Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2009 2:33:16 GMT
Anyone own one? I think it would be fun to build one. I have a pretty well equipped wood shop and a few small pieces of metalworking equipment, as well as access to a machine shop.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2009 6:17:35 GMT
I think there are some schematics for traditional medieval crossbows on the net. I've dearly wanted one but you need a gun licence in australia to have one, but nothing for a bow, stupid
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2009 9:32:06 GMT
gearloose. i have a book called "the crossbow" by sir Ralph Payne-Galloway. it shows in pretty good detail how to build crossbows, bows etc. thought about building one myself, will have to if my last hope dose not come through.
|
|
Avery
Member
Manufacturer/Vendor
"It's alright little brother... There are more!!!
Posts: 1,826
|
Post by Avery on Sept 12, 2009 9:53:05 GMT
I was hoping for a review of a crossbow. The question mark at the end of your thread title should have tipped me off. I for one would love to something like this made and used. It's really just a simple machine with extraordinary results. If you make one, Gearloose, I look forward to seeing it. However, this should be in the " other traditional weapons" board, as this isn't a review. It's really not my place to tell you where to post your thread or anything, but when I look in on a review board, I kinda like to see reviews. No matter what, though, that crossbow kicks ass.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2009 12:21:02 GMT
I was hoping for a review of a crossbow. The question mark at the end of your thread title should have tipped me off. I for one would love to something like this made and used. It's really just a simple machine with extraordinary results. If you make one, Gearloose, I look forward to seeing it. However, this should be in the " other traditional weapons" board, as this isn't a review. It's really not my place to tell you where to post your thread or anything, but when I look in on a review board, I kinda like to see reviews. No matter what, though, that crossbow kicks ass. Would you believe I didn't notice that it was a review board? I'm still pretty new to this forum and still learning to navigate my way around. Moderators: Please move to the appropriate board. (I've sent a P.M. to Mr. Gall requesting it be moved.)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2009 13:19:11 GMT
Yes, I have one. They are fun to build, the steel bow being the hardest part. Find a copy of the old (circa 1952) Popular Mechanics book "The Boy Mechanic". There are plans for steel bow and wooden bow crossbows and for longbows. These are not exactly medieval style but can be easily modified into whatever style you like.
HTH, K
|
|
Avery
Member
Manufacturer/Vendor
"It's alright little brother... There are more!!!
Posts: 1,826
|
Post by Avery on Sept 12, 2009 17:20:42 GMT
I was hoping for a review of a crossbow. The question mark at the end of your thread title should have tipped me off. I for one would love to something like this made and used. It's really just a simple machine with extraordinary results. If you make one, Gearloose, I look forward to seeing it. However, this should be in the " other traditional weapons" board, as this isn't a review. It's really not my place to tell you where to post your thread or anything, but when I look in on a review board, I kinda like to see reviews. No matter what, though, that crossbow kicks ass. Would you believe I didn't notice that it was a review board? I'm still pretty new to this forum and still learning to navigate my way around. Moderators: Please move to the appropriate board. (I've sent a P.M. to Mr. Gall requesting it be moved.) No worries, I've done the same thing.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2009 17:33:12 GMT
Yes, I have one. They are fun to build, the steel bow being the hardest part. Find a copy of the old (circa 1952) Popular Mechanics book "The Boy Mechanic". There are plans for steel bow and wooden bow crossbows and for longbows. These are not exactly medieval style but can be easily modified into whatever style you like. HTH, K Well, until it gets moved.... Back in HS (1969!) a friend of mine had that book. He built the steel bow model (auto leaf spring iirc) in wood shop. I believe the pull was somewhere around 200 lb. It required a cocking lever to draw back the spring. It was impossible to keep bolts for it. Hitting a hay bale would drive the bolt completely through the bale, never to be seen again. Strikes in anything hard like a tree trunk would result in a spectacular explosion of wood splinters and feathers as the bolt disintegrated on impact. It was hell on bow strings too. I started to build myself one from a nice piece of walnut, but the school principal got wind that we were building weapons in class and shut us down. Ah well, lamps were just not as much fun. Just curious, but I'm guessing that steel bows were not common in medieval times, basing that on the fact that high carbon spring steel was not a perfected material yet. Is this correct?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2009 17:53:48 GMT
Most medieval crossbows did have steel bows. The bow takes about the same amount of steel as a sword. I've seen pictures of composite bow crossbows but most of the pictures show steel bows. Pull weights up to 1500 lbs were built. They would be spanned with a windlass and only pull about 4 to 6 inches. The bolts I've seen in the museums were quite short but about 3/4 inch thick.
