I have made many slingshot crossbows, but all have been long and narrow - more like a modern rifle.
But this time I wanted to make a slingshot crossbow that resembles a medieval style model! Of course with rubber instead of a steel prod, and shooting balls instead of bolts. But regarding the look and lock/trigger mechanics, I wanted to follow the ancient design.
It came out very good!
Here is the video:
It shoots great, and as you can see in the slomos, the bands never touch anything - they will last a long time.
The weapon is really accurate.
Jörg
Filozof BladeMonger
Number of posts : 13 Reputation : 4 Join Date : 2011-06-11 Location : Croatia
Subject: Re: Medieval Style Crossbow, Rubber Operated June 17th 2011, 12:15 am
I like it.
Very clean design and the shot looks very smooth and on target...a tiny bit of hop as the pouch slips off of the nut - the claw-like trigger you did on a few other builds is much more accurate in my opinion...but other than that - yes, it does look to be one of your nicest looking builds both aesthetically and functionally...and not because it looks like a medieval crossbow that I like so much, but simply how cleanly this weapon is built...needs some nice stain. ..you Germans.
Ivo
PS: I hear you on the expenses associated with archery. I probably spent over half a grand on just arrows...as there is just never a target big enough when you're tuning a bow, so yeh...arrows get smashed/get lost/break each other if not careful...and tools required for building a decent crossbow moderately fast aren't cheap either...I've actually counted up my expenses over the years and it came out to be over five grand(and I'm still lacking things) not to mention the materials which was another grand...actually wondering now - where the hell did I get the money?
JoergS SlingShot Master
Number of posts : 116 Reputation : 57 Join Date : 2011-02-14 Location : Oberfranken/Germany
Subject: Re: Medieval Style Crossbow, Rubber Operated June 17th 2011, 12:30 am
Ivo, the "claw" release is in fact not suitable here because it can't be engaged under strain.
I also wanted to use a lock that has medieval roots. The rotating nut does that for me. Yes, there is a bit of a hop, but that was the case with the medieval ones, too. A hop is not bad if it is reproducable, which it is.
Have by now completed the soaking in linseed oil, whch heightened the grain and yellowed the weapon.
I love shooting lead and steel balls, as the cost is low and the handling is easy. It is a pain in the behind to pull the arrows from my Liberty 1 compound (70 lbs) out of the target. Collecting the balls from out of my trusted, battered catchbox is a piece of cake in comparison.
kshinichi BladeMonger
Number of posts : 15 Reputation : 3 Join Date : 2011-06-11 Location : Florida
Subject: Re: Medieval Style Crossbow, Rubber Operated June 17th 2011, 12:44 am
This is amazing, how much would it cost to build something like that?
JoergS SlingShot Master
Number of posts : 116 Reputation : 57 Join Date : 2011-02-14 Location : Oberfranken/Germany
Subject: Re: Medieval Style Crossbow, Rubber Operated June 17th 2011, 1:01 am
Material is really cheap. If you want to see some more pics about how I made it (from a piece of 3x3 and some plywoodI, here are some more pics:
It is not so hard to make, but some equipment is needed. A lathe, a drill press, a power jig saw.
Good luck
Jörg
JoergS SlingShot Master
Number of posts : 116 Reputation : 57 Join Date : 2011-02-14 Location : Oberfranken/Germany
Subject: Re: Medieval Style Crossbow, Rubber Operated June 19th 2011, 6:46 am
Ordered some speargun rubber.
Got 16, 18 and 20 mm thickness, a meter each.
The stuff is beastly! I decided to test the "weakest" one first. 6,5mm walls, compared to 3mm walls on the already tough Thera Tube silver. Here you see TB black, silver and the 16mm speargun rubber in comparison.
Did a bandset for the medieval crossbow. The center hole is too small and the rubber is too tough for the knot in hole method, so I attached the rubber to the outside. Works fine.
Draw weight of this exceeds the 40 kg my scales can measure. I estimate it at 45 kg (about 100 lbs).
I reinforced the nut and tickler with steel because I did not trust the wood on wood method for this off the scale power. It holds fine.
It is surprisingly easy to cock the crossbow, the stirrup method rocks. Ancient weapon makers clearly knew their stuff.
It shoots absolutely frighteningly fast. My most powerful sling-x-bow for sure.
But there is room for improvement - see the 18 and 20 mm beasts in comparison... stay tuned.
It throws the 22mm (.87") lead ball (64,2 gramms = 1027 gr) at 46 m/s, 150 fps. Not bad for a 70 cm (27") draw. It will be interesting to see how the thicker bands perform.
Jörg
JoergS SlingShot Master
Number of posts : 116 Reputation : 57 Join Date : 2011-02-14 Location : Oberfranken/Germany
Number of posts : 116 Reputation : 57 Join Date : 2011-02-14 Location : Oberfranken/Germany
Subject: Re: Medieval Style Crossbow, Rubber Operated June 23rd 2011, 10:28 am
I wanted to add a sighting system to the medieval style crossbow, which right now is my favorite plinker.
Not so easy, the rubber swings forward and does not allow the medieval "fork" sights at the front of the weapon. Everything has to be behind the lock.
I bought a few Hensoldt scopes, made for the German Army standard isse H+K G36 assault rifle. Surplus, fine condition, 5 Euros a pop. These are made to be installed INSIDE of the plastic G36 stock, so there is no adjustment of any kind. But just the right factor (3x) and nice crosshairs.
[url="http://www.co2air.de/wbb2/attachment.php?attachmentid=15377"]See the crosshairs in a pic[/url]
I made a mount system from wood, nothing that a medieval weaponmaker couldn't have done (minus the mordern screws).
Here you can see the adjustmemts, both horizontal and vertical.
The naked scope in comparison.
A peek through the scope (hard to do with a camera, it is just perfect in reality)
Only the back side is telling... modern technology.
It is amazing how accurate this is, and how easy the cocking is. I am plinking with TB black, a preteen boy can draw this out with both hands and a foot in the stirrup.
These inexpensive scopes are ideal for slingshot crossbows. A lot of fun!
Jörg
eggfooyoung Xiphoid Fanatic
Number of posts : 52 Reputation : 2 Join Date : 2010-05-15 Location : USA
Subject: Re: Medieval Style Crossbow, Rubber Operated August 11th 2011, 1:57 am
Wow... this is some amazing work. Where did you find the rubber for the first time you made this?
Also known as a Retractable Forearm Dagger, Xiphoid is a class of weapons with a blade that is retractable into a forearm worn wristband/bracer sheath. Designed for swift and quick surprise attacks. It is notable for being evolved from the Katar and the Pata, punching swords with the blade sitting inline with the users fist..
There's two kinds of people in this world when you boil it all down.
You've got your 'talkers' and you've got your 'doers'.
Most people are just talkers, all they got is talk. But when all is said and done, it's the doers who change this world. And when they do that, they change us. And thats why we never forget them...
So which one are you? Do you just talk about it or do you stand up and do something about it? Because believe you me, all the rest of it is just bullshit.
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