For lovers of homemade weapons, we invite you to sit back, as in this material we will present an overview of the manufacture of a crossbow with a reverse design. First of all, let's explain why the design of this crossbow is called reverse: the fact is that its bowstring is pulled in the opposite direction, which allows it to obtain significantly more power.
What do we need to make such a crossbow:
- wooden plank 15 mm thick and 28 mm wide;
- ruler;
- pencil;
- hacksaw;
- drill;
- bolts, washers and nuts;
- two rollers;
- spring;
- two metal corners;
- nylon rope;
- door hinge;
- metal plate.
We take the bar that needs to be used to cut out four blanks. The length of the first blank should be equal to 43 cm, the second - 31 cm. The remaining two blanks should be equal to 15 cm.
Next, take two short blanks and make 1 cm marks from each edge. Also, make one 5 cm mark from one edge of both blanks.
The next step is to take the middle bar and make marks 1.5 cm from both edges.
We make holes in the marked places.
At the edges of the short planks we make through holes going to the holes drilled in the previous stage.
Next, we fix the middle bar to the very length of the bar at the 25 cm mark. We will do this using bolts, washers and nuts.
For greater reliability, the author of the idea applies a layer of glue between the two planks.
Now we take two rollers, which were also used to make the compound bow, and secure them with bolts next to the middle bar, as shown in the figure below.
After this, we take a spring, which can also be purchased at the car market, and secure it to the crossbow using a metal corner.
The angle should be installed on the edge of the long bar with self-tapping screws, but it will interfere with the flight of the arrow. To avoid this, we make a small depression on the bar.
The next step is to take short strips, which we fasten to the resulting base of our crossbow with the same bolts.
We take a piece of nylon rope and fasten it to the shoulders of the crossbow using through holes. Thus, we connect the shoulders together.
Next, we take another piece of rope, attach it to one of the shoulders, thread it through the roller, then through the spring, through the second roller, finally attaching it to the second shoulder. The length of the rope should be such that it is difficult for the spring to reach its middle.
Let's move on to making the trigger mechanism. To do this, fully tighten the crossbow string and make a mark at the end point.
We make a hole along the mark.
We take a metal plate and cut out a blank from it, similar to the one that can be seen in the figure below.
We fasten the plate so that the hole on it coincides with the hole on the crossbow.
We take the door hinge and connect it to the metal corner using a bolt.
In this article we will consider the question of how to make a crossbow, using the constructive knowledge of crossbow construction.
To make a reliable crossbow yourself, great hard work and desire are not enough. It is also necessary to have a small knowledge base, material and technical. Of course, you can take a piece of wood and a car spring, and with the tenacity of a maniac, start sharpening, planing, drilling, sawing, focusing approximately on the found images of the crossbow design. But the result may be that the crossbow will be too heavy, inconvenient, and in general the result may not be what you dreamed of and what you wanted.
What to do? First of all, you should determine exactly what kind of crossbow you need to make. After all, there are a large number of types of these throwing weapons and each has its own unusual technical features, which determine completely different techniques for making and using crossbows in practice.
Further, you need to accurately assess your capabilities in terms of equipment, with which you will make crossbow parts with your own hands. And, finally, think carefully about where and what material you need to take to create this or that structure.
Well, let's start by replenishing the knowledge base about crossbows and their types, because without this it is simply impossible to move forward. First, let's look at the general structure of this weapon.
In most cases, any crossbow has the following mechanisms and parts:
- Crossbow guides and stock;
- Shoulders and bow;
- Trigger;
- Tension device;
- Arrows (bolts);
- Bowstring.
Now we need to touch a little on the classification of crossbows. All of them are classified according to certain criteria.
Classification according to shoulder tension level:
- Tension level up to 20 kg. Such crossbows are often used for entertainment and recreation; of course, they are not suitable for any serious testing. The targeted shooting range is not very long (approximately 15-20 meters);
- Tension level 20-55 kg. Such crossbows allow the trigger mechanism to be cocked using muscular force, without any devices. Their sighting range is approximately 60-80 m;
- Tension level is more than 55 kg. Such crossbows are serious weapons that require special cocking devices to tension the bowstring.
Classification according to the type of onion used:
- Monolook. It can be homogeneous, made of steel or fiberglass, or composite using specific types of wood;
- Shoulders + pad. To secure the arms of the bow in this case, a block is used - an intermediate device. Such a crossbow is quite convenient for transportation, because easily understood.
Classification according to the type of shoulders used:
- Block - with the use of rollers and eccentrics, as well as having a main and 2 additional bowstrings;
- Straight - the shoulders in a non-bent position form a straight segment;
- Traditional - S-shaped beam type of bend.
Classification according to the crossbow stock used:
- A traditional screw-type stock with a solid butt, neck and fore-end;
- Stocks of the old type, which are made following the example of medieval crossbows;
- Sports stock with a slot in the butt and a pistol grip.
Classification by tension method:
- Muscular type of tension - has a system of levers, a stirrup, a special hook;
- A goat leg is a single-arm lever;
- Gate - the device has a worm gear and a rack;
- Block tension with multiple rollers.
Now that you have some idea about the design of crossbows, it's time to decide which design is right for you, taking into account your technical capabilities. In other words, make sure you have the ability to use wood and metalworking machines. It is worth believing that with only a drill, a plane and a hacksaw, you are unlikely to be able to make a high-quality crossbow with your own hands. Many parts can only be made by an experienced turner. Even if you have detailed drawings of a crossbow on hand, you will have to use maximum creativity, effort and ingenuity to do everything technically competent and beautiful.
