how to Build a non Chinese repeating crossbow?

I like repeating crossbows with magazines that feed on the bottom to the top. I have been thinking about building one for a while just for fun. I hate magazines that feed on the top down though. I just think they look ugly in my opinion having a huge block of wood sticking out from the top of your crossbow. I was just wondering about the trigger mechanisms and how to build one so it doesn't interfere with the slot for the bolts?

A repeating crossbow with bottom feed magazine?  Well obviously it's much easier to have a gravity fed top magazine than a spring-fed bottom magazine, but it can be done.  30 years ago, there was a guy named Floyd Stevens, who lived in an Austin Texas suburb.  He designed a lovely magazine fed crossbow with built-in pulley spanning system. We tried it out in my back yard.  With a light, 75 lb. bow it was fun to shoot.  With a 150 lb. bow it was a bugger to span.  Let me look in my photographic records... I may have pics of Floyd's pistol crossbow, But whether I have them or not, Floyd Stevens DID  register with the patent office... probably @ 1990. So if you do a patent search for repeating crossbow by Floyd Stevens (or mayby Stephens) drawings should come up.  Otherwise, drop me an e mail and I'll forward the photos.  iolo@crossbows.net

PS: it's spelled Floyd Stephens.  The patent is @ 1987, do a web search under Floyd Stephens crossbow and it will come up.  I note a recent obituary for a Floyd Stephens in Burnet Texas, which is about the area Floyd lived in, so it's possible he's no longer with us.  Geezer.

Pursuan to the above, I have found my photos of Floyd Stephens repeater.  I don't think they will be much help without the plans that you can find on the US patent office site.  So go find the Patent office stuff first, download that and then drop me an e mail.  I'll post my snapshots.
geezer.  iolo@crossbows.net

Thank you for all the advice, and information you gave me I greatly appreciate it. I looked over the patents of his crossbow, I will say I am very impressed with the concept I think it's a great idea. However, that being said I think though it would be a tad bit too complicated for me to build. I am assuming most of the parts are probably made from metal, and or aluminum except for the grip which most likely wood. I do have some 3/16" mild steel plate scrap laying around. So it would be possible for me to build the frame. That being said though it would require tools that I don't have like probably a band saw (Even though it's possible to cut metal with a hacksaw it's a absolute pain.) I might just make the body out of wood instead so I will be following the plans just not exactly but, loosely. All the attachments will probably be metal. I have some ideas on modifications and improvements though like for instance the extendable stock. My idea to improve that was just to attach it to the bottom of the pistol with a wingnut. So you could change it a lot quicker without tools. Another idea I had was maybe to use bearings to guide the spanning block instead of a metal rod. I thought this might make it smoother to draw back and release.

Yes: I found Floyd's plan rather complex and the workmanship was indeed very complex and well done. (One of his crossbows featured in a cheapo movie about heros in... I think it was the Philippines... one of the characters used Floyd's pistol bow.) Still there are lots of good ideas in his design, and the rubber powered spanning block is downright clever... that and the pulleys.  I recommend you use what you can and figure out the rest on your own.  Enjoy the project anyhow. That's how we learn and the Art grows. Geezer.

Late here as usual. Check out George Sprave on the " slingshot channel" if you want to see a simple multishot  repeater crossbow.

banuvatt wrote:I like repeating crossbows with magazines that feed on the bottom to the top. I have been thinking about building one for a while just for fun. I hate magazines that feed on the top down though. I just think they look ugly in my opinion having a huge block of wood sticking out from the top of your crossbow. I was just wondering about the trigger mechanisms and how to build one so it doesn't interfere with the slot for the bolts?

Hi Banavatt. 

I messaged you a while back about a new design for a repeating crossbow. I showed the video of the first prototype. I'd be very interested in seeing if you could build this design with your own take on things. The more minds the better!  You said that a top fed mag looks ugly and as you can see in my prototype I got around this problem, keeping a top down magazine. the stock just comes out of the top of the mag while the rail is below.

thanks

ed

George Stevens made a one which loaded from the top, and cocking from the bottom. I have a couple.
Fun to play with but you use a light prod

So I ran into a sort of dilemma, I thought of repurposing the red oak boards which I originally planned for another crossbow project, and if possible making them into two crossbow pistol with an extended stocks. This crossbow is going to shoot steel balls instead of bolts, I am going to put a sled as a way to keep the balls from going up from the magazine into the track all at the same time. This will of course add weight to the string, but I will make lightening holes in the sled to make it more proficient. I think this idea though would limit me to only be able to use prods with a short draw length as the sled would just add extra length to the draw length. Plus a overly long sled would just had extra mass. So what exactly would you recommend me doing making two crossbow pistols/with a extendable stock to save money, make one crossbow pistol with a extendable stock in the case that the length of the board is too short to accommodate for both the sled, and the draw length, or stick to the original plan, and just make a crossbow rifle with a sled but, has a magazine?

There was a fellow a few years ago on here. Has since passed on. All I remember was his name was Jeep. He made several setups and was demonstrating them at shows and such where he lived.Don't remember what country he was from.