How to make a crossbow from wood drawing. How to make a simple medieval crossbow. How to make arrows for a crossbow

Video instruction on how to make arrows for a crossbow

Video instruction on how to make a toy crossbow

One of the most popular types of small arms is the crossbow. And although hunting with such a device is prohibited in our country, there are still many who want to acquire such a “toy” in order to shoot at targets. At the moment, you can buy such weapons on many sites or in stores, but such a purchase will be very expensive. It is much more profitable to make a crossbow with your own hands at home, and you will find out what is required for this.

Preparation

To date, there are many varieties of this sporting weapon. First of all, these are classic models familiar to us from historical films and block crossbows - modern weapons equipped with complex mechanisms. The last option to create houses will be quite difficult, so let's focus on the classic.

What parts does a crossbow consist of:

• Trigger mechanism;
• bowstring;
• Crossbow stock;
• Bolts and arrows.

Making a crossbow at home will be much easier if you immediately stock up on everything necessary materials and tools. For this you will need:

• Well sharpened knife;
• Hammer;
• Drill or brace;
• An ordinary hacksaw, which can be replaced with a grinder with a wood disk;
• Plane;
• Chisel.

How to make a crossbow with your own hands

In addition to the tools, you will need a piece of wood 900mm long and 30mm thick to make this ranged weapon. In this case, fit:

• ash;
• hazel;
• poplar.
• birch.

First of all, you need to prepare a wooden blank. To do this, cut the branch of the desired size and paint over the cuts. This is necessary so that the liquid from the wood comes out slowly and evenly. Please note that the wood must lie in a dark place for at least a year, only in this case the weapon will shoot with special power. After that, the bark is removed from the workpiece and left to dry for another week. Further, the log is sawn into two parts and from the northern - the most durable, they make the actual crossbow.

Draw the stock of the weapon on the board and cut it out with a hacksaw or grinder, then make a small arrow chute on the top of the workpiece. From the front side, cut a groove in which you will fix the arc. If knots or chips appear on the bed during the process, then remove them with a knife and treat the place with sandpaper.

How to make an arc

This part will require a flat board with a length of at least 750 mm and a width of 200 mm, a thickness of 60 mm. We dry the workpiece well and stand for several days, and equalize it. The width of the part in the middle is 40 cm, and narrows at the edges to 15 cm.

At a distance of 100 mm from the cut groove for this part, we create a through hole through which we stretch the rope - it will become the main fixator for the crossbow arc. Then we insert the part into the groove and firmly fasten it with a rope, as shown in the lower figure.

This detail plays a rather significant role in the “lethality” of the weapon, and to create it you will need the following materials:

• kapron threads;
• wooden plank;
• two nails without a hat;
• rubber glue.

First of all, you need to make a special machine for weaving this part: take a rope and measure the length of the bowstring. After that, saw off a board with dimensions slightly larger than this parameter. Next, mark the length of the string on the board and drill two holes in these places - this is where you need to insert your nails.

Take a thread, tie it to one of the nails, and leave a margin equal to the length of the bowstring. After that, start wrapping the threads evenly around the nails (lavsan ones are best). Continue this process until the base of the string reaches 5mm. To do this, you need to make 5-6 full turns. Try to keep the threads evenly stretched.

Next, wrap the base several times near the nails on both sides with wrapping material. This will give you loops at the ends. You can understand how to do this from the diagram above. Don't forget to wind the middle of the bowstring, because this part suffers a lot from friction. Tie the cut ends of the threads with a marine knot and grease well with glue so that the whole structure is strong. After that, you can pull the bowstring on the arc and adjust the degree of its tension.

How to make a trigger

by the most simple option will become a pin-type lock, we will choose it for our weapons. Pull the bowstring to the maximum distance and drill a through hole in this place. Also make a small transverse recess in the upper part of the crossbow bed. Now fasten the lever at the bottom of the part. Make a wooden axle and secure it with wire.

Fix the stock and lever with ropes so that the latter moves with maximum friction. The depth of the “ammunition” groove should be equal to 1/4 of the volume of the arrow, and this recess must be “cut through” from the top of the lock to the front edge of the crossbow.

How to make arrows

In order to get ammunition for your small arms, you don’t have to run to a sports store, because they can be easily made at home. To do this, you will need several ordinary wooden blanks that need to be well planed and processed with fine sandpaper. For arrows, it is better to choose light woods, in which case the shooting will be more accurate. As for the tip, if you don’t have special ones, then sharpen the tip of the arrow - it will be quite possible to shoot at targets with such ammunition. You should not drive nails into the head, because in this case there is an increased chance that the arrow will be able to split when it hits the target.

Be that as it may, you should remember that in our country shooting from crossbows is equated with the use of firearms. So if you want to make such a device, then in no case do not use it for its intended purpose. Treat the crossbow as a beautiful souvenir, and then there will be no claims from the law against you.

Even twenty years ago, a bow or crossbow for individual use did not exist in nature. Some eccentrics and fanatics of historical reconstructions undertook their manufacture at their own peril and risk, having absolutely no idea what they would get in the end. And all because the process of accumulating experience and honing skills in the manufacture and use of throwing weapons, which lasted several tens of thousands of years, was once interrupted and anathematized in our time.

Now all this rare knowledge has been taken out of dusty chests, they have learned how to make bows and crossbows using modern technologies, and the army of followers of William Tell and Robin Hood is growing exponentially. And today we have prepared for you drawings and diagrams that will tell you how to make a crossbow at home.

Despite the abundance of online stores selling throwing weapons, as well as the fantastic breadth of the product range, there are many who want to make a crossbow on their own. Most of them don't know where to start. Today we will tell you about the main design features of the crossbow. This knowledge will help you avoid manufacturing errors, as well as frustration and injury when using it.

Before starting work, you should know two main points.

1. In our country, a crossbow is recreational and sporting weapons. Hunting with him is prohibited. Any throwing weapon with a pull force of more than 43 kilograms is considered combat, the right to use which is given by the licensing authorities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
2. The crossbow is design that experiences enormous loads during operation. Therefore, any carelessness in its manufacture is likely to result in injury. Any part of it must have a multiple margin of safety.

So, let's find out how to make a simple crossbow at home.

The video below will tell you how to make a crossbow at home:

Onion

The energy source of the crossbow is a bow - an elastic plate of complex shape, which has one main bend and, as an option, two additional ones at the ends. It is necessary to start making a crossbow with this part and adjust everything else to it - the choice of the type of tension (recursive or block), the size of the stock, the type of trigger mechanism.

Wood and composite

There is an acute question about what to use as a material for a bow: wood, composite or metal?