How to make a crossbow for your physical. options
Let's start making a crossbow with our own hands from the stock. First, let's take suitable wood. We need a type of wood that will not chip, warp, and will be sufficiently tough. The following species fully meet these parameters: walnut, birch, ash, beech. Undoubtedly, such a tree can be found in any hardware store in our country, so no problems arise.
For a stock, a board 30 cm thick is quite suitable as a starting material (it is not recommended to take more than that - there is simply no need for it). Now you need to decide on the size of the bed. The figure below shows how to choose its size to suit your own physical parameters.
Where:
A– these are your basic physical dimensions:
L– Distance from the bend of the elbow to the end of the index finger;
B2– width of the chest;
H3– distance from the pupil to the collarbone.
B– bed dimensions:
Lп– the length of the stock, which is measured from the front segment of the trigger to the heel of the butt (about 5-15 mm longer than half the back of the butt);
Lps– length from half the back of the butt to the trigger (distance L);
Lн– the length is false from the toe of the butt to the trigger (+/- 15 mm shorter or longer than the distance to half the back of the butt);
A– the distance in front of the butt from the bend of the stock to the bottom;
O– the distance from the heel of the butt to the bend of the stock to the bottom (dimensions “a” and “o” are made depending on the H3 indicators).
IN– retraction of the bed and change to the side, which depends on the width of the chest (B2):
Op– the distance from the heel of the butt to the outlet of the stock;
He– the distance from the toe part of the butt to the outlet of the stock.
The stock must be measured from the beginning of the trigger to various points that are located on the back of the butt. To adjust the bed to the size of your body, you need to use the picture above. But the average sizes are:
From the heel to the beginning of the trigger – 36-36.5 cm;
From the hook to the butt toe the distance is 36.8-37.2 cm;
To the midpoint, which is located on the occipital plane – 35.6-36 cm, “a” – 4-4.5 cm, “b” – 5.5-6 cm.
| Arm length cm |
Stock length up to middle of the back of the head butt, cm |
Pupil height above collarbone, cm |
Vertical bend from the extension of the aiming line to the upper ridge of the butt, mm |
Chest Width between axillary depressions, cm |
Lateral deviation of the butt from the vertical aiming strip, mm | ||
| at the neck | at the back of the head | in the heel of the butt of the head | in the toe of the back of the butt | ||||
| 42 | 38-40 | 23 | 42-44 | 66-70 | 50-52 | 18 | 6 |
| 41 | 37-39 | 22 | 41-43 | 65-69 | 48-49 | 17 | 5.6 |
| 40 | 36-38 | 21 | 40-41 | 64-68 | 46-47 | 16 | 5 |
| 39 | 35-37 | 20 | 39-40 | 63-65 | 44-45 | 15 | 45 |
| 38 | 34-36 | 19 | 37-38 | 60-62 | 42-43 | 14 | 4 |
| 37 | 33-35 | 18 | 35-36 | 58-59 | 40-41 | 12 | 35 |
| 36 | 32-34 | 17 | 34-35 | 57-58 | 38-39 | 10 | 3 |
| 35 | 31-33 | 16 | 33-34 | 56-57 | 36-37 | 8 | 2.5 |
| 34 | 30-32 | 15 | 32-33 | 55-56 | 34-35 | 6 | 2 |
| 33 | 29-31 | 14 | 31-32 | 53-54 | 32-33 | 4 | 15 |
By taking measurements of your body, focusing on this table, you can choose the optimal sizes for your bed, which will suit you almost perfectly. Difficult? It’s not scary, as they say - “It’s hard to learn, it’s easy to fight.”
After which you can proceed directly to making the bed itself. To begin with, it is recommended to cut out a template from paper. On it we draw a bed according to the dimensions that were measured and determined using a table. Sketches of different crossbow stocks are available on the Internet.
We will tell you how to make a crossbow stock, shoulders and trigger mechanism step by step in other articles. In this case, our task is to determine the dimensions of the crossbow parts we need and the materials from which they will be made.
Now let's see where to start creating the crossbow's shoulders. And we start, as usual, by choosing the material from which the shoulders will be made. It seems to me that many people immediately determine what kind of crossbow will be made: with a monobow or with a compound bow.
The material for creating the shoulders should be as follows:
- If you have a sports bow at your disposal, you can use the shoulders from it. You can go to some sports section where you can get decommissioned bows completely free - they will still be thrown away. They, however, can be used for weak crossbows, with a tension of up to 20 kg;
- Fiberglass or textolite is sold in regular construction stores. The tension force is also low - up to 20 kg. Typically used to create crossbows for recreational purposes;
- Car spring - look in your garage, in your neighbor's and in a junkyard. In principle, finding her would not be a problem - if only there was a desire;
- Carbon fiber, fiberglass, various composite materials - again, we go to construction stores.
Any store has similar materials, and at fairly affordable prices.
The highest quality crossbow arms are made from composite materials and fiberglass. Below is a drawing showing the dimensions of their fiberglass arms with a tensile force of up to 40 kg.
To create a monobow, you can use a car spring. The string is attached to it using wheels or pulled onto a trident.
