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Crossbows - Everything about Building, Modding, and Using your Crossbow Gear

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» 12th Century Chinese Crossbow Chronographed
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Nov 24, 2023 3:50 pm

» Crossbow Stock
by kenh Tue Oct 31, 2023 6:19 am

» Colletiere a Charavines continuing experiment
by stuckinthemud1 Sat Oct 07, 2023 5:36 am

» Cocking - how
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Aug 03, 2023 4:24 am

» Questions around heavy crossbow lath buildin
by stuckinthemud1 Wed Apr 26, 2023 1:10 am

» Arab Crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Tue Apr 25, 2023 7:57 am

» prod angle, and lever trigger for sale anyone?
by stuckinthemud1 Mon Mar 20, 2023 5:54 am

» flexible string
by jasper1978 Mon Mar 20, 2023 1:25 am

» [solved]Skane/Lillohus crossbow thread
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Mar 19, 2023 7:44 am

» jens sensfelder
by jasper1978 Wed Mar 08, 2023 11:58 pm

» 400lb Windlass crossbow bolts weight and accuracy shooting high.
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Mar 05, 2023 2:53 pm

» Codex Löffelholz crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Tue Jan 24, 2023 4:14 pm

» Digitar prodsc
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:42 pm

» Troubleshooting
by Andy. Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:29 pm

» Wood Prods
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 30, 2022 12:47 pm

» Colletiere a Charavines crossbow
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 30, 2022 8:54 am

» Simplified Löffelhotz speedloader
by stuckinthemud1 Fri Dec 09, 2022 4:05 pm

» Fiberglass H-bows
by c sitas Sat Nov 12, 2022 8:44 am

» Bad Antler
by drawknife Sat Nov 12, 2022 3:48 am

» Anyone make their own bolts?
by Juniper Mon Oct 17, 2022 8:20 am

» Josef alm in English
by Juniper Sat Oct 15, 2022 4:22 am

» Qin/Han lock drawings
by kenh Fri Sep 23, 2022 8:16 pm

» stirrup dimensions?
by stuckinthemud1 Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:49 pm

» Skane/Lillohus lockbow information needed
by stuckinthemud1 Sun Aug 14, 2022 6:23 am

» need help contacting le musee Dauphinois Grenoble
by stuckinthemud1 Sat Aug 13, 2022 3:22 pm


4 posters

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    rick.henion
    rick.henion
    Fresh Blood

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    Post by rick.henion Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:09 pm

    This is my first post to the Forum, so I hope I've got it right.  I've long been interested in traditional crossbows but I have been put off by my total inability to make or find bows (prods).  Oddly, gun barrels could be had almost anywhere, and since most of the early guns that I liked were smooth bored, barrels could be made by almost any machine shop.  So I guess that's where I've been the past twenty or so years.

    However; now that I have found this forum, I see that there are some tremendously talented people crafting some fantastic crossbows and related equipment out there.  It makes me wonder why I feared a spring steel bow (prod) right in front of my face, but had no qualms about a gun powder filled tube in the same place.  Be that as it may, I am interested in jumping right into the craft!

    I guess I'll ask my first stupid question: I see Alchem, Slobow, and DIGITARC all currently make steel prods; I have also looked at a number of posts and really fantastic pictures of original and "new" bows in this forum.  I am looking for a recommendation(s) for someone who makes/sells, well proportioned prods, in the 150-300 lb. range, with as close to 'rolled pin tips' as possible, and if possible available without having to wait until the next Renaissance for them?  I was hoping to get started on a build before the winter ends and the demands of summer slow the prospects for progress.
    Jack Pine
    Jack Pine
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    Post by Jack Pine Wed Mar 12, 2014 9:39 am

    Hi Rick, glad you're here. I'm not one of the talented people on here, I'm just nuts about crossbows.

    Jack ><>
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    phuphuphnik
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    Did you see my tool collection?


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    Post by phuphuphnik Wed Mar 12, 2014 10:38 am

    There are a bunch of us that would like rolled and pin tips. The ones I have seen are made by the folks who are making that particular bow. I have an alchem bow (which apparently are made by slobow?) and it looks quite nice, though a bit modern IMHO for early steel bows. I found that if I make a nice heavy prod on the forge of the proper steel, I can have a local spring tempering place harden and temper it for me. It will cost 2-3 times the alchem price. I would love to get together with a few folks and do a run of a dozen or so heavy prods. I've been talking to some elk hunters near me to get neck sinew to do a 1200s composite prod. mmmm hide glue...
    cheers,
    chriso
    rick.henion
    rick.henion
    Fresh Blood

    Doesn't mean
    I'm new to crossbows


    Fresh Blood Doesn't meanI'm new to crossbows


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    Post by rick.henion Wed Mar 12, 2014 5:47 pm

    Thanks for the replies.  

    I have prod orders in with Alchem and Slobow, and I was considering ordering DIGITARC's smaller prod.  I want to see and feel what they are like (the pictures don't show much), but like most folks, this is a hobby and not a profession, so I'm a little limited on how much I can throw into this at this point.  The notion of "making" a prod sounds really interesting, and a few earlier posts make it sound (almost) easy, but I have done just enough blacksmithing to know better.  Also fascinating is the notion, which you mention, of trying to make a composite bow.  There is some great information and links to other sources on the forum here, but I'm going to have to do a lot more reading before I even begin to consider going down that path.

    Next month I Think I'll order a DIGITARC Prod and once they arrive (it sounds like that may take some time) I'll start planning out the next steps from there.  If nothing else, building wheel-locks (I had to wait 20 months for some steel castings) has taught me to patient. Sadly, winter is my best 'building time', and despite the 6 to 12 inches (snow) predicted for tonight, spring is next week.  

    Thanks,
    Rick
    kenh
    kenh
    Crossbow Junkie

    I live here!


    Crossbow JunkieI live here!


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    Post by kenh Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:37 pm

    Hid glue is the easy bit, Criso.  Just go down to your local megamart and buy a box of Knox (tm) Unflavored Gelatine packets, and mix with a little less water than suggested.    Same stuff, but you can eat the leftovers since it's food-grade gelatin! lol!  

    If you're want to go with an historical wood/horn/sinew composite for a prod, I suggest you spend a good bit of time on the Asian Traditional Archery Network board www.atarn.net,  and absorb everything you can from what is arguably the best resource in the netiverse on the techniques and materials of building those kinds of bows...

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