The "bow" of most crossbows is metal, and they usually have metal components (the ratcheting mechanism, trigger, etc.). Unless you are also a metalworker I would suggest trying your luck at a bow (it will be shit unless you keep making more) or try for a spear thrower/atlatl. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear-thrower) Spear throwers can be very ornate if you are doing it as hobby and want to produce a nice handworked item, but you can also make a decent one with minimal investment of time and tools.
Whittling and flint knapping are easy to pick up and learn. If you put your mind to it you can make crude versions of paleolithic hunting gear that could feasibly be used to kill prey. It's a nice activity to pass time if you are outdoorsy and enjoy camping or multiple-day hiking trips. Bring home a fishing spear, stone-tipped spear, or a spear thrower and stack of throwing spears. They make for neat home decor and can spark discussions if you have guests over that are into that kind of thing.
Anyone know a link or info on making a crossbow?
I've gotten the itch to make something and for some reason, I want to make a crossbow. I'd prefer instructions on making one that's wooden.
I've looked and most of the stuff I've found isn't very instructive or just show makings of rather than schematics or a manual/step by step directions.
Besides I'm a ranged my old friend (sometimes) ingame. Might as well do it irl too eh?
I don't own one, but I'm pretty sure you can own a crossbow without any license or paperwork in the US. My old coworker had one, and made it sound like he bought it and went home to shoot targets in his backyard without any fuss.
As long as other hunting weapons like bolt-action rifles and compound bows are legal to possess, I don't see why a crossbow wouldn't be. But I'm not a lawyer. And I didn't even google it.
How good are you at metalwork? no such thing as wooden crossbow. Well, same parts of a rifle that can be wooden, can be wooden on a crossbow. So... the very easy to carve parts. Its the wings of the bow that will take you time since you are gonna have to build a forge and learn to smelt steel. Or just go down to chinatown and buy a crossbow, and reposses the bow and maybe the trigger mechanism, make yourself a nice wooden frame and finnish it, then fit the bow you stole from your cheap chinese crossbow.
Cause, if crossbows were possible to make without steel, history would have been very different.
(yes I know you can make a crossbow with a wooden bow but if would be suffering the entire time it was cocked and the power limits of wood ina size that would still be a crossbow and not a ballista mean you would be limited to shooting down cans across your desk, not hunting anything decent)
you are correct, though state laws vary, you may purchase one and bring it home that day, no questions asked, they are placed below hunting rifles in that their registration isnt even done, while most states allow the release of hunting rifles/shotguns that day, of course after you register it with the appropriate paperwork, but you wont be waiting(pending state law, some make you wait days, some dont).
I dont think many people know this, but the manufacturing of weapons is completely legal, you can make your own weapons if you have the means, albeit, you cannot sell them without a FFL, and your state laws allow such weapons in the state. They actually sell jigs for bending metal into AK's online so you can create your own lower. So knowing this, i dont think the crafting of a crossbow would be a problem. If you can craft bazookas i think you are allowed to craft something that shoots sharpened chop sticks.
lol, was a bit of an exaggeration i would say, but yes, pretty much, good luck convincing them its for deer hunting.(i meant the term bazooka as in a big as rifle, rather then the little rocket launcher :D)
"9. May I lawfully make a firearm for my own personal use, provided it is not being made for
resale?
Firearms may be lawfully made by persons who do not hold a manufacturer’s license under the GCA
provided they are not for sale or distribution and the maker is not prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms. However, a person is prohibited from assembling a non-sporting semiautomatic rifle or shotgun from 10 or more imported parts, as set forth in regulations in 27 C.F.R. 478.39. In
addition, the making of an NFA firearm requires a tax payment and advance approval by ATF. An
application to make a machinegun will not be approved unless documentation is submitted showing
that the firearm is being made for the official use of a Federal, State, or local government agency (18
U.S.C. § 922(o),(r); 26 U.S.C. § 5822; 27 C.F.R. §§ 478.39, 479.62, and 479.105)."
I know we arent talking about firearms, but considering the legality in play with those, i cant see there being anything against a crossbow, nor have i heard of any laws.
A couple of years ago I had a similar creative urge, and ended up making 2 PVC bows. I wish I could have afforded the materials to make a better one (or had the time/skills to make a wooden one) but I had fun nonetheless. The costliest thing was the bowstring. xD
The first bow I made was simply to get my feet wet. It was a simple longbow made by sticking one PVC pipe inside a slightly larger one, and then stuffing a fiberglass rod in the middle. Once notches were made at either end, and a ledge to fire of of was added, the thing could be strung up and it was ready to go in just a few hours time. I tested the draw weight and it comes in at a hefty 40-50 pounds. Makes the thing hard to aim, that's for sure.
The second bow I made was where I got to stretch my artistic muscles a bit. I decided to model it after something along the lines of the nomad or horn bows in crpg. It is a smaller size with the recurve, and I believe it has the dimensions of some historical bows used on horseback. The fun part about that one was flattening it and then having to cut out various sections, smoothing it all out, bending it just right... long story short, it was a pain, haha. But I had fun. That bow is much weaker (only 25 pounds or so draw weight) but at least that is something reasonable that you can actually aim with. I'm not exactly gonna go hunting deer with my target-tipped arrows.
If you are on a budget I recommend trying to make a flattened PVC pipe bow. If the sky is the limit, go and buy all your fancy wood and metal crossbow parts, :P.
Total cost of the longbow was probably 10 bucks, plus the additional 10 or so for the damn bowstring. Arrows of course cost a decent amount as well. You can literally use anything for a target, I started using garbage bags stuffed with grass clippings or hay. Then I upgraded to a cheap $5 foam target. The cav bow only cost about $5 for the raw materials (this one only require PVC pipe of one diameter... not two different sizes, and no fancy fiberglass rod of a specific size either), but if you don't have a heat gun, that can set you back $40 or so. You're gonna need one of those tomelt it so you can inhale all the lovely fumessoften the PVC.
If you are feeling more adventurous than I, you can also make you own homemade bowstring. But to do that you need to create your own rig for it, and track down a certain type of wax (everywhere seemed to suggest bee's wax, I think), and then rap the string around itself thousands of times. That is why I opted for the $10 per bowstring charge. ;)
I saw people trying to make pvc crossbows.. I never thought one could make an actual bow with pvc..
Hey more power to you. I'd do it out of wood for the style. Looks better. I'm sure it takes far more time than when its out of pvc though.
I'm going to redouble my efforts of finding schematics and such then get stuff for it soon enough. See if I can't make a decent crossbow soon.
As a severely grown up man, i have a boring responsibility to advise you to take precautions when testing your apparatus. If that shit snaps from tension while you are aiming somewhere, you might have a very bad time. Show it to a gunsmith, or take few pictures and post them on a specialized forum, so someone can point out any potentially hazardous errors.
Good luck! It seems to be a very interesting project, so don't forget to show progress pictures! I love hand-made contraptions and mechanisms - much creativity and daring ideas :)
take few pictures and post them on a specialized forum, so someone can point out any potentially hazardous errors.
There are tons of DIY woodworking, historical reenactment, and other forums that could help you out from sourcing a design to suggesting retailers for material to critiquing your work. The greybeards in places like that usually love to help newcomers who are interested in their hobby, and get really enthusiastic and helpful if you are serious about the project. Imagine a forum full of "that uncle" who has a shop in his garage and loves tinkering with things.
I don't have any specific suggestions but a few google searches will get you places.