New Build for 2020

A couple quick shots of a piece I'm putting the finishing touches on. Haven't built one in a few years, but I've had the prod and the walnut boards for a long time just waiting for inspiration and free time. The prod is a SB-BB from Slobows. This is the first time I've completely fabricated the bow irons, it was a lot of trial and error but I'm pretty happy with how it came out.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kdbk6epqXGzgoo8v9]
https://photos.app.goo.gl/2PV5DJW8Lt85u2Dv8
Gnome

Really elegant, Gnome.  Job well done!

Haven't been on here in a while, but you did an absolutely fantastic job!! It looks like if they kept the design of crossbows up to date with the matchlock.

Very nice !

Chaz

Gnome
         Would you happen to have pictures in progress of the build that you would share ? The tiller looks especially nice wood and design.

Chaz

Chaz, I took a few in-progress shots, I'll see if any of them are any good and post them when I get the chance. I tried as much as possible to use materials I already had on hand for this build, the tiller was made from a single 5.5x.75x96" walnut board that was cut into pieces and laminated together along with a scrap of .25" walnut of a slightly different color.
Gnome

Thank you

Chaz

]
Obviously the design for the butt end of this tiller changed considerably from what I started with. The stick-butt seemed like a good idea, but wasn't balanced at all, visually or physically.

Routing out the lock cavities. The tickler, which I got from Alchem for my first build and ended up not using, is still in the original form.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sj5LG1eSYqmhbpiP6

The quarter-inch center board was cut to shape and glued to one side, and the tickler has been reformed to the geometry I wanted.
]
https://photos.app.goo.gl/eo1kPqTyShNn2vS49

routing out grooves for the brass rails. I wanted to use lighter gauge angle to keep the weight down, but as mentioned earlier, I was keen to buy as little as possible so I stuck with what I had on hand. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5p51XXbjo7fwU5KH8]

The rails are screwed and epoxied into place and it's time to glue this mess together.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/86Td4TJx4iQVanhd8]

Exra thickness needed to added to the lock area and front to level out with the brass rails. 1/4" stock was glued on and then taken down to 1/8".

https://photos.app.goo.gl/A9CZPuXJwUVy46nW7]


https://photos.app.goo.gl/ubTgw7e9uG26y2cf9

Edges rounded and shapes finalized

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tD7Fnftqzp9kTPc68]

Nope. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/nwT4UCxsmFQBryZEA]

Lopped off most of the butt and cut the remainder into a tenon.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/peLYm1vNeSUpYeSU8]

Chiseled out mortices in the new stock

https://photos.app.goo.gl/x3MH4VSrnKPNknKm7]

Looks better already

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JsqEB2DSWey8vXvEA


https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y1xnNyGJRaYDHFRn9

Yep, I like that much better.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/dC5frXDVX3bA6xPTA]

Gnome

Gnome,
 The last picture nocks it out of the  park for me. Love the rifle style stock has the inset for the tickler and the notch behind the nut for the pully rope the brass plate and the laminations of the wood.
Just beautiful !
Thanks
Chaz

Love that!

Closeups of the sights. They both pivot down out of the way for travel. The front is adjustable, obviously, the rear currently has one peep that will be for 20 yards or less. The idea is to drill additional peeps for longer ranges once I get a chance to shoot it at longer ranges to get an idea of where they should be.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/h6vptFrnVCSSV7vV6]


https://photos.app.goo.gl/UocDWADKTQFzc4Fy6

Gnome

oh yes the sights ....................... awesome !!!!!!!

Chaz

Fantastsic job . You attentention to detail is stiffling. That will also  be a great shooter. Thanks for all the pic , great job.

Absolutely brilliant work... looks beautiful!

Love the hybrid traditional/modern look, and functionality of the stock and sights.

One extra comment here. I love the foot sterip. Looks like you could actually put your boot in it. Most I see are way toooooo small and tough to use. Beautiful.

Thanks, all. Yes, Sitas, I made the stirrup extra wide for my extra wide feet in my extra wide winter boots!
Gnome

Now that's using the ol noodle , so to speak. I  think that that's important as for making you more solid when cocking and so on.

I can't open any of the pictures here.. -(

FrenckBrambo wrote:I can't open any of the pictures here.. -(

Oops, I can't either! I was trying out a new photo hosting site and decided I didn't like it and it looks like they dropped me. I'll try to put the images back when I get a chance.
Gnome

All images have been re-linked.
Gnome

Gnome, I don't know what's the matter, but I still can't see the pictures, not in Chrome, not in IE nor in Opera..

I give up.

Gnome, that is a beautiful crossbow! I was able to open the finished product and man! it was worth it! Congratulations. Love the stirrup! 
May I ask , what is the draw weight and did you use a spring for the trigger and roller?

Glad you like it. Yes, there is a spring to aid in positive lock-up. The prod is Slowbows SB-BB, which is rated at around 165 pounds, if I recall correctly. I have stronger steel prods but they are shorter, with shorter power strokes- typically 8.5" versus this prod's 10.5". That two inches extra power stroke makes a lot of difference, in my opinion.
Gnome

Interesting. I thought it was the angle of the prod that determined the draw weight. Or is it a combination of length and angle?