[Dustin Faulkner]

Hello:

I'd like to build my own crossbow, but I do not have the skill nor the equipment to make one from scratch. So I was wondering if there are any crossbow kits available.

I am refering to a crossbow with a bow that's essentially a long bow oriented horizontally (but not as wide of course) - not a compound bow like many modern fiberglass crossbows.

I was in a woodshop class during my school years and some of my classmates built crossbow kits with wooden stocks. This was before political correctness and "helicopter parents" took the fun out of life. Nevertheless, my own parents didn't let me build a crossbow too.

I am not an archery officionado, but I am discouraged by the prices of modern crossbows. I thought I'd defer to you gentlemen for possible sources of crossbow kits before going on a crazy internet adventure. I am sure some of you participate in archery.

I'm an adult now (officially) and I want to build my own crossbow finally.

Thank you.

[Mackenzie Cosens]

Darkwood Armoury has crossbow parts (metal prod/bow... etc. ). Who knows. they may be able to help you with other parts too.

http://www.darkwoodarmory.com/index.php?main_...Path=11_31

mackenzie

[Michael B.]

Alchem Inc. also has a full line of cross bow parts, plus downloadable plans.

http://www.alcheminc.com/crossbow.html

[Nathan Robinson]

I bet you could order parts and pieces form New World Arbalest.

[David Teague]

[Sean Flynt]

A bow like what you're describing was used in the Appalachian mountains relatively recently (19th c?). It was rifle-stocked and had a very long and relatively thin wooden prod (not a longbow, though). Interestingly, it looks like a native bow on a traditional mountain longarm stock. I would guess that it was for small game--rabbits, squirrels, etc. I've seen a photo of one of these. I don't know if it is the ONLY one, but I doubt it. Something like this would be very handy in an isolated community when you might want to conserve powder and shot.

As for building--the prod would be easy because it probably isn't very powerful. You can probably find an inexpensive unfinished stock of historical style online. Try Dixie Gunworks. Then you'd just have to match the bits. Maybe artificial sinew for a string? In the mountains, arrow heads would likely have been made from small bits of broken saw or other sheet metal. Poplar dowel for arrow shafts (the arrows probably were like vertical bow arrows rather than the short bolts of a traditional crossbow). Turkey for fletching?

[Leo Todeschini]

Hi,

buy a copy (or look online) at Payne Gallweys book on the cross bow and look at the designs early on in the book for 'rising peg triggers'. A saw, file, drill and plane and you can make this bow. For the bow itself use hickory as this is easy to work into a bow and relatively cheap and forgiving. For the string use any natural fibre but make sure it is quite thick near the centre so maybe 3/16" or so.

If you do not know how to tiller a bow look on line for bow making information and just have a go - hickory is cheap. If you are not sure what you are doing start with a short draw of maybe 6" for a 36" bow and you should have a good chance of success. With some practice and a few breaks and you will get the 6" up to maybe 8" .

This will make a for a fun bow and 40-50lb should be quite acheivable.

Tod

[Sean Flynt]

The "mountain crossbows" I mentioned: http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?p=190668#190668

[Leo Todeschini]

Those bows clearly show rising peg triggers and are to all intents like early crossbows bar the stock.

Tod