HTH, K
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2009 17:53:50 GMT
I don't know much about building one however I have seen them (medieval style crossbows) in use and have used them myself. Fun things they are to use. I'm not entirely sure as to how historically accurate steel bows are on crossbows but I know of the ones I've seen they've all been steel.
In the SCA I participate regularly in the archery activities and I have to say that the crossbowmen are consistently the most accurate. Of course they give up their quickness in firing for accuracy. A decent bowman can loose several arrows in the same amount of time it takes a crossbowman to load and loose one bolt. That bolt however can be quite devastating.
I also know of some crossbowmen who have literally sat at the line loosing bolts... and have hit gold with every bolt they loosed. Granted they're usually the last one off the line but they consistently score higher than bowmen do.
The biggest concern about crossbows, especially if made historically accurate, is that the bow itself along with other integral parts can start to loosen over time. Constant care is required to make sure that everything remains tight and secure.
It'd be fun to actually own one however I'll take being able to loose more arrows rather than just one. Besides at 30 yds I'm accurate enough with a bow that I can consistently hit a man sized target with every arrow I loose - even if I'm shooting quickly. I think that'll be sufficient if I ever have to use a bow and arrows to defend myself or my home (unlikely I think but hey stranger things can happen).
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2009 2:54:21 GMT
I think there are some schematics for traditional medieval crossbows on the net. I've dearly wanted one but you need a gun licence in australia to have one, but nothing for a bow, stupid Actually I was talking to my archery teacher about this and apparently you only need to be a member of an archery club to own a crossbow. I would check with your local before doing this, but that's what he told me.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2009 5:58:21 GMT
He he not in australia you gotta have a gun licence and to warrant the ownership be a member of an archery club. Cause its not like the rifle shooters are gonna know how to teach you crossbow safety ..........
A word to wise in australia ....... DO NOT OWN A POINTY STICK!!!!!! ......... its a dangerous implement and charles darwin will testify on its constant mis-use.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2009 14:30:57 GMT
A crossbow is on my list of things I need to get... or make.
|
|
|
Post by jpfranco on Sept 15, 2009 16:23:43 GMT
I have one being made as we speak. I will review it as soon as I get it.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2009 17:11:43 GMT
I complained about the lack of quality swords available from vendors at the KC Renfest this weekend, but I did see a gentleman with some excellent crossbows. He wasn't selling (yet) but was set up down by the archery range. He hopes to be vending by next year. His crossbows were a near ringer for the one in my first photo, but added a brass clip curving over the prongs and holding the bolt down against the groove.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2009 21:03:38 GMT
OOOOOH, that could be very nice. 100 to 150lb pull is plenty for normal use, and you usually get to reuse the bolts. The brass clip sure helps. Hope he shows up next year with bows to sell at reasonable prices, but what are you going to do in the mean time?
YIS, K
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2009 22:03:37 GMT
OOOOOH, that could be very nice. 100 to 150lb pull is plenty for normal use, and you usually get to reuse the bolts. The brass clip sure helps. Hope he shows up next year with bows to sell at reasonable prices, but what are you going to do in the mean time? YIS, K What I "should" be doing in the meantime is building enough inventory of flutes and other goods to sell at a few renfaires so that I can afford a couple more swords I have my eye on, plus maybe commission him to make a crossbow for me. ;D
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2009 2:57:13 GMT
www.crossbows.net/For those of you who ever played the old Ultima series of CRPG, David Watson is the real life inspiration for the character of IOLO. He also makes modern replica working crossbows!!!
|
|
|
Post by jpfranco on Sept 30, 2009 14:04:35 GMT
He is making a crossbow for me as we speak, can't wait to get it and try it.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2009 18:42:22 GMT
I'm more of a shortbow man myself. But kudos to you if you make it, gearloose.
|
|