Trigger safety designs

First topic message reminder :

Hello all,

I recently became aware of the "quick disconnect pin into the trigger" safety concept for a roller nut cb. Does anyone have any info or pics of other methods? I can't find pics of the New World arb style.

Teagus

Teagus,

Here is a sketch of a crossbow safety I built for my first bow.

Instead of *turning*, the cross bolt *slides*. It has notches cut in it to two different depths. The one is deep enough to let the nose of the trigger descend. The other blocks the trigger, and keeps the safety bolt from rotating. A small leaf spring engages one or the other of a pair of detente notches on the bottom of the bolt. These stop the safety in the two positions. The safety bolt can not slide past either of the two positions because of the presence of the nose of the trigger.

This is an easy mechanism to build, and works well. I don't think it has any historical precedent, however.
[img][/img]
Please also note that in my sketch, I have drawn the area around the pivot of the trigger to include more
material than you have indicated in your drawing. This is not only good
engineering, but the historical practice as well.

Mac

Try a cabinet makers ' bullet catch' instead of a leaf spring. Just drill a hole, press it into place. It looks like a little brass cylinder with a ball bearing in the tip, coil spring pushes the ball bearing up. About the size of a .22 short, and quite cheap. Lee Valley tools sells them for $.80 ea. Fanciest bullet catches list for $9.40 in the largest size but they would be too strong for a safety.

8,

I'm sure the bullet catch would work just fine, but I would feel "dirty" using it. I won't even use coil springs.... we all draw our lines in different places.

Mac

Looks good Ivo, is this a concept or something your actually going to build?

The trigger is built around the trigger that I've been practicing to make in large quantities, so yes It's something that will show up in one of my future builds....but for now, not sharing this concept, would simply be unfair to you guys.

I
like the idea of a grip saftey but still think another saftey would be a
good idea for when holding and carrying the crossbow around.

The thing with this grip safety is more of a coolness factor just as you said, but the the part that actually blocks the sear contains a very practical feature. I like the crisp *clicking* safeties and my very first trigger had exactly that...



However, the one with the grip lever is cool in a sense that it should be very quite and I like that very much. I wish I had the time to get out and enjoy the hunting season with you guys, but I've been overloaded with work...still, I think *hands down* a quite safety will be a very good feature in a hunting crossbow.

Since I'm on topic of silencing the safety...

A small leaf spring engages one or the other of a pair of detente
notches on the bottom of the bolt. These stop the safety in the two
positions.

...

Try a cabinet makers ' bullet catch' instead of a leaf spring.

...

That is a very nice and simple safety...and the bullet catch...man I wish I knew they made those in such small sizes.

I have a paintball gun (Tippmann 98 Custom) and it uses a version of that safety, only it was done in a slightly different manner.





It's basically the same safety only instead of milled trigger stops it's a lathed part. While it's may be a slightly weaker design - it's very *quite*. Instead of the little dimples that a spring clicks into, this version uses o-rings for retention and that makes it a very quite safety.

Also...Notice how the red o-ring show that the safety is on...I thought that was another cool touch.

Ivo

Ivo wrote:...The thing with this grip safety is more of a coolness factor just as you said, but the the part that actually blocks the sear contains a very practical feature. I like the crisp *clicking* safeties and my very first trigger had exactly that...

My younger brother was searching Youtube for Crossbow Builds a while back and one day stumbled upon a Gent by the name JasonWemp, who I later wrote a few messages and invited to come check out our forum. The man is starting a new crossbow project that is looking sweet...CrushingNeonBabies is no one special , but I like the safety and it looks right at home in Jason's trigger composition.



And since I'm here I'll chip in a fun bit of info I learned from a really cool Russian crossbow builder(before Arbalist Guild was even in the picture).

A very unique dry-fire inhibitor design that combines the anti-dryfire function of the block with the arrow retention clip to create an effect I described in the diagram below. Hope you like.



The Russian guy that I'm talking about is Sergey Phoenix (if you ask me - the man is a legend )of the Russian Crossbow Forum ...check out his build here >>> Link

Ivo

Ivo wrote:



Ivo

While bored and trying to look for inspiration on my next design, I drew up a stencil for this mechanism. Not sure if anyone will care or use it, but it's here nonetheless: https://imgur.com/a/bM6Rr

To download the second image, mouse over the top right corner and click the download icon.

Never dissapointed when checking out info. on the forum it, helps make the gears turn one more cog.

Thanks all,

Chaz

cowscankill wrote:

Ivo wrote:
Ivo

While bored and trying to look for inspiration on my next design, I drew up a stencil for this mechanism. Not sure if anyone will care or use it, but it's here nonetheless: https://imgur.com/a/bM6Rr

To download the second image, mouse over the top right corner and click the download icon.

Love that mechanism! Simple yet effective.Would it work with a tickler style trigger?

This safety is normally on from the tension spring until the
magnet is manually advanced to contact with release nut.

Teagus wrote:Yo Geezer,

Is this what you had in mind? Think it will fly?

Resurrecting an old thread for posterity...
I built this safety (damn, thought it was my idea!) ...hammered it out of some 1/4" bar stock. I liked the idea of just bending an 'L' rather then trying to fasten or thread a cross 'T' knob. It works well with a positive 'stay put' feel, kind of jams in place... (Up off/ forward-fire) combined with butt-simple design. This lock has two layers of smaller inner side plates that act to keep pins in place and as bearing surfaces. The innermost right plate holds the safety lever pin like a retainer ring fastener in that grove. The third set of outer side plates keep the various pins from coming out.

Yes, that should do nicely. Geezer

I'm almost scared to post here as I am no one with any standing here but, the big thing I would mention is when the hole is drilled to stop the trigger lever it seems to me that it has to be really crowded on to  the trigger bar . If it isn't I get enough movement to fire the sear. Also I notice a pretty good resistance  when turn the safety bolt if I crowed the lever enough.Won't fire at all if all the slack is crowded out.Maybe I'm just a poor mechcanic.

Yes, the rotating bolt safety has to fit tightly. If there's too much slack, it may release anyway.  And of course with the long medieval tickler-type trigger, you get plenty of leverage. If the safety-bolt isn't stiff enough, it's possible to bend the safety by sheer trigger force.  But the same might be said of other 'safety' systems. Most can be beaten by brute force if it's forceful enough. However, It WILL prevent accidental discharge if knocked or bumped in the field.  If you Really want your bow safe, take the bolt out and let the string down.  Better yet, lock the  weapon in a closet with a sign on the door saying "Beware of the leopard."  Geezer

I use the uncool brass pin through the tickler safety.....

Drilled into the right side, through the tickler and ever so slightly into the opposite side on the inside of the tiller.....BOOM!

Tickler ain't goin' nowheres!!!!

The first safety I tried was a sliding pin that went directly into one side of the roller-nut.  It worked great, preventing the nut from turning. Unfortunately, the whole system tended to jam when engaged.  It wouldn't shoot by accident, but once the safety was engaged, it was very difficult to get it to shoot on purpose as well.  I've been using the rotating bolt for years with good success, but Lightly, my apprentice has developed a new safety, somewhat easier to fabricate, less obtrusive, and still effective. Eventually, we'll go to that one entirely.  Geezer.