Size chart for monobow drawings.
| Tension force, kg | Working stroke of the bowstring, mm | Dimensions, mm | Width, mm | Thickness, D, mm | Weight, kg | |||
| A | B | C | (in the center) | (at the ends) | ||||
| 60 | 145 | 545 | 70 | 25 | 25 | 8 | 4 | 0.58 |
| 75 | 160 | 572 | 75 | 25 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 0.68 |
| 100 | 160 | 572 | 75 | 25 | 25 | 10 | 6 | 0.85 |
| 120 | 180 | 675 | 70 | 25 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 1.00 |
| 120 | 180 | 660 | 90 | 35 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 1.00 |
| 120 | 180 | 690 | 100 | 35 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 1.10 |
| 280 | 180 | 680 | 100 | 35 | 30 | 12 | 6 | 1.35 |
| 325 | 180 | 675 | 100 | 50 | 40 | 12 | 9 | 1.95 |
With your permission, now it’s time to finish the review of the sizes that you can use to create a crossbow with your own hands. In the following articles we will look in detail at what triggers can be used for a crossbow. We’ll also look at the drawings of trigger mechanisms that are common in crossbow manufacturing today.
Based on materials from the site: sekach.ru
27.06.2019
In this way you can make a bowstring for a crossbow. If your goal is the question of how to make a crossbow, then you need to pay special attention to the bowstring. On this site you will find a lot of useful information for you on how to make a crossbow with your own hands.
For a good quality bow, you need a good quality bowstring, which we will now manufacture. But people interested in making a real bow will definitely pay attention to these recommendations, unless, of course, they are planning to buy a bowstring in an online store.
To wind the bowstring we will need nylon, silk or nylon thread. All this can be purchased at fishing, hunting, and hardware stores.
But a bowstring that is too thin will cut your fingers when firing. These are the contradictions that await you when choosing a material for a bowstring.
At the ends of the block we drill holes along the diameter of the sticks at a distance from the length of the future bowstring. If it is thin, then ten, twenty or thirty turns, depending on the thickness, see for yourself, but the bowstring must be at least two millimeters in diameter.
In order for the arrow to immediately fall on the middle of the bowstring when shooting, we put on thick rubber rings opposite the bow shelf between which the arrow will be inserted. Our almost professional bowstring is all ready.
With the help of a bowstring, the tension of the arms and the acceleration of the arrow take place, so the quality of the bowstring affects many of the characteristics of the crossbow. An important requirement for a bowstring is that it does not stretch during use, and the durability of the bowstring will depend on what material it is made of.
It is not difficult to make a crossbow bowstring yourself; suitable materials include threads such as lavsan, dacron, kevlar, deinema, SVM, fastflight and others made of synthetic fiber. After the machine is made, you can begin making the bowstring.
How to make a crossbow at home
On the middle part of the bowstring you need to make a transverse winding again, because it is most susceptible to wear and tear.
Another step on the path to making a crossbow has been taken, it’s time to move on to the next one. The design of a crossbow consists of three main parts: the stock, the arc and the trigger. If you want to make a crossbow with your own hands, start from a blank for the arc. The parameters of the remaining parts will depend on its size.
How to quickly make a crossbow with your own hands, video and photo
A crossbow is a small weapon. The principle of shooting is similar to archery. Nowadays, crossbow shooting is a fairly popular sport. But the cost of a crossbow starts from several tens of dollars. Therefore, many adherents of the crossbow try to make it with their own hands, at home.
Let's look at what components a crossbow consists of:
- Bed;
- Trigger;
- Bowstring;
- Arrows or bolts.
What do you need to make a crossbow from wood with your own hands?
Minimum set of tools:
- Very sharp knife;
- Drill;
- A grinder with a wood disc or a regular hacksaw;
- Hammer;
- Plane;
- Chisel.
To make a crossbow you need a piece of wood. It is advisable to take a tree:
- hazel,
- ash,
- poplar.
You can also use birch or oak. The wood of these trees is more resistant to moisture, viscous, does not splinter and is beautiful. The wooden blank should have a length of about 900 mm and a thickness of 30 mm. Coniferous wood cannot be used.
To make a crossbow, the wood must be properly prepared. Only from the “correct” wood will a crossbow shoot for a long time with great power. Having cut a tree trunk or branch to the required length and thickness, the cuts must be painted over. This is done so that the moisture leaves the wood gradually, and, therefore, the wood will dry more slowly and evenly. The clogged branches will be placed away from sunlight. They stay like that for about a year. After a year, the bark is removed from the workpieces, and it dries for another week. And only after all these procedures are completed, the branch is sawed lengthwise and the making of the crossbow begins. Of the two parts of the branch, take the northern one, guided by the annual rings. On this side, the fibers fit closer to each other, which means the material will be stronger.
photo: correctly carved wood for a crossbow
Draw the shape of the future base on the board and cut it out using a grinder or hacksaw. Make a groove on top for the arrow. A groove is cut on one side to secure the arc. If knots or chips appear during the work, they must be processed with a sharp knife and then with sandpaper.
The second step will be making an arc. For it, take a board with a thickness of 20 mm and a length of at least 750 mm. The board must be smooth and free of knots. The board must be thoroughly dried, left for several days, and only then trimmed. The width of the arc is approximately 40 mm in the middle; towards the edges its width decreases to 15 mm.
photo.string of a homemade crossbow
An arc for a powerful crossbow can be made from a spring leaf of a UAZ car. Using a grinder, we cut an arc from the spring. Its dimensions are as follows: length 850 mm, width at the ends 15 mm, and in the middle 30 mm. Next, using a sharpening stone, bring the thickness to 8 mm in the center and 4 mm at the periphery. Drill the mounting holes with a Pobedit drill bit.