• Tree is the worst choice. Available "wood" lying underfoot is garbage, suitable only for kindling stoves. Branches cut down in the forest, as they dry out, lose their elasticity, crack and fall apart. From this material you can only do something for short-term entertainment in the country. Of the models sold in stores, and having a tree in their composition, it is very popular, as well as.
• Composite, created from fiberglass and epoxy binder, is very tempting and outwardly simple. But there is an obstacle - the need for scrupulously precise adherence to the technology of all work. The proportions of the mixture, drying, exposure. At home, this is almost impossible.

Metal

There remains one uncontested option - metal. If you have an old Moskvich with a set of leaf springs on hand, then consider yourself lucky. One sheet is taken from the entire package - the second. If you are not too afraid of the dimensions, then the first one will do. Moreover, he has at the ends of the tube - an almost ready-made bracket for attaching blocks or bowstrings.

A block is used to attach the bow to the stock. This is a U-shaped design, clasping the box in front. It can be welded tightly to the spring leaf, but in this case, when the bow is bent, the welds will experience excessive pull-off stress. Therefore, it is better to fix on the block ball joint from VAZ 2108. A bow is attached to its pin. This is also convenient because there is a hole on the spring leaf.

If you are very strong, then you can stop at the recursive method of pulling the bowstring (as in, etc.). But it is better to choose a block one (as in models, etc.). To attach blocks to the bow, if you have chosen a second spring leaf, you need to fix the brackets at its ends. A bolted (and even better riveted) connection is preferable to welding, since this assembly experiences strong vibration loads. As pulleys, use the parts of the glass lifting mechanism of the same Moskvich.

Regarding the bowstring, an obvious solution suggests itself: a thin metal cable. But it is not entirely true, since steel cables do not withstand variable loads well. It is better to choose a climbing cord with a diameter of 5-8 mm.

Having made a bow and fastened a bowstring to it, you can conduct natural bending tests. It’s great if at the same time you have a dynamometer of kilograms for 100-150. As a result, you will find out two parameters necessary for further work: the length of the bowstring and the load.

How to make a stock on a powerful crossbow at home, read below.

Lodge

For this part of a homemade crossbow, a tree is an uncontested option. But not everyone. In any case, not aspen, alder, spruce or pine. Better beech, elm, oak. A blank dried for twenty years. It is clear that you will never find anything like this anywhere. Therefore, use moisture-resistant plywood with a thickness of 7-9 mm. 3 or 5 contours of the box are cut out of it, and then this package is glued together epoxy resin. Not very pretty, but extremely reliable.

• Regarding the form - give up the semi-pistol, use a straight English stock. It is not only easier to manufacture, but also stronger.
• When assembling a stock package, both the course of the bowstring and the load must be taken into account. The first determines the distance from the shoe to the groove for the trigger. The second is the thickness of the stock walls at the place of its attachment. It is a straight English stock that will allow you to avoid excessive thinning when moving from the forearm to the butt.
• The most important detail of the crossbow lodge is the arrow guide. It should be smooth and durable. For it, you can use plates framing the side windows of the Moskvich, furniture fittings, and other parts similar in shape.
• If you are using a block type of bowstring tension, then in the fore-end under the guide there should be a groove for the cable system. This is another element that weakens the stock, so give up on the thought of making the forearm graceful. High will protect your fingers from falling under the bowstring and traumatic amputation of the phalanges.

Usually crossbows have a plastic stock, such as models, and others.

We will talk about how to make a homemade trigger for a crossbow at home below.

This video will tell you how to make a crossbow out of wood (plywood) with your own hands:

Trigger mechanism

If you are not a mechanic of the sixth category, then give up the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bmaking this element yourself. Apply force and find the trigger from any spring-piston air rifle. In the most difficult case, you only have to modify its tooth holding the piston - it may be small for a thick bowstring.

Above the trigger mechanism, a casing with a height of 2 to 5 cm is arranged, which is necessary in order to protect it from moisture and dirt, and which is also the basis for sighting devices - slats for optics or a rear sight. Weaver, Picatinny or dovetail can be bought at any online store that sells pneumatics.

The front part of the casing above the trigger mechanism is made in the form of a long (no more than 10 cm) elastic "tail" with which the rear part of the arrow is held on the guide.

Arrow making

Canonically correct ammunition for a crossbow is called "bolt". But many online stores sell crossbow arrows. For crossbows with a rifle stock, lengths of 14, 16, 20, 22 inches are suitable. To be absolutely frank, you won’t find better store arrows. Unfortunately, none of them costs less than 150 rubles. Therefore, it is worth trying to make them yourself.

They can be made from wood, straight-grained, without knots. As an option - use furniture details - balusters from chairs, railings of cribs. Good arrows come from aluminum tubes up to 2 cm in diameter. If desired, even electrodes of the maximum diameter can be used, but they hopelessly bend when hit and it is difficult to fasten plumage to them.

For plumage, thin plastic is used. Natural bird feathers can give an unexpected effect of a chaotic change in flight direction, since they have natural curves that must be taken into account.

The main condition for a good, smooth flight is balancing. The center of gravity of the crossbow bolt should be after the first third of the length from the tip. If it is not metal, then the end of the arrow can be loaded with lead wire wrapped around the shaft.

The issue of equipping an arrow with a tip should be treated without fanaticism. Turning metal on lathes, milling and polishing, giving exquisite forms - these operations are accessible to a few. In addition, such a tip is extremely dangerous. If you do not need to pierce knight armor, then a wooden bolt can simply be sharpened at an angle of 30 degrees using a regular knife.

We will tell you how to make a crossbow that shoots with your own hands from paper, pencils and other materials.

Cool shooting games

A toothpick or match shooter can be made from a wooden clothespin. To do this, disassemble it and redo it:

1. expand the narrow groove for the spring of one half to 1 cm, on the second make the same, but indented by 1 cm;
2. at the front ends of both halves, from the side of the narrow grooves for the spring, make a longitudinal groove 1-2 mm deep;
3. collect the halves of the clothespin "inside out" by twisting them with a thread;
4. install the clothespin spring with the paws in the cut grooves, and with the spiral outward;
5. insert a toothpick into the hole between the halves;
6. press the spring coil, shifting it into a semicircular cutout;

The foot of the spring will slide down the long slot, snapping the toothpick and causing it to fly out.

To learn how to make a mini crossbow out of pencils with your own hands at home, see the video below.

