They do have levers.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 1:05 pm

Been making some Mideival crossbows of late.

Goat foot used to cock the bow.

This one has a fiberglass 55 lb bow on it.

Made these bolts today with wood fetching.

A couple vids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWUBulVl72Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycIeEfJ4ZME

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaLNBp7Q53g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsAxbqOMDtI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nJVkGbY6MY

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 1:55 pm

To cool, your having way to much fun! Todd

P.S. cant be that cold, dont see your breath...

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 2:36 pm

I have been watching their development, I'm impressed to say the least.......

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 3:00 pm

Cool buddy,
Gamekeeper will be able to check em out in the Tower of London collection very soon no doubt.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 3:29 pm

Thanks, nice to hear something positive.

GunnyMack · Post by **GunnyMack** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 3:55 pm

Ok spring is coming, time to start scaling up! I think it was Doc who said he wanted a crossbow that would shoot steel fence posts. Shouldn't be too difficult!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 4:00 pm

I can build anything.

Old No7 · Post by **Old No7** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 4:31 pm

Pitchy wrote: ↑Wed Feb 20, 2019 4:00 pm I can build anything.

Yes, and you're not boasting at all, as we've seen that from you before Lenn.

Funny, as I was reading up above, I was thinking:

"Pitchy -- The Man, The Myth, The Legend"

I still insist that "When IT hits the fan" -- I'd like to have you as my neighbor!

My current neighbors wouldn't last 3 days...............

Old No7

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 4:33 pm

Thanks bro, i`m sick of BS , ya got it your one of the few yourself.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 4:33 pm

Old No7 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 20, 2019 4:31 pm
Pitchy wrote: ↑Wed Feb 20, 2019 4:00 pm I can build anything.
Yes, and you're not boasting at all, as we've seen that from you before Lenn.

Funny, as I was reading up above, I was thinking:

"Pitchy -- The Man, The Myth, The Legend"

I still insist that "When IT hits the fan" -- I'd like to have you as my neighbor!

My current neighbors wouldn't last 3 days...............

Old No7

I've thought that many times myself.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 4:36 pm

I`m in a bad mood today, tired of the BS, as i`ve said many times do what`s right in your heart and say good things otherwise your part of the problem.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 4:37 pm

Agreed

GunnyMack · Post by **GunnyMack** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 5:14 pm

I'd love to have a neighbor like Pitchy! I know most of us would.

hayabusa · Post by **hayabusa** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 6:15 pm

Pitchy, I am like all of the other members.
I’m really in awe at how quick after you see something that interests you that you have a working model, not a copy.

My question is it feasible to shoot the deer hunting Broadhead expanding head type arrows in your crossbows? If yes would you have to fabricate them or buy commercial?

You certainly have highly developed fabrication skills.
Thanks

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Feb 21, 2019 7:15 am

Thanks fellers, i`d only hunt with the fiberglass one if i hunted which i don`t anymore.
If i did i would probably use a expandable as i have some that i used on my compound bow.

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 12:00 am

Right spiffy--but I enjoy my longbows.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 7:05 am

KWK wrote: ↑Fri Feb 22, 2019 12:00 am Right spiffy--but I enjoy my longbows.

Me too, but gotta try every thing once.

New arrows should be here today and we set up a better back stop and a rest to shoot from so may have some better results later today.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 2:10 pm

Arrows never came today but did shoot the first crossbow a couple times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6lx5RETkWU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8WK9bsMUKk

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 2:25 pm

Pitch, you are getting some deer-killing speed out of the recurve crossbow. Nice accuracy too! Can you hunt with a crossbow up north yonder?

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 2:27 pm

Thanks Bill, if ya are over 60 or have a medical reason.

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 2:42 pm

Kewl!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 2:45 pm

The design of these mideival bows makes them hard to shoot accurately, the trigger pulls are heavy so i don`t think i`d hunt with the ones i`ve made which i`m sure could be improved on.
Its just been a new project and something to do and interesting .

GunnyMack · Post by **GunnyMack** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 3:56 pm

Ok you have the catapult/ trebuche and the crossbows figured out, now for chainmail! Good stuff!!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 4:00 pm

Thanks Gunny, i just rearranged the trigger arm for the third time and now have a lot lighter set off so when the arrows come we`ll try for some groups.
Chain hmmmm.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 4:07 pm

Workin' pretty good buddy!
You're getting to be a good shot too!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 4:09 pm

Thanks buddy these things arn`t like modern stuff that`s for sure but maybe we`ll get the bugs worked out.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 5:44 pm

Cool work friend ! I built one last fall using a PVC bow at about 100 lb. draw weight. A fun project.
There are many YouTube videos showing how.
I ordered a steel prod (bow) in December from a guy in Ohio to build another with. He had an operation on his foot and has been out of commission.I just got tracking info today for my order.
Is your nut made of steel or aluminum. I plan to use steel. My prod will only pull around 150 lb. at 12”.
Cool beans ! Keep it up !