Preparing the groove for the arc. We make a hole for fastening from a rope, at a distance of 100 mm from the cut groove for the arc. We insert the arc into the groove and secure it with a rope. Or you can make a metal frame that will cover both the stock and the bow. The next step is to attach the bowstring to the ends of the bow, using the cuts made in advance. Stretch the string as you would when shooting. Thus we will find the most distant point. After this, we determine the optimal size of the crossbow, which is equal in length to your forearm.
We will make the bowstring from lavsan or fastflyte. You can use a thin cable. Wrap the threads stretched between two nails, and make loops at the ends for putting on.
We wind the threads to a thickness of 5 mm. Then, without removing the threads from the nails, we wrap the threads once so that they are tight to each other. After this, we collect both halves of the bowstring at the first nail, and wrap it tightly again to the second nail. As a result, we got a bowstring with loops at the ends. The middle part of the bowstring must be wrapped very carefully, since a very large friction force acts on this part. The cut threads must be coated well with glue so that all the threads are monolithic. We tighten the bowstring using a stirrup made of wire. Having secured the bowstring, we adjust the degree of its tension. If the bowstring is too thick, the force of the shot will be reduced, and if it is too thin, it will break. Therefore, you need to make a bowstring of medium thickness. You can make a bowstring in the likeness of sports models.
photo: crossbow trigger
An important step required to make a homemade powerful crossbow
And so, we come to the most important part of our design. We will make a crossbow trigger. This will be a pin type lock. To do this, drill a through hole at the point of maximum tension on the bowstring. Make a transverse recess in the upper part of the bed. The next step is to secure the lever at the bottom of the crossbow. We make the axle out of wood and fasten it with wire.
Another type of trigger is called a nut. It consists of a cylinder that rotates freely around its axis. On one side it has hooks for the bowstring, and on the other side there is an L-shaped trigger stop. If the crossbow's power is up to 30 kg, the cylinder can be made of wood, but with a power over 30 kg it must be made of metal. Make the “nut” that will hold the bowstring from a piece of iron without welding to make it stronger.
We fix the stock and the lever with ropes so that the lever moves with minimal friction.
For the boom, the groove should be located from the top hole of the lock to the leading edge. The depth of the gutter is equal to a quarter of the diameter of the boom.
The wooden crossbow is ready. Now let's start processing the details. First, we process all the parts with sandpaper. After this, they can be coated with protein mixed with water. Then check how the lock works. Make sure the mechanism is as strong as possible.
To make the crossbow more beautiful, cover the wooden parts with stain and varnish, and the metal parts with black paint.
Now let's move on to the arrows. You can also make them yourself. To do this, you can make blanks from an ordinary board. Then these blanks need to be carefully planed. It is recommended to choose light wood. When making the tip, you should not drive nails in, since if it hits the target, the arrow may split.
We looked at how to make a regular “medieval” crossbow.
The crossbow can be block. It can also be made at home. It is made of fiberglass, 10 mm thick.
First, fiberglass shoulders are made. To do this, you need to cut from 30 to 40 strips from fiberglass or Kevlar. Glue them together with epoxy glue and place them under a press until completely dry. After 24 hours or more, these structures need to be leveled and thoroughly cleaned.
photo.mounting a homemade crossbow
The bed, as in the previous case, is made of wood.
The blocks are made of aluminum. It is better if they are on bearings. The middle parts of roller skate wheels are perfect for these purposes. The axles for them need to be taken with a diameter of 5 mm. They can also be taken from skates. Fasteners are made of steel or other durable material. If, when making the shoulders, the ends are made thicker, there is no need to make fastenings. The next step will be to install a trigger mechanism with a trigger and an arrow holder on the crossbow. All this is connected using bolts and washers. In block-type crossbows, the bowstring is slightly longer and is tensioned differently. It seems to cross, and the arrow flies with double energy. A thin cable is used as a bowstring, which can withstand sudden pressure when fired.
Read how:
To conduct targeted shooting from a crossbow made by yourself at home, you need to adjust the stock. It needs to be adjusted taking into account the flight path of the arrow. The bed should be at an angle of 5-6 degrees. It’s even better to decide on the shooting distance and zero the crossbow you’ve made, after each series of shots, changing the angle of the stock.
photo: homemade wooden crossbow
The trigger mechanism can be anything, as long as it does not fire prematurely, under the force of the bowstring. The bowstring should, after the shot, return close to the stock, but without strong friction.
If you don’t want to buy an expensive crossbow (and prices sometimes exceed $1000), you can make a crossbow with your own hands. It's not as difficult as it seems at first glance. The design of the crossbow is quite simple. A crossbow can be made from what is at hand, replacing missing materials with similar ones. A homemade crossbow is quite suitable for target shooting.
General view of a crossbow that you can make with your own hands according to drawings
The design of this crossbow uses the developments of manufacturers in the field of weapons. The drawings show a crossbow of a block design. If you follow the instructions and observe all the dimensions, you can make a high-quality and good crossbow with your own hands, even at home
General diagram of a homemade crossbow assembly:
To begin with, it is advisable to carefully study the drawings of the crossbow and begin assembling it yourself. Making a crossbow with your own hands is not an easy task. But this increases interest in work! After all, a homemade crossbow can bring great joy and respect to the performer.