MODERN CROSSBOWS - BASICS, TERMINOLOGY, CLASSIFICATION

Part 1

The popularity of this weapon is growing, more and more people want to touch this beautiful example of human progress. After all, humanity has always sought to hit targets more quickly, more accurately, from a greater distance. Someone wants to touch the dream of childhood, someone hunts, someone wants to make a crossbow with my own hands, and someone likes to just shoot at a target. Most beginners in the crossbow business have a lot of questions about what kind of crossbow to buy or make, what a “block”, “guide”, “shako”, “cable” is, how does a “blocker” differ from a “classic” and many other questions.
Indeed, the former powerful throwing weapons of the ancient armies are experiencing a kind of "Renaissance" in our time, now it is available to almost everyone. Any citizen who has reached the age of 18 and has a passport with him can purchase a crossbow with an arc force of up to 43 kg, which has the appropriate certificate. Naturally, there are also restrictions - in our country, crossbows with a pull force of more than 43 kg are considered weapons, and hunting with it is prohibited. That is, even having a hunting license, hunting with a crossbow is not yet fate. Perhaps, after some time, something in this regard will change in our legislation, and the hunter will be able to feel what it is like to be one on one with a powerful beast, when one arrow is loaded and there is no room for error, since reloading a crossbow, even with a cocking lever, it takes a lot of time. Naturally, a hunter with a crossbow has more responsibility, since there is no opportunity to fire a second shot and finish off a wounded animal. The shot must be fired from a short distance and certainly in areas incompatible with the life of the animal.
The meaning of this article is not to tell where and how the crossbow (crossbow) appeared, but to explain what parts the crossbow consists of, what crossbows are, what accessories are used for them, types of ammunition, tension devices, etc.

1. The main parts of the crossbow and basic terms

A modern crossbow, of course, by the principle of operation (ejection of a projectile by a bowstring held by a trigger mechanism, by means of a trigger lever (hook), due to the stored energy of an elastic element (arc, shoulders) located across the bed) does not differ from its older counterpart, however The design has undergone significant changes.
First, consider the main parts of the crossbow on the example of the device, the so-called "classical" layout (Fig. 1). Its most noticeable difference from the usual old crossbow scheme will be only the presence of separate shoulders instead of a solid arc. But since the vast majority of modern crossbows have such separate shoulders, they are in fact the “classics” of our time.

Fig.1. The main parts of the crossbow.


Fig.2. Crossbow with a single guide stock

All parts of the crossbow are mounted on a single profile - the guide. There are crossbows in which all parts are attached directly to the stock and there is no such part as such. In this case, the guide is called the chute in which the arrow is placed. An example of such a crossbow in Fig.2. Please note - the crossbow shown in the last figure also has simpler - straight shoulders. The guide should not have any bends and curvature, because in fact it is the “barrel” of the crossbow. You yourself understand what it will be like to shoot from a weapon with a crooked muzzle. The guide, in the part along which the bowstring and arrow will walk, is polished for better glide of the projectile and less wear on the string winding. Also, additional lubricant is used. The bowstring is rubbed with wax (bees or special for the bowstring).
As mentioned above, in most modern crossbows the arc is split, that is, in fact, we have two separate arms. Firstly, it allows you to raise the shoulders so that they are located at the level of the upper edge of the guide without tilt, which reduces the friction of the bowstring on the guide; secondly, it allows the shoulders to be more parallel to the guide; and thirdly, for ease of transportation. It is very important that both shoulders have the same characteristics in terms of geometric parameters and physical properties.
The shoulders are attached to the rail or directly to the stock with the help of a block - this part, which carries a serious load, is subject to rather stringent requirements in terms of strength and geometry. After all, the synchronism of the work of the shoulders will depend on the accuracy of its manufacture, and the reliability and health of the shooter will depend on the strength. In general, in a crossbow, for proper operation and for accurate shooting, the accuracy of the manufacture of mechanisms must be at a fairly high level.


Fig.3. Crossbow-pistol with a separate superstructure above the castle

The string is an important and very important part of the crossbow. It must meet several requirements - be strong, light, flexible, not stretch and hold a jerk well. Mostly, on modern crossbows, a bowstring made of synthetic fiber Dyneema (Dyneema) is woven. Fishing braid is also made from these fibers, which, due to its large selection and availability, is one of the the best materials for independent weaving of a bowstring. On the bowstring, in places of friction on the guide and on the loops thrown over the ends of the shoulders, a winding is made, for example, from a nylon thread. Such a winding is rewound as it wears out - this mainly concerns the warhead, where the bowstring wears out the most.
A trigger mechanism (SM) is mounted at the rear of the guide, which is also called a lock. This mechanism keeps the string cocked and allows you to easily release it when you press the trigger (lever). It can be assembled directly into the rail or have a separate housing mounted into it. If the guide, as a separate part, is missing, then the lock cuts directly into the box. The body of the SM crossbow in the upper part usually has a superstructure on which sights or bars are mounted, such as a dovetail, Weaver or Picatinny rail, for all kinds of optical or collimator sights. An arrow clamp is also attached to the superstructure, which is a leaf spring that keeps the arrow from falling out in a loaded crossbow. On some crossbows, the superstructure is not part of the castle, but is attached by a separate piece to the crossbow above the CM (Fig. 3). There are add-ons that can be adjusted - they change the angle of inclination, which makes it possible to adapt the sights of the crossbow to longer distances, because the flight of an arrow in flatness (straightness) is much inferior to firearms. Although, in my humble opinion, this does not make much sense, since the speed of the arrow drops quite strongly with distance, and the time it takes for it to fly, for example, 200 m is quite large. Naturally, the lethality at such a distance is small.

Fig.4. Assembly of the main parts of the crossbow

A little about the crossbow stock. In principle, there are no big differences from the lodges of firearms. The only thing, due to the superstructure and high-raised sights, the butt line is located higher. The guide assembly with the rest of the crossbow is attached to the stock or, as mentioned above, all parts of the crossbow are mounted on the stock itself. An example of the assembly of the main parts of the crossbow is shown in Fig. 4.

2. Classification of crossbows

By state standards Russian Federation [Change No. 1 GOST R 51905-2002 Sports crossbows, crossbows for recreation and entertainment and shells for them. Technical requirements and safety test methods], crossbows are usually divided into:
crossbows universal sports and hunting and match sports, which are throwing weapons and are intended for use in sports hunting, in the educational and training process and during competitions;
sports crossbows (traditional, field, etc.), not related to throwing weapons, which are sports equipment intended for use in the educational and training process and during competitions;
crossbows for recreation and entertainment, not related to throwing weapons, which are household goods intended for leisure activities and mass sports;
crossbows made homemade way(in terms of determining their belonging to throwing weapons during forensic examinations).
The main criterion for gradation is the strength of the arcs of the crossbow (Table 1).

Table 1

For the same guest, there is the following classification table (Table 2). This is what concerns the legislation and standards of the Russian Federation.

table 2




Fig.5. Sports match crossbow.

