First, moderators, feel free to move somewhere else if this is not the appropriate topic area.
Hi, everyone. Taking a break from the usual stuff, I decided to post some in-progess shots of a 14th/15th Century Germanic style light hunting crossbow. In honesty, it is not a precise medieval reconstruction, as I am using modern tools and some modern techniques, nor a proper comsposite prod (bows), but am keeping to the spirit of the project. The end result will be a little 175-190 lb. hunting crossbow, with a 30 inches long cherry tiller (the stock in crossbow parlance), a moose antler rollling nut, steel tickler (the trigger), and steel sturrup (the part you put your foot in to span (draw) the bow). Crossbows have their own special nomenclature.
If you get a chance, Google up Knight's Amoury. They have a build-along on building the same style crossbow as I am making, and the guy did a fanstastic job. I won't post the site link, as there are commerical links on it.
Last night, I got the rolling nut basicallly turned down, and now am facing the ends and then the other work to make the nut, and am using my little 7"x10" mini lathe for this part. The nut and the associated tickler is probably the most time consuming secton of the project, as I am going to have to drill and tap a threaded rod fashioned into a sear for the tickler, chisel out channels for the ticker, and so on. I am using a lot of modern tools, such as drill press and a small benchtop bandsaw for the bone work for facing the top of the table (the top surface of the tiller), Fostner bits, etc. But, for making the tiller, I did use traditional woodworking tools we all use for making bows. Carving the tiller has been a true pleasure, lots of fun, and mentally almost meditative, as most woodworking tends to be for me. There will be some inlay work in this part, so that will be posted in the future.
Later, I will post a more detailed description of the work, as well as shots and info of the bow in action later this winter or spring. Some areas need explination, such as the slope of the nose of the tiller in the last couple of shots.
This is not just something fun I wanted to do for a long time, but is really a springboard to understanding crossbow construction when I tackle a later Roman (3rd or 4th century) arcuballista, which is essentially, as far as we can tell, a very early crossbow. Another larger project is perhaps (maybe) going to be a huge seige crossbow. This will come in at 1500 to 2000 pounds of pull, and will have a tiller about 5 feet long. Clearly, not a beginners project, but one to work up to. One authority states that these huge siege bows can shoot a bolt / quarrel 450 meters, and that alone would make it worth the building
Costs have been surprisingly not bad for this. I found a 6' x 11" by 1.5" live edge cherry plank at a retail woodworking store for 21 bucks, and laminated the tiller, then used a thickness planer to get the basic block shape before carving the shape with drawknife, rasps, scrapers, and planes. The prod is running about 65 bucks, so not bad, and the second most expensive part was the piece of moose antler I acquired for the rolling nut. I could have gone with hardwood or even sytnetic material, but for 55 dollars, I expect to get 2 or even 3 nuts out of it, and moose is historically accurate. I have had to purchase a few new tools like a 3/8" tap and the little bandsaw, but they will be useful for future projects. The bone I got from a pet store, and that has run me about 25 dollars for the amount I need. A hardwood table facing would like nice, as well.
The photos should be self explanitory. Feel free to ask questions, of course. I will post one or two more for the number of photos I have.
Happy New Year, everyone.
Dane