Crossbow structure: stock, shoulders, butt, trigger mechanism, sighting devices, block system. To make the stock, natural wood, solid or laminated timber, mainly hardwood, is used. The exact dimensions of the crossbow can be seen in the drawings. You choose the shape of the crossbow yourself, guided by the convenience and ergonomics of the stock and the desired image. When choosing, you must also consider whether you can make such a form correctly.
Crossbow shoulders and deck drawing:
The use of a small arms stock can significantly reduce labor costs for the manufacture of a crossbow. The main thing is to choose the right size. The trace of the trunk left in such a stock must be hammered in with wooden blocks, firmly seating them with epoxy glue. The butt and under-barrel pad of a crossbow can also be made of wood. The stock will be attached to the guide and serve as the basis for the trigger mechanism.
Butt drawing:
Offered for DIY assembly, the crossbow has a block design. This allows you to compensate for the load when cocking the bowstring and maintain power. Compound crossbows are the most popular among hunters because... You can carry a crossbow in a cocked state for quite a long time. Horton actively uses this design in the production of its crossbows.
Drawing of block assembly parts:
Pay special attention to the processing of the arrow guides and bowstring. The clarity of their finish greatly influences shooting accuracy. The guide lines must be immaculately straight and smooth. The best choice would be grinding on a milling machine and subsequent processing with fine-grain sandpaper. Next comes polishing the guides. You can see the dimensions of the boom guide groove in the drawings. The crosspiece, with the shoulders attached to it, is installed at the end of the stock. It is usually made from an aluminum billet. Wood can also serve as a suitable material.
A crossbow sight must consist of a rear sight and a front sight. You can also install an optical sight on the crossbow, providing a mount for the aiming bar. Vertical adjustments are made entirely, mounted on the cover of the trigger mechanism, and horizontal ones - with a front sight mounted on the bracket of the elastic element.
There can be many design options for sights and sighting devices for a crossbow, depending on the possibility of manufacturing, the availability of ready-made sights from conventional weapons (air rifles), etc.
It should be borne in mind that the flight path of a crossbow arrow (crossbow bolt) is quite high, so the rear sight must be installed significantly higher than the front sight. The angle of elevation of the aiming line depends on the weight of the arrow, the tension force of the bowstring, the shooting distance, etc. In our crossbow at a distance of 50 m it is approximately 6°.
Convenient are the designs of the rear sight, which allow it to be removed or folded during transportation. It will also be convenient if the rear sight can be adjusted manually by raising or lowering the bar. Thus, you will be able to target the crossbow under different conditions (distance to target, weight of the arrow).
The crossbow, the manufacture of which is described above, is designed for shooting bolts with a diameter of 8 mm and a length of 450-470 mm. You can easily make them yourself from a duralumin tube with a wall thickness of 0.5 mm. The tip and liner are attached to the bolt in front, and the feathering is attached to the back, just as they do for archery. It should be borne in mind that the shank of a bolt for a crossbow, unlike an arrow for a bow, should not have a cutout for the bowstring; it should be flat. It can be carved from wood in the form of a cork and inserted into the end of the tube, pre-lubricated with glue.
Would be a great gift for a child. With it you can organize a small shooting range. The power of the crossbow is not great, since it uses an elastic band as a bowstring. Such a crossbow shoots almost anything; the author, as an option, uses small arrows made from the shaft of a ballpoint pen and a tip in the form of a syringe needle. The crossbow is assembled quickly and easily; it requires a minimum of materials.
Materials and tools for homemade work:
- steel strip;
- wooden plank;
- an ordinary wooden clothespin;
- handle from a ski pole;
- a thin spring or rubber band;
- a piece of steel wire;
- trigger from a children's toy gun;
- sheet iron or elements from a mechanical designer.
Tools you will need: drill, hacksaw, pliers, fastening tool and file.
How to assemble a mini crossbow:
Step one. Crossbow shoulders and stock
How the shoulders and stock of the crossbow are made and attached can be seen in the photo. The stock is very easy to assemble; you will need three boards. They are connected to each other with ordinary nails.
As for the shoulder mechanism of the crossbow, it is made from a piece of steel strip. The shoulders should not bend, since an elastic band or spring is used as a bowstring. Screws are used to attach the arms to the stock.
Step two. Device trigger
The trigger mechanism for a crossbow is also very simple to make. For these purposes you will need a regular wooden clothespin. You need to cut off one gripping part from it. You can see exactly how in the photo.
Step three. Crossbow handle
To make the handle for the homemade product, the author used a handle from a ski pole. It can be attached to the stock using glue.
Step four. Additional crossbow arms
To make the crossbow a little more powerful, a second mount for elastic bands was made, that is, a second pair of shoulders. Such parts were found in old parts. How to attach them to the stock can be seen in the photo.
Step five. How to make a pusher
To make a pusher you will need a piece of wood. It must be carefully adjusted to the clothespin. To secure the bowstring, a groove is made in the pusher. As a result, paired with a clothespin, the pusher works as a very simple and practical trigger.
Step six. Bowstring
The author used an elastic band as a bowstring. This can be found in a fishing store. In the middle of the elastic band that will go into the pusher, you need to put a tube (cambric). This is necessary so that the rubber does not wear out due to friction against the wood.
Step seven. Making the trigger
The trigger from a children's pistol is perfect as a trigger for a crossbow. You need to attach a thin metal mount to it. An element from the designer is well suited for these purposes.