But I would like to offer a slightly different classification of modern crossbows.
Classification by purpose:
1. Sports match crossbows
2. Copies, replicas of old crossbows
3. Crossbows for entertainment and recreation
4. Hunting crossbows.
With match crossbows (Fig. 5), in general, everything is clear - this is a separate class of crossbows, which are a sports projectile and at the same time, according to the forensic requirements of the Russian Federation, a weapon. We will not dwell on them in detail.


Fig.6. Replica of a medieval crossbow (by "Dirty" Burdwood)

Next, in the second class, there are copies and replicas of ancient crossbows - combat, sports and hunting crossbows, manufactured before the 20th century. That is, these are Greek gastrafets, and arquebuses (a crossbow with a barrel), and schnappers with balestras (crossbows that shoot bullets), as well as classic crossbows, with platoon devices improved over the centuries - with a belt hook, with a "goat's leg", with an English collar, with a kranekin. Naturally, according to the same forensic requirements, most copies, especially authentic ones, will be weapons. But the replicas of ancient crossbows have only an external resemblance to the originals, and even then, often the external differences are so significant that only a person who is completely inexperienced in crossbows can seem like a copy (Fig. 6). Materials for manufacturing can be any, including a variety of polymers. These crossbows may well fit within the framework of the legal 43 kg. Copies and replicas of old crossbows are mainly souvenir and museum products, as well as the path of fans-reenactors of this weapon. Although, abroad there are a fairly large number of crossbow unions that specialize specifically in antique crossbows, hold meetings, exhibitions and shooting competitions. But still, such crossbows are not very suitable for recreational shooting, especially for spears, due to their power (again the notorious “43 kg”), the complexity of manufacturing ammunition (the shape of old bolts is mostly spindle-shaped), which often simply scatter into chips upon impact about the target.
Let me make a comparison - the passion for old crossbows is akin to smoking a pipe. This is a manifestation of some kind of aestheticism, listen to how such people speak about their passion: “... it takes time to enjoy pipe smoking. You can smoke this cigarette on the run, at work, in the toilet. The pipe is a ritual. Choose an hour - another, relax. Let the vanity leave you for a while. Hammer the tube slowly and carefully. Sit back comfortably in your favorite chair. Light it lovingly and take a mouthful of fragrant smoke. Release a puff of smoke and feel how all your problems dissolve in it. Your hand is warmed by a tender and devoted friend, and in her beauty, in the convolutions of wood patterns and smooth lines, you will discover something new every time. Such beauty and devotion in women is sometimes harder to find than in pipes ... "( http://voffka.com/archives/2006/09/19/029976.html).
Let's move on to the so-called crossbows for entertainment and recreation. Most of the crossbows on the market are of this class. This includes pistol crossbows and rifle-type crossbows of all designs not exceeding a peak bowstring force of 43 kg. Many of the crossbows in this group are of the following hunting class, but with shoulders weakened by our country's standards. Although with 43-kilogram shoulders, this is especially true for block crossbows, due to their design features You can hunt small game and birds. For example, one of the record holders for the arrow speed Bowtech "Desert Stryker" (Fig. 7), was completed for the Russian Federation with weakened arms of 43 kg.


Fig.7. Bowtech "Desert Stryker"

There are no serious design differences in hunting crossbows. The main thing is their powerful shoulders - up to 80 kg in blockers and up to 150 or more in classic crossbows. That allows you to send a heavy arrow with a "broadhead" tip (three or four bladed hunting tip) to the target with good energy. Naturally, hunting crossbows are always the most expensive and most well-equipped devices.

Classification according to the design of the power unit.
1. Crossbows with classic shoulders:
a) with simple shoulders;
b) with recursive arms.
2. Block crossbows:
a) with pulley system with 2, 4, 6 and 8 rollers;
b) with round eccentric blocks;
c) with oval eccentric blocks;
d) with binary eccentrics.
3. Crossbows with non-classical shoulder arrangement:
a) with reverse shoulders;
b) with a different arrangement of shoulders and with a system of rollers (blocks).

Let's analyze the above constructions in order. Simple shoulders in a free state without a bowstring are a straight or slightly curved plate (mono-bow) or a pair of such plates (split shoulders). Most of the old crossbows had a mono bow, but in modern crossbows split shoulders are more common. An example of simple separate shoulders is the model of the Canadian company Excalibur for the teenage generation (Fig. An example of the author's homemade with shoulders from a disk from circular saw shown in fig. 2.


Fig.8. Crossbow Excalibur "Apex Light"

The main number of modern crossbows of the "classic" layout is equipped with recursive shoulders. Such shoulders differ from straight ones in that they have a characteristic and rather noticeable forward bend at the ends. In a free state, without a bowstring, the ends of such shoulders, as a rule, go forward further than the string line and even further than the middle of the bow, forming an arc curved from the shooter (Fig. 10). The degree of recursiveness can vary widely. Almost all crossbows manufactured by the same Excalibur company have such shoulders (Fig. 9, 10).


Rice. 9. Crossbow Excalibur "Equinox" with recursive shoulders.


Rice. 10. The front of the Excalibur "VIXEN" crossbow with shoulders without a bowstring.

Recursive arms can also be mono (Fig. 11) or split.


Fig.11. Crossbow Barnett "Commando" with a recursive mono arc.

Both simple and recursive shoulders are made with a narrowing from the root to the ends. Often both in width and in thickness. This is done so that the shoulders bend under tension evenly along the entire length, or even a little stronger towards the tips, which helps to increase the efficiency of the shoulders - the weight is reduced, the speed of straightening the shoulders increases.
Recursiveness helps to achieve more greater efficiency work. The curved ends of the shoulders give additional leverage, which, as the string is pulled, seems to increase the length of the shoulder, changing the distance from the center of rotation (from the center of the bow) to the bowstring .. That is, as the resistance of the arc increases, the lever for which we overcome this resistance also increases . Thanks to this, the recurve bow stretches more evenly, its effort changes less throughout the working stroke, and with the tension equal to that of a conventional (simple) bow, the recurve bow has a much greater preload *, which gives it the ability to push the arrow to the very end with great effort. In fact, there is a partial change in the "gear ratio" of the arc force on the bowstring.
(* A bow with a bowstring installed, but in an uncocked state, is prestressed, that is, it has a preload. The preload is selected in such a way that the material from which the shoulders are made has a margin of safety at the required working stroke of the bowstring. That is, there is a compromise between the power of the arc and the properties of the material from which it is made.In simple words, we shorten the bowstring - we increase the preload, respectively, the power of the bow changes upwards, but the chance of its breakage increases with the ensuing consequences of a possible injury to the shooter.)
The next step in the development of crossbows was systems with a chain hoist. The chain hoist is a clip with one or more round movable rollers (Fig. 12). In theory, depending on the multiplicity (the number of cable branches and the number of rollers) of the chain hoist, it is possible to achieve a reduction in the tension of the bowstring from two to four times (systems with two, four, six, eight rollers) and increase the speed of the bowstring when shooting at the same number of times.

