One member bobcollard I think makes his own crossbows. Check out his content.

 

Good luck with this! Keep us posted on your progress.

 

Yeah, I have made a few including Bob's. Here are some pics:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b56/Todd1arrow/114_1615_zpsed706c27.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b56/Todd1arrow/100_9593_zps527ddc5b.jpg

Medievals are the easiest to start out with. Feel free to ask any questions I will try to help the best I can.

Todd

 

Here are some more




Todd

 

Thanks Todd, the pictures are great! That's what I hope to do some day.

Question:

On a couple of those bows it looked like there is a couple of wraps of string, cord or sinew around the stock and through a hole in the stock and the string latch. What is the purpose of that?

I hope to get started on my project on Monday. The temperature is suppose to drop some. Being around a forge belching heat on 100 degree day can discourage anyone PDQ.

'Drif

 

Drif it is common on medieval style crossbows that use the roller nut release. The nut is a notch wheel/roller that the string is held back with. Some people think that this nut needs to freely rotate on an axle, it could, and sometimes people build them that way, but that is not is how the originals work. Think of the nut itself as the axle with the hole in the stock as a bushing. A cord then runs through the center of the nut to hold it in and not fly out. If you remove the cord the nut can in most cases be easily removed.

Todd

 

That makes the release system even simpler than I thought. In my studies of crossbow via the university of the internet I've noticed that the roller nut has been made from a wide range of materials. I would think that the roller nut mortise in the stock would be a precise fit. I could be mistaken but I've seen the arrow keeper placed over the roller nut that would keep it in place also.

I would also think that if you were to make it from wood a very hard, naturally oily wood such as lignum vitae or cocobolo or along those lines would be preferred.

Thanks for the information Todd. Interesting and much appreciated.

'Drif

 

I agree with your thinking, don't understand why there are not more of us! diyers! ah be one of 'em. after all! anyone can just buy something, but, making our own is so much better! Not saying to make your own dimond or a truck
Look forward to more of your posts, drift!

Lrod in Texas

 

I make medieval crossbows too, but after seeing Todd's, I don't wont any one to see my not so pretty work. lol

 

Fun with people who build their own creations. Sad that the forum chosen not to have a separate heading on the forum for people who like to build. But I have also read and understand why.
But it's not forbidden? , Just have to find a headline that it fits in

Todd! A realy nice Woodjob, specially on the last one.

 

Look up the Arbalist Guild online; all they do is build medieval bows and crossbows

 

Todd a fine example of some great craftsmanship the stock on your second pic is absolutely first class , brilliant job,