Step eight. We begin to assemble the structure
In the photo you can see what the structure will look like after installing additional shoulders. A top view and a bottom view are presented.
At this stage, you can already install the trigger mechanism. It is attached with a screw.
That's all, now the crossbow is almost ready, you need to connect the elastic band. The elastic bands are attached to the shoulders, as well as to the pusher, which moves freely in the groove of the crossbow stock. This design allows you to shoot almost anything from a crossbow, you can even shoot balls. A clothespin is used to secure the pusher. To shoot, you need to press the clothespin.
Step nine. Final stages of assembly
As you can see in the photo below, the author decided to equip the crossbow with a sight. It was decided to abandon the elastic band; it was replaced by a thin spring.
Once the trigger is attached, it needs to be connected to the clothespin. To do this, you need to make a rod from steel wire. As a result, when you press the trigger, the clothespin releases the pusher and a shot occurs.
For a crossbow, you can make small arrows (bolts), for this you will need ampoules from ballpoint pens or other suitable tubes. They need to be weighted at the ends by placing a piece of steel wire or another weight inside. As a tip, syringe needles are put on the tubes and placed on the glue.
That's it, the crossbow is ready, it is safe enough as it has little power to cause serious injuries. For greater safety, you do not need to use arrows with a sharp tip. Another advantage is that the crossbow is easy to load, meaning that pulling the string and shooting will not be difficult for a child.
Below in the video you can see how the most powerful crossbow in the world works. An experiment was conducted to see if a crossbow could penetrate armor...
Initially, a self-made crossbow weapon was called a crossbow. Another meaning of this word is in the name of a homemade weapon that operates without human intervention. This is a hunting item designed to be installed on deserted trails in deep forests. But it is not advisable to use this crossbow, since there is a high risk of injuring another person. Any crossbow, like any weapon, can cause significant harm to health if it is used incorrectly or left to children unattended. To know how to make a crossbow at home, you should listen to some of the recommendations listed below.
Do-it-yourself homemade crossbow
A crossbow-type self-propelled weapon for hunting is a kind of special type of trap with a guard. This weapon has been used for a long time in Rus', installed near animal trails. An animal passing by could touch the guard or grab the bait, which would trigger a simple weapon that would hit the target. Such a crossbow was installed at a distance from several tens of centimeters to several meters.
The simplest hunting crossbow consists of the following parts:
- The basis
- bow string
- Cord or rope for attaching the gatehouse to the base
- Gatehouse
- Alert thread
- Arrow
A loop of guard thread is installed on the long end of the guard. When she pulls it off, the guard turns under the action of the bowstring, it is released, and a shot is fired. The longer the guard, the easier it is to shoot from a guarded wooden crossbow.
A homemade hunting crossbow can be installed not only on the trail, when you can catch prey in front, behind or from the side, but also on tree branches. An animal that has climbed a tree must touch the warning thread of the crossbow. Self-propelled weapons are mounted on branches for hunting small animals. It is also mounted suspended on trees for hunting wolverines, wolves or wild dogs. Stones, shortened arrows (so-called bolts), peg arrows, etc. are used as a throwing projectile.
Homemade crossbow
Firearms are rarely made for hunting because, like any weapon loaded with bullets, they are very dangerous. As a rule, such traps are installed near an animal trail, near which signal signs are placed warning a person about the presence of a crossbow nearby. The simplest option for making a self-propelled weapon is to use a ten-gauge metal tube 20-25 cm long, with one end welded and the other ending with a brace. The starting device is equipped with a capsule. The made crossbow is loaded with two bullets, a suitable tree is found near the animal trail, screwed into the trunk, and a tripwire is made onto the trail. The weapon is aimed at the trail, the hunter is located near the hunting site. You can use this method of hunting, but crossbows are a much safer type of self-propelled weapon.
How to make a crossbow at home
Making a crossbow at home
Making a crossbow with your own hands is quite simple. To do this, you first need to leave a drawing of each part. The weapon consists of a bowstring with shoulders, a stock and a trigger mechanism. Steps on how to make a crossbow with your own hands at home:
- The stock is made of wood: for this you need to find a suitable board, draw a sketch of the stock, then cut it out with a jigsaw and a hacksaw.
- A homemade crossbow must have a hole for a finger - it is made using a suitable drill.
- A needle file is used to make a groove for the arrow, the location of which is previously marked with a marker or pencil.
You can use ordinary wooden clothespins to secure the arrow. To do this, a hole with a diameter equal to the thickness of the arrow is drilled in one of them, after which two clothespins are glued to the top and bottom of the crossbow stock, and the one in which the hole is made is placed on top of the back part. It is this that will hold the arrow and be attached to the top ones.
Homemade crossbow
Crossbow arms can be made from car springs or elastic plastic. They are secured with a block or welded metal fastener. To tension the bowstring, block elements are used for fastening at the ends of the crossbow arcs. The bowstring is made of steel cable or nylon thread, for example, lavsan.
When making a crossbow, an important part is the trigger mechanism. For this you will need:
- Stainless steel sheet 2-3 mm thick, size 10x15 cm.
- Two small springs
- Three 10mm bolts with six nuts and two 8mm bolts with two nuts.