Fig.12. The principle of operation of the block and chain hoist. a - a single block (with one cable stretched along the groove of a single pulley); b - a combination of two single blocks with a single cable covering both pulleys; c - a pair of two-groove blocks, along four paired grooves of which a single cable passes.

Also, the system with a chain hoist allows you to reduce the transverse dimensions of the crossbow, since the stroke of the end of the shoulder in them is much less with the usual length of the working stroke. In practice, in addition to the advantages, there are also disadvantages of this system: losses due to the friction of the cable on the rollers, the friction of their axes, the movement of the mass of the shoulder earrings (earrings are clips of rollers at the end of the shoulders), the parallelism of the cable branches (strings, which in pulley systems significant).
On fig. 13 shows an example of how, when adding a pair of rollers and the same course of the ends of the shoulders, the course of the bowstring increases.


Fig.13. Comparison of a chain hoist system with simple arms.

There are eight rollers on most pulley crossbows of factory designs (Fig. 14). Crossbows with two rollers are extremely rare (Fig. 15), as well as with six - I can only cite as an example the excellent homemade Lynx crossbow from Zmeelink (Fig. 16). With four rollers meets a lot homemade devices(Fig. 17), there are also factory ones (Fig. 1.


Fig.14. Crossbow Interloper "Black Python".


Fig.15. Crossbow by Ralph

On factory and many homemade crossbows, the middle rollers are connected to the next pair of rods, as in fig. 14, 17, 18, but practice has shown that it is better to make them rigidly fixed on the guide, which makes it possible to lower them below the level of the rollers at the ends of the shoulders, without interfering with the free movement of the bowstring and straightening of the shoulders (Fig. 16, 19).

Rice. 16. Crossbow "Lynx" from Zmeelink'a


Rice. 17. Crossbow by daf13


Rice. 18. Crossbow-pistol Interloper "Aspid".


Rice. 19. Crossbow with eight rollers, medium fixed rigidly

For optimal operation of chain hoist systems, the arms, relative to the guide, should be as parallel as possible to it, since the bowstring acts on the ends of the arms by means of rollers that tend to bend the arms not towards the shooter, but to each other. That is, the sharper the angle between the shoulder and the guide, the better. Of course, if the shoulders are placed in parallel, then this will significantly reduce the transverse dimensions of the crossbow, but also increase the longitudinal ones. Therefore, it is worth looking for the “golden mean” here - and the shoulders are rarely placed at an angle less than 45 degrees to the guide. Good solution suggested http://forum.arbalet.info/viewtopic.php?t=2802&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=960 igora - pseudo-parallel arms (Fig. 19).


Rice. 19. Pseudo-parallel arms by igora

As the author himself described it: “The essence of the proposed 2nd method is to make the arms of an ordinary one-piece mono bow work in the same way as parallel to the stock (which all manufacturers strive for) while remaining an ordinary arc and even no bend at all. Along the way, the gear ratio of the used chain hoist increases. Moreover, for example, in the figure, the chain hoist in the 2nd version will give a gear ratio approximately like that of an 8-roller, but in reality only two of them have been added. Well, and (and most importantly!) The direction of the forces applied to the shoulder will straighten out). The biggest joint that I see is a long bowstring, but not longer than that of an 8-roller.
The shoulders of pulley crossbows are made short and rigid, often without narrowing in width and thickness, because the course of the end of the shoulder in these systems is small, and the force that the shoulders must create is many times higher than in the "classical" systems. The material of the factory arms is unidirectional fiberglass. Homemade, most often - springs from cars,
The chain hoist transmits the force from the shoulders to the bowstring through a certain gear ratio (which usually reduces the force and increases the stroke). But since this gear ratio is constant, then as the force on the arc increases, as it bends, it similarly increases on the bowstring. To get rid of this, and to further improve the shooting qualities of crossbows, the so-called blocks appeared. They allow you to transfer force from the shoulders to the bowstring with a variable gear ratio, thus ensuring that, regardless of the degree of bending of the arc and the force on it, the desired force is always on the bowstring. Some of the simplest blocks are round eccentric blocks. This is already a more complex system compared to the chain hoist - each block consists of two rollers fixed together, the axis on which it rotates is offset from the center (Fig. 20). There are two bowstrings - one, of two parts, connecting the power rollers of the blocks and opposite ends of the shoulders, is called a power or technical bowstring (blue with a yellow fork in the figure), and the second is a combat or high-speed bowstring that directly accelerates the arrow (white with a red winding, Fig. 21).


Fig.20. Round eccentric blocks (axle hole highlighted)


Rice. 21. System with round eccentric blocks

The layout and reeving of bowstrings in systems with round eccentric blocks is shown in fig. 22. Also, the ends of the power bowstrings can be attached not to the rollers at the ends of the axes of the blocks (Fig. 21), but by means of a transition piece under the block, attached to the axis (Fig. 23).
Due to the fact that the power bowstring is not much lower than the high-speed one, it became necessary to lower it somewhat so that it does not interfere with the lower plumage of the arrow. Therefore, in all crossbows with eccentrics there is a characteristic slot for a power bowstring, with a part running inside it along a guide with two slots for the left and right power bowstrings (Fig. 22).


Fig.22a. Location of blocks, bowstring and wringing part (top view)


Fig.22b. Location of blocks, bowstring and wringing part (bottom view)

Another feature of the eccentrics is that at the end of the preload, the operation of the block ensures the so-called reset - a sharp decrease in the preload force. Therefore, in such crossbows, the tension force is measured by the peak force, and not when the bowstring is brought to the lock, as with simple and recursive arcs or in pulley systems.


Rice. 23. Crossbow Barnett "Lightning" with round eccentrics.

The next step in the development of crossbows was the use of oval eccentrics instead of round blocks (Fig. 24.). The shape of these blocks only resembles an oval, but in fact it is more complex. The fact is that in such blocks, the control of the force on the bowstring is carried out not only by a simple displacement of the axis of the block, but also by changing the very shape of the rollers forming the block. This allows you to form absolutely any desired effort on the bowstring throughout its entire working course. A small illustration of the operation of an oval eccentric (Fig. 25 (author andrey 74)) shows how the gear ratio changes between the power and speed parts of the block in the process of its unwinding.
Combining the shapes and sizes of the power and speed parts of the block, as well as their ratio with each other, you can choose optimal performance efforts, speeds and course of the bowstring for specific shoulders. Examples of crossbows with oval eccentrics in fig. 26, 27, 28.




