightandmist on January 25, 2013, 12:41:53 pm
thank you to all of you! and your advice is quite welcome! to answer the question about the heads for the bolts, i plan to forge out some medieval crossbow heads as soon as it dries out enough in west michigan to get a decent fire going in my forge.
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: danny f on January 25, 2013, 01:04:54 pm
this looks awesome. i saw a program where a man went hunting with different tribes all over the world and one of them had a crossbow exactly the same as this but the stock was longer. i would love to have a go at one of these one day.
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: twilightandmist on January 25, 2013, 02:51:09 pm
well they dont disappoint as a weapon, thats for sure! they can be hard to get used to aiming because they dont aim at all like a gun, but it is far faster than i expected, and more accurate, too! with a heavy bolt like this one, i completely shattered a ten gallon bucket. i will post a video of it in action as soon as i get my camera working
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: toomanyknots on January 25, 2013, 04:24:32 pm
well they dont disappoint as a weapon, thats for sure! they can be hard to get used to aiming because they dont aim at all like a gun, but it is far faster than i expected, and more accurate, too! with a heavy bolt like this one, i completely shattered a ten gallon bucket. i will post a video of it in action as soon as i get my camera working

Sweet, can't wait for the video. This bow looks awesome.
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: twilightandmist on January 26, 2013, 12:14:26 am
should be able to post that tomorrow :)
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: AH on January 26, 2013, 02:38:37 am
maybe it's just my eyes messing with me again, but it looks like the handle area (or what would be the handle area of the prod if it were a hand bow) is bending a tad hard? other than that, I have to say that's one cool crossbow. ;D
Title: Re: My First Crossbow, 125# draw
Post by: twilightandmist on January 26, 2013, 02:00:32 pm
yeah it very well may be. ive never tillered a bow this short before, and it gave me one heck of a time trying. but it doesnt seem to be taking any set there, so im probably just going to leave it. i'll be making another one soon, and that one will be a good deal better :)