On paper you need to draw a diagram of the trigger mechanism, or more precisely, the trigger and hook for the bowstring. The drawing is transferred from paper to a sheet of metal, cut out with a hacksaw, and processed with a file. After this, a drawing of the parts of the crossbow trigger housing is made from wood, transferred to a metal plate, and cut out with a hacksaw. The holes for the trigger mechanism must first be made on a piece of plywood; if it works properly, then transfer the holes to a metal plate. Bolts with a diameter of 08 mm secure the trigger and hook for the bowstring, and the springs are also attached. Bolts with a diameter of 10 mm fasten the side parts of the plates, and after that the homemade trigger mechanism for the crossbow is ready.
I don't think that when we decide to make a crossbow, we will have at hand all the tools we want and a bunch of raw materials. Therefore, it is difficult to predict what our crossbow will be made of, so we will simply consider the main components made with minimal complexity. We will also, if possible, avoid metal parts.
In order to present a general view of what should happen, I will give a picture from the site www.daslife.ru.
Naturally, I do not suggest doing everything according to size, just taking into account the overall structure.
One of the most important parts of a crossbow is the arc. As you might guess, it has a decisive influence on the speed of the arrow, and therefore on the combat power of the crossbow. An arc can be made from both wood and metal. A wooden arch can be either made from a single piece of wood or combined.
The option using one type of wood is the simplest, but also the least powerful. Almost any type of wood is suitable for manufacturing: ash, maple, hazel, juniper, birch, oak, yew, elm, white acacia. You can use both thick branches and trunks of young trees. Ideally, take the harvest in winter when there is no sap flow; naturally, the worst time is in spring. As you might guess, a workpiece with knots is a completely unsuitable option. In general, making an arc is in many ways similar to making a bow, and you can read about it on Hobbit's blog.
Making a composite arch is not cheap, because it requires covering the arch with tendons and horny plates. Most likely you won’t have either one or the other, or glue on hand =)
Although we agreed to use wood, it is worth noting that the springs of Soviet passenger cars will make very powerful arches, and if possible, they should be used.
Attaching the arc to the stock is usually done to the end of the crossbow using ropes, through a window 10-15 centimeters from the arc. The picture shows examples of fastening the arc; as you can see, wooden wedges can be used to secure the arc. 
Another important element is the trigger mechanism. Let's consider the simplest option - a pin lock. 
When erected, the bowstring hooks onto the protrusion, and underneath there is a cylindrical pin (1) that rests against the body of the trigger lever (2).
Also, to ensure that the arrow does not leave the crossbow before the shot, it is recommended to apply a little pressure. Similar to the one shown in the photo. 
The crossbow stock, the recess in which the arrow is located, is perhaps the most labor-intensive part of the crossbow and requires filigree processing. If we don’t have a metal stock processed on a milling machine (and we don’t), we can replace it with a carefully sanded wooden one. Do not forget that the advantage of a combat crossbow over a wooden bow is not only in shooting power (although a homemade crossbow without rollers and a block system is unlikely to exceed a bow in this indicator), but primarily in the convenience of its design and the ability to conduct aimed fire. To do this, it is necessary, taking into account the flight path of the arrow, to adjust the stock so that it is located at an angle. The average value is 5.6 degrees, but we advise you to decide on the distance at which you will send the arrows, and what is called “shoot” the finished product, after each series of shots changing the angle of the stock until your homemade crossbow begins to send arrows exactly at target.
Well, the last point is the bowstring tension device. Since the tension force of the crossbow arc can exceed 100 kg, at least the simplest device for tensioning the crossbow should be provided. 
And finally, a photo of a homemade crossbow. 
Making a crossbow string(taken from www.turmaster.com/)
During a shot, the bowstring receives significant tension and rupture pressure; therefore, one of the conditions imposed on it is its ability to withstand a large number of shots, i.e. have durability, vitality. In addition, the bowstring should be light and low-stretch.
The following threads are used to make bowstrings: lavsan, dacron, kevlar, deinema, SVM, fastflight and other synthetic fiber threads.
In this case, you need to have a simple device.
As can be seen from the figure, it consists of a wooden plank, in which on one side there is a slot and a movable threaded rod, allowing it to be installed and secured in different places; at the other end of the plank on the axis there is a V-shaped part made of plywood or wood with a thickness of about 10 mm. Two rods are permanently fixed at the ends of the part. The V-shaped part is fixed in two positions. The first position is shown in the figure, in the second position the two rods are in line with the movable rod.
If such or a similar device is not available, the string can be wound between two nails driven at the required distance along the length of the string. Winding the thread is done in a circular motion of the hand with uniform tension on the thread. The number of threads depends on the strength of the bow
After the bowstring is wound, a safety winding is made of the loops and its middle.
The safety winding is made using twisted silk thread, nylon, nylon, or cotton bobbin thread. When making a bowstring from Kevlar threads, it is necessary to strengthen the loop, either by making additional padding from the threads and weaving them into the bowstring, or by doubling the number of them in the loop. After winding the middle of the loop, the V-shaped plate is rotated to its original position and the end of the bowstring is wound.
The second loop is wrapped in this way. In this case, it is necessary to accurately maintain the middle of the winding. The string attached to the bow should not have sagging threads; their presence indicates poor-quality manufacturing of the string. As a rule, this happens if the windings are not made with the same tension.
The safety winding in the middle of the string is made at the moment it is put on the bow. The safety winding should not be made too tightly: this significantly extends the service life of the bowstring.