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 6:00 pm

Hey Pitchy, do I hear something spinning after the shot? I made one in high school that had a piece of a car spring for the bow and an old pulley with a couple of notches to hold the string cocked and had the trigger sear in it. It would spin for several seconds after firing. Really tough trigger pull. I should have made a long trigger like yours. Do you need some fancy walnut? I've got tons of the stuff.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 6:17 pm

Cool Chuck, be sure to post pics , i made the nut out of steel and yup that`s what ya hear spinning Ron and its important ya hold the trigger arm down until it quits spinning so not to damage the nut.
I seen some of the vids on PVC bows it looks interesting.
I had to shorten the serving on the fiberglass bow and it was way off center and i just read that that can throw off the accuracy greatly so we put new serving on it so looking forward to trying it again but don`t know when its snowing hard right now and supposed to get colder but maybe tomorrow.
I have no idea how much pull the leaf spring bow has but the pull is about 7 inches, seems to take a heck of a sprimg to get any power out of those types, the longer the pull the better i`d think.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 9:43 pm

I understand that the early steel bowed crossbows had very short draw length due to the poor quality steels and heat treating. Many bows failed due to this and a broken bow could possibly even kill the shooter so they often wrapped the bow with cord or leather to restrain the broken pieces. The bow I have coming is rated at 150 lb. at 12”. I plan to only draw it to around 8”.
It is just a fun project that will end up being a wall decoration after testing and some playing with.
A 150 lb. crossbow has the killing power of about a 50 lb. longbow due th the short draw length and it’s short power stroke.
Fun fun fun !

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 7:22 am

Yep yep to every thing you said.

I have a leaf spring from a boat trailer that`s about five foot long, it was a three leaf spring and the shortest one is what i made this bow from.
This summer i may make a big one from the long leaf that will shoot long range, i forget what they called those.
Something like this one.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/22869424/b ... r-uruk-hai

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 12:15 pm

New arrows came, they are really cheap with very blunt tips so they hardly go in the bag but at least they are all on the bag now.
Maybe i can sharpen them a little, they don`t go in far enough to hold them up.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 2:07 pm

Sorry the arrows weren't what you'd hoped, buddy.
I bet you can fix em, though.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 2:38 pm

They were the cheapest arrows i could find so ya get what ya pay for, they probably arn`t spined right for the bow either.
We`ll get it figured, i`m thinking on the big next one now

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 2:20 pm

Got a good start on the big boy today.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 2:35 pm

Interesting ! Can’t wait for the next installment .

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 2:40 pm

Thanks should get the crank part done tomorrow, quit for the day tuckered.

piller · Post by **piller** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 3:41 pm

That big one should have some thump on the receiving end. Even with the spinning noise, they are still quiet and would be useful if the manure impacts the artificial wind producing machine.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 3:46 pm

Thanks piller, this one won`t have the spinning lock on it so should be pretty quiet.

piller · Post by **piller** » Sun Feb 24, 2019 3:52 pm

Cool. It is always useful to have something that the neighbors cannot hear. You just never know what might happen in the future. Pray for the best and plan for the worst.

GunnyMack · Post by **GunnyMack** » Mon Feb 25, 2019 7:16 am

Just how big is this one? About 4' long? Looks like it's going to need a pintle mount on the hood of your JD.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Feb 25, 2019 7:20 am

Some where around there Gunny, there will be another foot on the back end that holds the crank parts.
Would look good on ole Johnny

GunnyMack · Post by **GunnyMack** » Mon Feb 25, 2019 7:41 am

Have you heard of/ seen The Mythbusters? They made a magazine fed crossbow. Its probably on YouTube, could give you some ideas!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Feb 25, 2019 7:48 am

Never watched that but ya can buy a Chinese repeater or plans for one, i guy i knew had one and i shot it pretty neat.
Heading to the shop, later.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Feb 25, 2019 2:50 pm

Got the cranking mechanism built today.

GunnyMack · Post by **GunnyMack** » Mon Feb 25, 2019 4:22 pm

Oh boy ya got this as 'crew served' now it's really coming into light! Can't wait to see this in action!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Feb 25, 2019 4:59 pm

Should get the claw done tomorrow and a string on it, maybe try it and see if it will shoot across the garage.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Tue Feb 26, 2019 2:25 pm

Holy smokes, Lenn! Looks like that thing will defeat armor on a light tank!
Can't wait to see it work!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Tue Feb 26, 2019 3:17 pm

Thanks Jay.

Here`s a picture of the lock, works good.

And here`s a vid shooting it, the lock would fly right off it so i put the tin rails on it but it still comes back too the end so i`ll have to put a stop on it.
I`m happy as all get out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xL732Eu6i4

GunnyMack · Post by **GunnyMack** » Tue Feb 26, 2019 4:22 pm

You made good progress today! Looks like it'll work well with a bit more tinkering!