Hello, i am interested in buying a working replica medievil crossbow. Does anyone know where i could find one (i live in australia, but don't mind dealing with overseas).
It needs to work well, i want to use it on the target range. As i want to regularily use it, i would also need a supplier of bolts. I hoping can't spend too much, but i don't know what price they start.

A Google seach turned up this: http://www.ausbow.com.au/crecy.html , conveniently placed in Australia. Apart from that, I know of http://www.period-crossbows.demon.co.uk/ and http://www.todsstuff.co.uk/html/crossbows.php , both over here in the UK. I don't know a huge amount about crossbows, but I do know that Tod is an excellent craftsman, and the bows I've seen from Period Crossbows are always impressive.

Tod is always at the expensive end of the market, and Period crossbows don't list the prices, which usually means they're quite high. However, the Australian maker appears reasonable.

a company I have used and have been more than satisfied with is uc crossbows (http://uccrossbows.com/) their web sight is being updated so it is a little annoying, but you can either buy a finished piece, or a DIY piece of varying dgrees of completness, also they have a wide assortment of add-ons and upgrades for thie crossbows as well has some pretty nice bows, they refer to them as horse bows, I have fired them at a couple diffrent renaissance fairs I have attended and like them alot.


hope that helps

Unless you are in S.A. or the Northern Territory it is illegal to own a crossbow - even a working antique - without a permit.

Thankyou, for those links, i also found these, from America http://www.a2armory.com/medar.html
It is quite a bit cheaper, although the bolts are quite expensive, but i can get them from elsewhere.
It doesn't show the poundage or effective range, but i have asked them that in an email.

Hello, I'm a long time lurker, but I have also been curious about arbalests. Does anyone happen to know if New World Arbalest is decent? I have been eyeing their central european x-bow for some time, but I've been afraid to lay down any cash for it.

Wow, that's a nice looking x-bow. I did a search for New World Arbalest, and it seems that those who have them are happy, so I have my answer. Thanks for the pic!

I've also found the "Kingslayer" crossbows to look interesting. I purchased one at Pennsic this past year, but sadly have not had a chance to fire it much, so I won't speak to the performance characteristics.

In terms of the apparent construction, it seems solid and well made.

The draw weight is approximately 60 pounds. It was explained to me that it's resulting velocity is equivelant to a much higher draw weight from a steel prod, since the laminate wood construction (similar to modern bows) has a faster reaction speed than the typical steel prod. Thus making a lighter pull for the same output velocity.

It doesn't look like he has much about the crossbows on his website... But here's the URL I've found (I tihnk it's the right person): http://www.kingslayer.com/

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