To protect the bowstring from moisture, lightly rub it with beeswax. The wax should be rubbed in carefully so that the string threads do not break or become deformed. It must be remembered that lubricant increases the weight of the bowstring and leads to a decrease in the speed of the arrow, so it should be lubricated with a small amount of wax.
The threads from which the bowstring is made, under the conditions created by the work of the shoulders, are lengthened (from lavsan or dacron by 2-3%, from Kevlar by 0.8%). In this regard, when making a bowstring from Kevlar, it is recommended to make it slightly longer than from Dacron and Dacron.
Shooting practice involves replacing bowstrings after 5,000-10,000 shots. Kevlar bowstrings last significantly less and can withstand about 2000-5000 shots.
By twisting the bowstring, you can change its size until the accuracy of shooting becomes satisfactory. The maximum number of turns to change the length of the bowstring is 30. If more turns are required, it means the string is too long and a new one should be made
Making a crossbow string 
Metal rope string
A cable with a thickness of 1.5 - 2.5 mm is suitable for making a crossbow bowstring. But it has a number of features that must be taken into account. In general, a bowstring made of synthetic threads is more preferable.
Features of using a metal cable:
Structurally, the cable is designed for static loads. Under dynamic loads, it collapses much faster.
Over time, the cable will stretch and, accordingly, the bowstring will weaken
The mass of a rope bowstring significantly exceeds the mass of the same bowstring made of synthetic materials. This indirectly affects the speed of the arrow, since the arms require more energy to accelerate the massive cable.
When chafing or excessive stress occurs, the cable usually breaks in places of kinks, knots, and fastenings.
You can get loops at the ends of the cable by tying it with an ordinary oak loop. Soldering, as a method of connecting cable ends, is less reliable in operation. Riveting the ends of the cable in a copper or brass tube has worked well. 
Loops for attaching a bowstring to a crossbow.
Some examples of more complex trigger mechanisms 
Do you want to make a real crossbow that will not only look like it, but will also shoot? Then don’t pass by and read our article on the topic of how to make a crossbow with your own hands. In the article we will not only talk about the intricacies of this matter, but also show the whole process in the photo. The topic is especially relevant in the summer, when you can go out into nature and shoot at targets. And a thing made with your own hands will delight not only the eye, but also your friends or acquaintances, who, having seen such a product, will certainly set a goal and desire to own it!
How to make a crossbow with your own hands
Among simple tools created with one's own hands, the bow definitely wins. However, crossbows are also very popular. If you want to make a crossbow with your own hands, you just need to read the instructions below. A medieval design was chosen as an example due to its simplicity. Such a crossbow does not require metal welding; it can be made at home; it also does not require the presence of springs, as in its other, more advanced variations.
All that is needed to make a simple medieval crossbow is the desire to craft. Initially, you need to find a suitable stick for the base of the structure. It is recommended to use bird cherry, since after drying the wood retains good elasticity characteristics. When a suitable branch is found, you should carefully saw it off, completely remove the bark and leave it to dry in a warm place.
Typically the drying time is about 5-7 months.
Step-by-step instruction:
In addition, it is recommended to immediately bend the stick so that it does not crack during processing and fixation, as well as during use. If bird cherry is not available in the area, you can use elm or other alternative wood.
It should be remembered that for good strength, durability and elasticity of the launching part of a home crossbow, you need to stand it well. Moreover, in this case, the chances of a crack during use of the crossbow will be significantly reduced.
To have the opportunity to practice and to avoid the need to wait again, it is recommended to prepare several sticks at once.
You can use any type of board or dry wood on the stock of a homemade crossbow. It all depends on how accurately you want to replicate the medieval model of the weapon.
Once the wood has been selected and processed, a notch needs to be made in the front of the wood to accommodate the crossbow bow. You can make a notch with any tool from a metal file to a regular knife.
The next step in making a crossbow with your own hands at home is to drill holes for the bow bolts. They are placed at a distance of 8-10 cm from the front of the bed. Previously, holes were made with red-hot metal, so you can also use this method if you don’t have the right tools at hand.
Moreover, if you don’t have any bolts at hand, you can use the same wood.
The upper plane of the stock should have a groove in which the crossbow bolt will be placed. Often this groove is made round, but it is recommended to plan it triangular to increase the accuracy of the bolt.
When everything is ready, you can fix the bow. This is applied to the cutout made in the front of the stock and tied tightly with rope to the previously installed bolts or their wooden alternatives. This will be enough, but for a tighter fixation it is better to use glue.
The last element of a homemade crossbow is the organization of the trigger mechanism. Usually the simplest lever type is used. The crossbow drawing below shows how such a system works.
When the bracket-lever is lowered, the pin instantly launches, and it launches the bolt forward. It is important that this system does not have any safety mechanisms, so the bolt must be installed only before firing.
The created crossbow must have a tension force of about 40 kg, so the design will not be included in the list of edged weapons. The bowstring is tensioned by hand, so additional mechanisms are also not required.
Drawings for making at home
The photo above schematically shows a crossbow with all the necessary dimensions. Its main value is to understand what size its parts should be in relation to each other. Its entire length is 732 mm, with a height at the sight mounting point of 223 mm. The drawing shows a “pistol” handle (shaped like a pistol), for a reliable and comfortable grip.
The second hole is made to facilitate the construction, since the total thickness of the plywood handle (can be made of wood) is 30 mm. The arms are 302 mm long and are a universal option; their total length is 532 mm. For the first time, it is enough to make exactly according to the dimensions indicated in the diagram, and after testing, make adjustments.