Crossbow restoration project

Hi Guys,
lets see if I can post some pictures.
This crossbow was an old and sad looking article I picked up at an auction. It was broken through the wrist and was in a general sad state of repair. It is beautifully made. The original maker is well beyond the average home craftsman.
Anyway I've steel pinned and reset the wrist, lifted the oil off the stock and wippe and refinished them with boiled linseed oil and shellac. I was careful not sand out the dings and scratches. I've buffed the worst of the rust off the steel and then oiled it- I did not want to remove the patina from the metal. The whole thing got a coat of wax and a new string.
Finally I made some bolts to finish the kit.
It draws about 120 lbs. the prod has been made from an old buggy spring
it is signed "G. R. SHAW, MAKER, IN'GILL, NZ." (IN'GILL, NZ stands for Invercargil, New Zealand). Unfortunately he did not date it. I estimate that it was made sometime during the 1930's-1940's
The whole thing breaks down quickly and clicks tightly and neatly in it's custom case.
After carefully checking the prod and lock for wear I damage, I shot it and it shoots well.
Thank you Mr Shaw for a beautiful crossbow!

OK Gentlemen,
Lets try that again
https://2img.net/h/i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx265/saunderj73/DSC01317.jpg
https://2img.net/h/i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx265/saunderj73/DSC01318.jpg
https://2img.net/h/i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx265/saunderj73/DSC01319.jpg
https://2img.net/h/i762.photobucket.com/albums/xx265/saunderj73/DSC01320.jpg

Hello kiwijim,

Welcome to the Arbalist. Great job on giving it it's good looks back...it certainly deserves it.

The sight on it is very interesting...I've never seen the bolt clip and front sight combined into one...I'm no pro, but it seems to me that this was Mr Shaw's own innovation rather than the widely accepted concept.

This sight actually brought up a question...

Is it a single peep hole diopter with markers on the front sight...similar to the modern? ...or the milti hole version with single point front sight...closer related to the medieval? ...or I'm overestimating it and it is actualy just a single hole/single point front sight?(pics are great, but that part I just cant tell)

All in all great refinish job...and actually gives me an idea for a new topic. Thanks for the beautiful crossbow kiwijim!

PS: the arrow heads are certainly for hunting...are you planning on taking it out to the woods some time?

Hi Ivo,
Cheers for the nice comments , but really, all praise should be for Mr Shaw.
The sight/bolt clip combination is very unusal and interesting. The rear sight is a single peep hole as seen on some older sporting rifles. It can be folded down for storage. The screw in front of the sight adjusts elevation. The front sight is an agate bead mounted at the end of a robust bolt clip.
I would take more photos, but my wife has the camera and she and the baby are at her mums for the next two weeks.
And yes, I will take it hunting. There are lots of feral goats in the hills a short drive from where I live, and I like to impress them with my little projects!
As for GR Shaw, I can find out little about him, but he has left a few clues in his construction which has lead me to suspect that he may have been a gunsmith.

regards

James

Great, I'd love to see more photos!

Agate bead? That's something I didn't expect...definitely a unique touch. As for the gunsmithing clues...I've noticed a few obvious ones on the stock, but they do add comfort while in use...I was also wondering about the materials used in the trigger mech(the nut doesn't look to be made out of metal...horn/bone perhaps)...the trigger all together seems to be a two part mechanism...how is the pull on it?

One small request...given you've already re-sized your photos(and I will edit the forum system to eliminate the need for that shortly ) just throw the URL in the "image tags" next time

Code:

[img]URL[/img]

Good Luck on that hunt! Looking forward to more photos.

PS: Check your PM.

Hi Ivo,

Yes it is a 2 piece trigger. The nut is made from brass. It has a series of holes drilled around it's perimeter which lighten it. It can be hard to tell what is because I have not polished the patina off it. (If I want a brand new looking crossbow, I will make it myself ). The tickler is steel. The trigger pulls well. It's pivet is nice and high so there is no "roll back" to release the nut and the trigger travel is short and about 5 lbs.
That crossbow you showed me in your pm is absolutely f### amazing!! I cannot wait to see more photos of it. Tell you friend "extremely well done" from me!

Best regards

James

Brass? Fooled Me ... I'm wondering, does it show much wear in the sear area?...or does it have a steel pin (like in the bone/horn nut versions)?

...Brass....this crossbow is full of surprises, but then again I was planning cast aluminum nut for my next little wrist mounted project.

As for the kick ass crossbow...I knew you'd like it, it is one of my favorite self made crossbows too...I'll definitely send your compliments his way. Also good luck on your projects.

Hi Ivo,
There is no steel insert, so the sear surface does show wear, but not as much as you would expect because the tickler is mild steel and the draw weight on the low side. There is also evidence that the sear surfaces have been waxed in the past - lubrication maybe?

Regards

James

Did the stock show signs of wax when you were lifting the oil?...perhaps the stock was previously waxed and some wax got in the TM? :?:

I personally prefer a good polish and graphite lubrication(just as locksmiths do)...in fact that is what I'm doing right now to my TM...thou a little messy at first...it later works like a charm...the safety on mine slides a million times smoother than on any of my factory made crossbows.

Construction reminds some Napoleon-age crossbows, with rifle-like stock but classic round nut trigger system.. My favorite kind of crossbows, I think.. It's nice to see pictures, thank you!

Hi Ivo,
I am not sure. The wax could be from previous polishes. It looks like candle wax, but then even furniture wax goes hard like parafin after a few years.
My thoughts: If the maker was smart enough to lighten the brass nut by drilling a series of holes around it's circumfence, then he was probably aware of the advantages of lubricating the sear surface. What he used for this is now anyones guess :?:
Personally, I have had good results with gun oil to lubricate the TM, but not too much -dust is the enemy! I have never tried graphite before. It sounds good, I'll give it a try
Cheers for the nice comments Regerald

Regards
James

Yep graphite from a pencil ...in fact I just use a pencil to get grap on the parts ...it's cleaner that way, but does require one to disassemble the mech.

...not sure if it helps prevent/reduce corrosion, but I do know that a well polished part resists corrosion better than a scratched up one.

A pencil! Of Course!!!

Could the "brass" nut be cast naval bronze? Naval bronze wears quite well. I have a set of plans for a Woomera crossbow from Oz that specifies cast naval bronze for the trigger set.