Steel Recurve Prods

Has anyone here made one? Does the design add cast, as it does on vertical wood/glass recurves? If so, who can suggest dimensions of the prod? It would also help shorten the bow width, though probably not a lot. But every bit helps when you're going through the brush, along deer trails. Yes, I'm bent on using a steel prod. Draw weight to be top end for a claplock design.

Recurved ends work well for keeping the string coming off on long draws. But that probably does not apply to steel prods as they are best limited to shorter draws on account material limitations.

Todd

You mean like these

https://thearbalistguild.forumotion.com/t22p15-medieval-crossbows-photos-drawings-diagrams#273

Mr SAM wrote:

And especially gratitude thanks to William Tell for His Maltese crossbows photos:

Yes, 6th from the left shows great examples of what I was thinking. The query is, has anyone here built anything similar, who can provide dimensions to fabricate one from an existing leaf spring, or spring bar stock? Thank you to every respondent.

Hey there!

Generally the recurve of steel can be compared to the other ones.

It certainly gives the material a different behavior.

But since the movement and the geometrical behavior is a lot lower than with the other materials, benefits will not be as significant as with a asian stile handbow for example.

This is why I think it is mostly (I do not want to state that had not known about slightly performance win) applied to improve the string angle or temporary local fashion.

Your question for dimensions is very special though not rare.
Built a couple of prods, all working well but took a very long time.
Key is to provide the prod with a correct geometry, even (lets say perfect) bending and a perfect heat treatment. If you think you can do all that (geometric dimensions are the easiest point cause it simply relies on a linear taper fröm center 100% to limb end ~40-30% of cross section) you can begin to think about building one. Calculations to recce draw weight and maximum draw are quite important, too.
If not, better have one made for you or use safer prods.


Greetings Rizzar