Rice. 24. Oval eccentric blocks


Rice. 25. Illustration of the operation of an oval eccentric (by andrey 74)

Fig.26. Ten Point "Phantom"


Rice. 27. Darton "Serpent"




Rice. 28. Crossbow Parker "SAFARI CLASSIC"

On some models of crossbows with oval eccentrics, the blocks are installed in the opposite direction and the bowstring lies on the opposite side from the shooter - these are the so-called "mirror blocks" (Fig. 29). In this case, the crossbow becomes somewhat more compact in the longitudinal direction than with the usual arrangement of eccentrics.

Rice. 29. Crossbow Parker "Cyclone"

Recently, there has been a tendency to increase blocks almost to the size of archery. By winding more bowstrings from blocks, we get a greater bowstring travel, which means that the transverse dimensions of crossbows can be further reduced. Despite the fact that with such large eccentrics, the course of the bowstring of crossbows approached 45 cm! Sammi prominent representatives a new generation of crossbows and arrow speed record holders are PSE "TAC-15" crossbows (Fig. 30) and Bowtech "Stryker" (Fig. 32). Both crossbows are unique in their own way.
Let's dwell a little more on the TAC-15. Due to its huge eccentrics, the width from the axis to the axis of the blocks in the uncocked state is 42.5 cm, and in the cocked state - 29.8 cm. And the course of the bowstring is a record for a crossbow - 45 cm! With a peak force of 77.2 kg, it is capable of firing a 425 grain (26.44 g) arrow at a speed of 125.6 m/s. IN given time- This is an absolute record for crossbows. The kinetic energy developed at the same time is up to 217 J, sufficient for hunting any large animal. The crossbow is also unusual in that the back of the crossbow is from an AR-15 (M16) automatic rifle - as you know, this rifle has a modular design (Fig. 31). Therefore, any weapon based on the M16 can be easily turned into a crossbow. The TAC-15 has a built-in winch-type cocking device. Another point - the arrow of this crossbow does not lie on the guide, but like a bow - it rests on the front edge of the shelf. And the arrows recommended by the manufacturer also have a record length for crossbows - 26.25 inches (~66.7 cm)!




Rice. 30. Crossbow PSE "TAC-15".

Rice. 31. AR-15 rifle


Rice. 32. Bowtech "Stryker" crossbow

The Bowtech "Stryker" crossbow has slightly more modest characteristics, it launches an arrow weighing 425 grains at a speed of 123.4 m / s, while having a kinetic energy of 210 J. Its width from axis to axis of the block in an unstretched state is 69.2 cm, and in the stretched - 61.6 cm, the peak tension force is 79.45 kg with a bowstring stroke of 432 mm. But the "Stryker" has one feature - binary eccentrics, which refers it to the next subclass of block crossbows.
What is their difference between binary eccentrics and ordinary oval ones? Let's try to figure it out. All block crossbows have one bad feature - the center of their bowstring (arrow stop) can shift to the left or right side due to the fact that each rotates independently, as a result of which the shooting accuracy drops. In binary systems, on the blocks there is an additional third pulley, on which the other end of the power string of the right or left side is wound, due to which synchronization occurs (Fig. 33. (author igora)). On fig. 34 shows an example of a binary eccentric compound bow for clarity.


Rice. 33. Illustration of how binary eccentrics work by igora

Rice. 34. Binary eccentric compound bow

Even the brilliant Leonardo da Vinci came up with a scheme of crossbows with reverse shoulders (Fig. 35), and only recently crossbows of such a scheme began to be mass-produced. The first sign was the Armcross "LeoPro" crossbow, created by Russian designers (Fig. 36). The main advantages of such crossbows are: compactness (reduced longitudinal and transverse dimensions), more successful weight distribution, reduced shot recoil, because the shoulders when shooting do not move from the shooter, but, as it were, to each other and a little “in the shoulder”. On fig. 37 shows how compact the "LeoPro" is. Among the shortcomings of the crossbow, one can distinguish an acute angle of pulling the bowstring (Fig. 3, due to which it is convenient to cock the crossbow only with the help of a cocking device, and also, purely hypothetically, it can be assumed that the shoulders too close to the shooter’s face in the event of a breakdown can injure.

Rice. 35. Schemes of Leonardo da Vinci

Rice. 36. Crossbow Armcross "LeoPro"


Rice. 37. Crossbow Armcross "LeoPro" with a vest designed specifically for him


Rice. 38. Cocking the Armcross "LeoPro" crossbow with a tensioner (shown below to the right)


Rice. 39. Crossbow Horton “Recon 175”

Another crossbow with reverse shoulders is produced by Horton - "Recon 175" (Fig. 39). Please note that both of the most famous crossbows with reverse shoulders have round eccentrics, which does not prevent them from showing very good characteristics - the initial speed of the arrow reaches 99 m / s.
It is not advisable to make such crossbows with a classic layout, that is, without blocks, since the shoulders will “run away” in the opposite direction from tension and the efficiency, relative to crossbows with a classically located arc, will be much lower.
Recently, another player has appeared in the camp of crossbows with reverse shoulders - "Scorpyd" (Fig. 40). According to new trends, his blocks are binary and have big sizes. Claimed muzzle velocity is 425 fps, which translates to 129.5 m/s! The string travel of this compact crossbow reaches a record 52 cm!


Rice. 40. Crossbow “Scorpyd” SLP

Among homemade products, there are also crossbows of a similar design. Almost all have a similar "LeoPro" design, but mostly with a chain hoist system in two or four rollers (Fig. 41, 42, 43).


Fig.41. Crossbow from OLEKS


Fig.42. Crossbow by sa1982


Rice. 43. Crossbow from Frank

So, it's time to touch on the last type of crossbow with a non-classical shoulder arrangement - this is the crossbow that was released by the Swiss company Swiss Crossbow Makers - "Twinbow II" (Fig. 44). This crossbow is unusual not only in the location and work of the shoulders, but also in a peculiar cocking device (Fig. 45). With compact dimensions (length 875 mm, width 420 mm) and a bowstring stroke of only 197 mm, it has very good power - with a tension of 180 kg, an arrow speed of up to 113 m / s and an energy of 145 J! When the bowstring is pulled, the arms become almost parallel, both ends of each arm work through the roller system. As a result, the recoil when shooting from such a powerful crossbow is practically not felt.


Fig.44. Crossbow “Twinbow II”


Fig.45. Crossbow cocking “Twinbow II”

There are several homemade crossbows made according to the "Twinbow II" scheme. The gunsmith111 crossbow (fig.46) has a twin system without a cocking lever. But on shushai crossbows, the main feature of the Swiss is implemented - cocking with a lever (Fig. 47 and 4.


