Primitive Crossbow Fun

[cockeyedhunter]

I while back I built a primitive crossbow inspired by Ron Hood videos and I thought I would share.
1-Tools chosen for the Job.





2-Cutting in the notch to hold the bow.



3-Baton out the bow holding notch.
4-Notch ready to recieve the bow.


5-Cutting in the trigger stop.


6-Notching out the trigger stop.



7-Arrow ramp cut flat.



8-Drilling the hole for the trigger.



9-Bottom of trigger hole ramped so it can pivot.



10-Trigger made and hole is fine tuned to fit and pivot.



11-Tigger fits and pivots when pulled.



Well I hit the new limit of pictures for a post. See NW Primates post below for the rest of the pictures

12-Bow is dovetailed onto stock.

13-Tiller bow and mount on the stock by drilling a hole and lashing.

14-Bow secured to stock with cord.
15-Added an arrow holder to the stock and made some bone tipped arrows using leaves for vanes.

16-Completed crossbow with 3 arrows.

 

[John, the baptist]

Holy crap! That is sweet man. Thanks for sharing!

 

[solocanoe]

wow, man...that's dedication to the task there! :35:

nice 'biner set up there too.

 

[Hubb]

And you made it look so easy. I've tried crossbows many times and have never had any success.

 

[Finfanatic]

I still PAINFULLY remember the last time I tried the homemade bow experiment. That looks nice. Love the bolts/arrows.

 

[ksquared]

WOW!

 

[shutternut]

Impressive. This man is ready to make meat for the camp. Good work.

 

[Corso]

great stuff - selfcrossbow project now on my list...

 

[rasp181]

Great job!! How well does it shoot? Would love to see some pics of you shooting it.

 

[nothinghead]

WOW!!! That made anything I do today seem pretty crappy.

Can we get a video of it shooting? Amazing what people can do when they just try.

 

[JohnP]

Excellent job. Simply outstanding.

Crossbows have been on my mind since I started watching The Walking Dead, but didn't want to spend the money. Making one never entered my mind. Thanks for this post, I think I have a new project, just hope I can get it done before the zombies walk.


~JohnP

 

[Vintagebushcraft]

Now just build one out of leaf springs. Great job man.

 

[wingnut]

way cool ...

 

[Carpe Arcus]

Very cool! A video of you shooting it,would be spectacular.

 

[cockeyedhunter]

Great job!! How well does it shoot? Would love to see some pics of you shooting it.

It shot better than I thought it would. About a 6" group at twenty feet. I think it would shoot better if I grooved the top of the ramp to help guide the bolt. You can see how some of the arrows fly a bit canted...maybe because I dont have a groove or maybe my leaf fletching is a bit wavy, I dont know.

1st shot

2nd shot

3rd shot

WOW!!! That made anything I do today seem pretty crappy.

Can we get a video of it shooting? Amazing what people can do when they just try.

I am kind of old fashioned and have never made a video, dont even have a video camera. It was only a year ago I left the 35mm camera for digital. Maybe someday I'll take the leap and try a video if only just to pay back for all the things I have learned from watching other peoples videos.

Now just build one out of leaf springs. Great job man.

Leaf springs would sure make for a big game getter!! I am going to have to look into that some day.

Very cool! A video of you shooting it,would be spectacular.

Thank you. Maybe someday, I know I sure enjoy watching other peoples videos.

 

[Carpe Arcus]

Doesn't look bad,I think you would stand a good chance of
making meat with that crossbow.

 

[HoosierArcher]

WOW!

 

[Daywalker]

OUTSTANDING! You have some mad skill's. Thanks

 

[snakedoctor]

Now that is bushcraft that is awesome man!

 

[Falstaff]

Nice job. Any idea/estimate of the draw weight? I'm guessing that one could add draw weight by adding additional branches to the limb a la bundle bow style?

 

[Taliesin]

Very cool! I think it's one of the coolest projects I've seen. When are you going to take it hunting?

 

[cockeyedhunter]

Nice job. Any idea/estimate of the draw weight? I'm guessing that one could add draw weight by adding additional branches to the limb a la bundle bow style?

Draw weight is pretty light, maybe 20lb or so. It has gained more power as it has seasoned. But it was just built for fun so I just used a 1 1/2" diameter piece of green hazel for the bow.

Very cool! I think it's one of the coolest projects I've seen. When are you going to take it hunting?

Wont be hunting anything other than stumps and foam targets with this.

 

[.338WinMag]

Thats what i'm talkin about ,good job on the crossbow, ol Ron learned about those the hard way from what i understand ,awell made crossbow or bows still seems like a better weapon for long term living on the land imo short of modern weapons of course ,neway looks good thanks for sharing your work. .338winmag

 

[NWPrimate]

Bumping six years later to share this awesomeness from @cockeyedhunter .

 

[Medicine maker]

Looking through the tracker thread for this and no pics! @cockeyedhunter would you happen to still have these images saved?

 

[NWPrimate]

I'm using a browser add-on that makes old photobucket images viewable again, and didn't realize that the images weren't showing up for everybody else when I bumped this thread.



@cockeyedhunter ... if you do have the time to restore this thread but don't have access to the images, I would be happy to screenshot the rest of them for you.

 

[cockeyedhunter]

I'm using a browser add-on that makes old photobucket images viewable again, and didn't realize that the images weren't showing up for everybody else when I bumped this thread.



@cockeyedhunter ... if you do have the time to restore this thread but don't have access to the images, I would be happy to screenshot the rest of them for you.

I would appreciate that Brian. I seem to have a harder time dealing with computer stuff now days.

 

[NWPrimate]

I would appreciate that Brian. I seem to have a harder time dealing with computer stuff now days.

Feel free to use these image links in your original post, or you can save and repost them. I can also send you an email with the images if that's easier for you.

 

[cockeyedhunter]

@NWPrimate thank you. I will edit this thread latter tonight

 

[Medicine maker]

Thank you so much for restoring the pictures.