The Arbalist Guild

Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

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

Latest topics

» 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


5 posters

    Crossbow for a 8 year old kid

    Daniel Levesque
    Daniel Levesque
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there  is a way.


    Posts : 65
    Join date : 2016-12-06
    Location : Quebec, Canada

    Crossbow for a 8 year old kid Empty Crossbow for a 8 year old kid

    Post by Daniel Levesque Wed Feb 14, 2018 9:20 am

    Hello everyone, long time no see.

    I'd like to make a kid crossbow for my son who's 8 yo. It's probably not gonna be much more than a toy (or maybe a bit more). Of course, I know all about safety dont't you worry.

    I was just wondering about th draw weight... what do you think should be good for a medieval type kid crossbow ? My bet would be around 50-60 lbs or so.
    Dark Factor
    Dark Factor
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there  is a way.


    Posts : 68
    Join date : 2017-10-16
    Age : 40
    Location : Belgium

    Crossbow for a 8 year old kid Empty Re: Crossbow for a 8 year old kid

    Post by Dark Factor Wed Feb 14, 2018 10:09 am

    For me 50-60 lbs is already a lot for 8 yo kid (not sure he could put string to the nut)... that's almost like a 40-45 lbs longbow (That's what I use generally and I won't give such a bow to a kid).
    Just my point of view...
    Daniel Levesque
    Daniel Levesque
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there  is a way.


    Posts : 65
    Join date : 2016-12-06
    Location : Quebec, Canada

    Crossbow for a 8 year old kid Empty Re: Crossbow for a 8 year old kid

    Post by Daniel Levesque Wed Feb 14, 2018 11:29 am

    Thank you for the feedback, I'll probably go in the 20-25 lbs then... I'll compensate with a good draw length for higher fps.
    avatar
    stuckinthemud1
    Crossbow Junkie

    I live here!


    Crossbow JunkieI live here!


    Posts : 526
    Join date : 2014-02-05
    Age : 55
    Location : south wales valleys

    Crossbow for a 8 year old kid Empty Re: Crossbow for a 8 year old kid

    Post by stuckinthemud1 Wed Feb 14, 2018 12:08 pm

    Who's going to be spanning it? I built a lovely little crossbow one weekend with a push- pin release and yew prod that needed replacing immediately for a much weaker hazel bow as my boy wasn't able to draw it. Nothing lost as the experience with the yew meant I made a sweet hazel prod with almost the same performance as the yew. I'd strongly recommend building a knock-about test crossbow to establish size and draw weight before going all-out.

    You can see the free plans on my blog here https://stuckinthemudsite.wordpress.com/resources/ and the post for March 2014 for instructions.
    OrienM
    OrienM
    Workshop Savvy

    Did you see my tool collection?


    Workshop SavvyDid you see my tool collection?


    Posts : 195
    Join date : 2014-08-01
    Age : 48
    Location : New Mexico, USA

    Crossbow for a 8 year old kid Empty Re: Crossbow for a 8 year old kid

    Post by OrienM Thu Feb 15, 2018 6:47 am

    I made a crossbow for a ten-year-old that started out too strong (drew more than his body weight, oops). I took the prod back off and steamed in some deflex, which reduced the weight and also the likelihood of it breaking. Seemed an effective fix, easier than carving a new prod.
    avatar
    c sitas
    Crossbow Junkie

    I live here!


    Crossbow JunkieI live here!


    Posts : 547
    Join date : 2012-11-24

    Crossbow for a 8 year old kid Empty Re: Crossbow for a 8 year old kid

    Post by c sitas Thu Feb 15, 2018 8:43 pm

    OrienM, I guess we would call that experience.Good job my friend.
    OrienM
    OrienM
    Workshop Savvy

    Did you see my tool collection?


    Workshop SavvyDid you see my tool collection?


    Posts : 195
    Join date : 2014-08-01
    Age : 48
    Location : New Mexico, USA

    Crossbow for a 8 year old kid Empty Re: Crossbow for a 8 year old kid

    Post by OrienM Fri Feb 16, 2018 8:07 am

    It was fun, and he still plays with it, too... Very Happy Sorry to say, but it was hilarious watching him try to span it initially; his feet came off the ground before the string got to the notch, lol...

    This is the bow, prior to the re-work...it ended up with a cordage bridle after the prod was altered, and I backed the prod with denim fabric. Current draw weight is maybe 35 lbs, not a fast shooter due to the deflex, but very safe.

    I'll add, expect kid bows to be treated roughly, and build accordingly...this bow stays strung all the time, has been left out in the rain, and suffered various scratches and dents.

    My little buddy shoots pebbles with it as often as bolts; it worried me at first, but it seems to work reliably. He clamps the pebble under the bolt clip...actually shoots fairly accurately, too.

    Crossbow for a 8 year old kid Dsci0010


    Last edited by OrienM on Fri Feb 16, 2018 9:38 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : javascript:void(0))
    Daniel Levesque
    Daniel Levesque
    Tinkerer

    If there is a will, there is a way.


    TinkererIf there is a will, there  is a way.


    Posts : 65
    Join date : 2016-12-06
    Location : Quebec, Canada

    Crossbow for a 8 year old kid Empty Re: Crossbow for a 8 year old kid

    Post by Daniel Levesque Fri Feb 16, 2018 2:11 pm

    Hahahaaa  Great story OrienM. Thanks for the feedback !

    Sponsored content


    Crossbow for a 8 year old kid Empty Re: Crossbow for a 8 year old kid

    Post by Sponsored content


      Current date/time is Tue Mar 19, 2024 5:09 am