Rice. 46. ​​Crossbow by gunsmith111


Rice. 47. Crossbow "Dusk" by shushai


Rice. 48. Crossbow "Cyclone" by shushai

PART 2

3. Triggers of modern crossbows.

As mentioned above, the trigger mechanism (lock) of the crossbow can be an integral part of the design of the guide (stock) or can be mounted in a separate housing. The latter are much more common among both manufacturers of crossbows and do-it-yourselfers, due to the convenience of mounting a ready-made trigger mechanism (CM) in any place.
With all the variety of modern crossbow triggers, locks can be divided into three main types:
a) with a lower hook (nut, cracker) (Fig. 49a);
b) with an upper hook (Fig. 49b).
c) with a fixed hook (pin lock) (Fig. 49c)


A)


b)
Rice. 49. Triggers with lower (a) and upper (b) hook

Attention: when using the materials of this article, a link to the site, as well as an indication of the author of the article REQUIRED!

Now it has become fashionable to hunt with a bow and crossbow. Although it is forbidden in our country, it is still possible to shoot at targets by practicing this difficult task. You can make a crossbow with your own hands at home for training. After all good models from well-known companies are very expensive. And it can be made "under itself". It is worth remembering that if the weapon is with an interference of more than 20 kg, then it is considered a melee weapon. Therefore, when creating a crossbow, this important nuance should be taken into account.

There are classic models, they look like ancient ones, and their design is simple. There are also modern crossbows, they are called "block". Such weapons have a more complex design due to blocks and other innovations that enhance their power. It will be much more difficult to make such a crossbow at home, but the description of this process and the drawings that will be detailed in the article will help you with this.

The crossbow has many components:

trigger mechanism;

• In some modern models there are blocks at the ends of the bow.

What to make a crossbow

The main material from which the crossbow is made is wood. It is used to make a bed and a bow. The trigger mechanism in powerful samples is machined from iron. And those in which the tension force is less than 20 kg can be made of solid wood, it will withstand it. Also, spring metal and various composites are used for bows.

Ordinary wooden crossbow

To begin with, let's look at how easy it is to make a crossbow with your own hands, and start with its simple form. This is a standard design of ancient weapons, and it can be used not only for shooting, but also as a spectacular piece of furniture, hanging on the wall.

What tree to use

To create a crossbow, you need to choose:

All these breeds are dense enough to withstand the enormous loads that will affect the bow and crossbow stock.

Material preparation

In order for the weapon to shoot long and powerfully, its material must be properly dried for a year. Having cut off the necessary trunk or branch, both cuts must be painted over. To do this, you can use any glue, paint or varnish. If you close the cuts in this way, moisture will not be able to quickly leave the workpiece, so the wood will dry more slowly and more evenly. So internal cracks do not form in the material, and a do-it-yourself crossbow made at home will last a very long time.

After that, the log is placed in a dry place where they will not fall on it. Sun rays. So it should lie for a year. After the lapse of time, the bark is removed from the workpiece, so it dries for another week. The log is then cut in half. So it lies for another week, only after that you can start creating a crossbow.

Tools for making a crossbow

• Sandpaper of different grits.

  Joiner's cutter.

  Chisel.

Making a bow

On the workpiece, choose the side in which the annual rings of the tree are thinner. This is the north side, the fibers on it are denser than in other parts. It is this that we will use when creating a crossbow with our own hands at home. From this part you need to make a bow.

They outline the middle, about two centimeters are laid off from it on both sides, marking the part that will be clamped in the crossbow bed. This will be the thickest part of the bow. From it they begin to cut off the material, moving gradually towards the edges. Chip the workpiece gradually on both sides, while checking until it starts to bend at least a little.

After that, you need to take a strong rope, make loops at its ends. This will be a test thread. It is necessary to check the tightness of the bow. It is very important that his shoulders flex evenly. Putting on an impromptu bowstring and pulling the bow, you can see where to shoot the material. They are marked, carefully cut with a knife. So you need to continue until the product begins to bend evenly on both sides.

Knot processing

Very often, knots come across on the material: some are visible immediately, others can open during the processing of the material. What they are dangerous for is that they can cause chips to form. Therefore, you need to handle such places with a well-sharpened knife. If there is no confidence or experience, it is better to tinker a little longer and sand them with sandpaper. You can also use a file for this purpose.

Bed

When the bow is ready, it is set aside and proceed to the manufacture of the bed. To begin with, they choose where the chute will be, along which the arrow will fly out, make this place perfectly flat. It will depend on him how accurately the crossbow will shoot. To understand everything, it is better to look at the drawing of the crossbow. How to make his bed is shown in detail here. After that, the groove is cut to the required length. Usually it is about 30 cm. Then they make a recess for the bow and the trigger. It is convenient to cut them with a chisel and a carpenter's knife.

Trigger mechanism

As mentioned above, it can be made from dense wood or, if the crossbow is powerful, from metal. The most is the so-called "nut". It consists of a cylinder, where on the one hand there is a hook for the bowstring, and on the other hand there is an emphasis for the trigger. In powerful crossbows, the trigger is more advanced for easier pulling of the trigger when loaded.

We examined in detail, the Master class with drawings, we hope, will help to understand all the intricacies.

This is a common medieval model. Now we will learn how to make the same weapon, only a modern model.

Block crossbow

It is much more difficult to make such an apparatus, it will require much more tools than for a conventional one. So, we create a crossbow with our own hands at home from fiberglass. This material is ideal for making bows, because it is biting and at the same time light. It can be cut from a single piece of fiberglass 1 cm thick or made by yourself. If you are not too lazy to tinker, then it is better to make it yourself.

We make fiberglass shoulders for a crossbow

You need to take fiberglass or Kevlar and cut into strips. They need from 30 to 40. In general, it is better to try everything empirically. These strips are glued with epoxy resin so that everything becomes monolithic when solidified. You also need to think about how to put all this "sandwich" under the press. It is best to use boards between which to place the shoulders, clamp everything with clamps.

B should have less thickener than usual, ranging from 8 to 10%. Everything freezes in 24 hours, but if the room is cold, the time may increase. When everything is frozen, the shoulders are finalized by cutting off the protruding edges with a knife and sanding with sandpaper.

Now we will analyze in detail how to make a crossbow with your own hands at home and what additional elements of its design you need to make.

We make a figured bed

To do this, you need to take a board with a thickness of at least 4 cm. Mark where the butt, handle, trigger and mounts for the bow shoulders will be. In general, everything is according to the drawings. After that, you need to drill all the necessary holes and cut out.

Blocks

They can be made from aluminium. Better if they were on bearings. The middle parts from roller skate wheels are perfect. They are strong enough to withstand heavy loads, plus their size is perfect. Axes under them are needed in 5 mm thick. You can take them from the videos or make your own.

