Tiller layout

Judging by this photo:



Does this tiller have any narrowing top to bottom from the lock back? It's a rather deceptive looking photo. I can't quite tell if the bow has an almost imperceptible/slight taper to the bottom side going back towards the butt, or is it even width top to bottom for the length of the tiller from the lock back? I'm getting ready to rough out the tiller based on this photo and I can't quite decide whether it's tapered or not. It seems like most crossbows I've seen, even these earlier ones tend to have some taper but not this one. I have a second photo that shows it more side-on and it still doesn't appear to have any taper. If it has some taper it's something on the order of 1/2" over the roughly 18+ inches of the tiller following the lock. This looks to be a rather long tiller so I'm making mine 32".

Geezer here: I have done a number of similar bows. The head, just behind the prod must be tall enough to get a bit of wood above and below the prod, making a socket to hold it in place for binding-in. Generally they taper (veritically) to a point 2-3 inches ahead of the lock then swell just a bit to the lock, to begin a VERY SLOW taper to the tail. The center of the stock could be 2 inches high at the lock, but might be only an inch and a half high at the tail... some bows, like the square Padre-island bows are closer to an inch high and wide at the tail. This bow could be an inch wide and an inch and a half high at the butt, but oval in cross-section.
The stock should also taper in width from lock, both forward and back. It might be an inch and three-quarters wide at the lock (later stocks like the one at the top of this page can be close to 3 inches wide at the lock) The head of this stock could narrow in width to a bit less than 1.5 inches wide and the tail to 1 inch wide. Generally speaking narrowing behind the lock is very gradual, but sometimes narrowing (width) ahead of the lock takes place from about 1 inch before the lock, to the rest-point for the string. The Ulrich V bow is made like that, as are many others that are very broad through the lock.
There, does that make sense? Geezer

Kiltedcelt;

These illustrations may or may not be of help...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swifthoundbows/3224288510/in/set-72157612953955012/

This bow is thicker, but of the same general shape...

Lightly

Lightly,

Thanks for the link. A lot of those pics look familiar. What book are they from?

They certainly do...check your PM tonight ladies and gentlemen (if not today, then tomorrow...).

KiltedCelt, I THINK that I got these from Die Armbrust...
Geezer would know for sure. Take care!

Lightly

Lightly wrote:KiltedCelt, I THINK that I got these from Die Armbrust...
Geezer would know for sure. Take care!

Lightly

Geezer here: They're from Harmuth's "Die Armbrust".