Fasteners are made of sheet steel or similar durable material. You can also make the ends thicker before pouring epoxy resin on the shoulders of the bow, to install the blocks, in which case fasteners are not needed.

After that, on a do-it-yourself crossbow made at home, you need to install a trigger mechanism with a trigger and an arrow holder. In general, all parts are connected with bolts, washers are required. They will allow you to twist everything more tightly without damaging the material.

In block crossbows, the bowstring is longer and stretched differently. It seems to cross, and when tensioned, this system allows you to give the arrow twice as much energy for flight as in the case of a conventional crossbow with the same bow.

In powerful block models, the bowstring is only he is able to withstand a huge sudden pressure when fired. In crossbows, whose power is not more than 40-50 kg, it can be woven from nylon threads.

Making a string for a crossbow

In the described way, you can make a bowstring for both a recursive and a classic crossbow. It's just that their length will be different due to the peculiarities in the designs of both models.

They take a board with the length of the planned bowstring, drive in two pegs, which are wound around in a circle. When the thickness of this long oval becomes 5 mm, it is wrapped, making a gap of 2-3 mm between the turns. Near the pegs you need to braid without gaps, because there will be loops for the hook.

As for the bowstring, we can also say that if you make it too thick, then the strength of the crossbow decreases. However, the thin one can break. So in this case, you need to choose an intermediate thickness. It is better to study similar sports models with the same tightness and make a bowstring of their thickness. When this is done, the two halves are joined and wrapped together. Again, special care is needed near the loops. Then wrap around the middle, where the bowstring will hook and push the arrow. This place is also done carefully, because a friction force of enormous power will be exerted on it. All cut edges of the threads must be smeared with glue. This will make them more dense and monolithic.

This article provides drawings and a description of how to make a real crossbow at home. It's not that difficult, especially if you're making wooden weapons. If the product is made for hunting in order to achieve tremendous power, then you should choose a block model. Its design is a little more complicated, you may need a machine to make some parts.

What needs to be said in the very first lines of this article: in Russia, the CIS countries and most countries of the world, hunting with a crossbow is illegal, and the crossbows themselves (if their tension exceeds 40 kg) are equated to melee weapons. There is a fine for wearing and using them. Why, then, do I give recommendations for the manufacture of an objectively dangerous thing that can cause problems for readers? Because the ability to hunt using a wide variety of weapons, including homemade and even illegal ones, may one day come in handy for each of us. Few people think about this while store shelves are full of food - but we live in too unstable times to say with full confidence that this will always be the case.

In one of the previous articles, I wrote about hunting: with the help of this seemingly frivolous weapon, it is easy to get small fur-bearing animals, birds and reptiles. From a crossbow, you can shoot medium-sized game. Of course, we are not talking about toys from legal gun stores: you may have seen them on sale - elegant, light and low-powered. A weak crossbow is designed for sports shooting - you should understand how big the difference is between it and a real combat device. That is why the latter is banned. An arrow fired from a powerful combat crossbow pierces a person right through, even if he is wearing a Kevlar body armor.

But until the BP has struck, we are peaceful hunters, and we are not thinking about the use of deadly weapons against people. Why am I writing now about homemade crossbow for hunting? Why not buy ready-made or order from experienced craftsman? Because legally nothing worthwhile will be sold to you. And it’s better not to buy illegal weapons at all if you don’t want to get in trouble with the law. Yes, having something killer in the bins and being able to use it is useful, but not a single living soul should know that you have it. It is better not to dedicate even friends and relatives to this - not to mention completely strangers like sellers and couriers.

How to make a crossbow at home?

So, how to make a crossbow with your own hands? First of all, decide what power the weapon you need - its design and materials directly depend on this. For hunting ducks and hares, the simplest device with a wooden arc is suitable. On a larger animal, a metal one is already needed. There are also so-called composite arcs, which are a combination of several materials (traditionally - wood, antler, veins, but now different types of plastic are more often used). Their specifications excellent, but it is almost impossible for a non-professional to make such a detail “on the knee” with high quality. In order to avoid injury among readers, I will not even give a description of the assembly of the composite arc here.

My opinion: it is advisable to use a metal arc. The power reserve will not be superfluous - in addition, the wooden parts fail faster, which is also fraught with injuries for the shooter himself. Since your goal is to make a sufficiently powerful crossbow, look for springs from Soviet cars. Humanity has not yet come up with anything better to use as an arc. But if you still did not manage to get this rarity, take any elastic metal strip 2-3 cm wide and 3-4 mm thick.

The bed is most often made of wood (spruce, aspen), less often of metal. The more powerful the crossbow is planned, the more durable and massive this part should be. Stock designs may differ, but there should be a groove for an arrow on it, as well as a stock and mounts for a trigger, arc and other functional elements.

As a bowstring, an inelastic rope made of synthetic fibers, a steel cable or a guitar string is used. You may be surprised, but it is the first of three options shows the best tensile strength. Durable, cheap and affordable - what else do you need? .. And here's what: beeswax impregnation will extend the life of a synthetic bowstring, protecting it from moisture and friction.

The crossbow mechanism, rollers and mounts are the most interesting. “On the knee” it is difficult to make them if you do not have the skills to work with metal. Below I give drawings of a homemade simple crossbow (1) and a powerful combat one (2). All parts that you cannot make yourself, order in the workshop, providing drawings of the parts of interest.

Drawing of a simple crossbow (1) *click to enlarge*

Combat Crossbow Blueprints(2) *click to enlarge*

How to make arrows for a crossbow?

Bolts - arrows for a crossbow, it's easy to make with your own hands. For these purposes, wood is most often used, less often plastic and metal. Why is a tree better? At wooden bolt optimal weight: a light plastic arrow quickly loses speed, and a piece of steel wire is heavy and will not fly far. The shaft should be planed along the fibers for better flexibility, and then dried well. At the end, leave a cut into which the tip will be inserted.

The tip itself must be cut out of a steel sheet (thickness not less than 0.7 mm) with metal scissors and modified with a grindstone - align and sharpen the edge. We insert the tips into the cut, lubricating it with epoxy. You can also wind it with a thread for strength, and apply a layer of epoxy on top.

There are also many options for making bolt plumage, but the best, in my opinion, is bird feathers. Ideally, goose, but they will fit even from the tail of a dove, which is much easier for a city dweller to find - they roll underfoot. We split the feather in two, cut each half in half and glue it to the arrow. For strength we wrap with threads.

Here's what happened in the end:

It is important that all the bolts are the same in weight and length - this will make it easier to shoot your homemade crossbow. And it is necessary to shoot him: the hunt will wait, first you need to master the new weapon well, to feel it. Even if you have experience shooting a crossbow, this one will be a little different, more "yours" - like any thing made by yourself.

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