Homemade compound crossbow. How to make a crossbow with your own hands: manufacturing features and recommendations from professionals

In addition, it will be interesting to shoot from such a weapon yourself. Everything is done quite simply; you can get by with hand tools. The crossbow turned out to be quite powerful, as for target practice. Double limbs are used here, which increases the rigidity of the bow and allows you to throw wooden arrows at high speed. The author uses self-tapping screws as arrowheads, but you can use your imagination and come up with something more interesting.

Materials and tools used

List of materials:
- timber;
- PVC pipe;
- two self-tapping screws;
- strong rope;
- wooden rods for arrows;
- adhesive tape (for feathers).

List of tools:
- hacksaw or pendulum saw;
- jigsaw;
- belt grinder;
- drill;
- marker;
- roulette;
- screwdriver;
- construction hair dryer;
- vice;
- oil for wood processing;
- paint for painting onions (optional).

Crossbow making process:

Step one. Cutting out blanks
First of all, let's cut the wooden beam, it will be used to make the base. We also need to cut the pipe. You should have two parts, long and short. See photos for dimensions.

Let's carefully study the photographs to make a compound crossbow

Hello, dear visitors to the blog site, I want to introduce you, as true lovers of homemade weapons, photos of a homemade crossbow, made from the simplest and most affordable materials. True, to make this crossbow we will need specialized equipment and perhaps even a lathe. However, for those who really want it, nothing is impossible, and if you don’t know any turners, then you can negotiate with strangers, for a small bribe, of course. Well, who said that everything should be easy and free?

So, to make another one masterpiece of a homemade crossbow prepare a piece of birch board on which you will need to make a rough marking of the contour of the crossbow bed, and a regular car spring measuring approximately 650x100x8. Make markings on the spring as shown in the figure below, so that in the middle it has a size of 35 millimeters, and at the edges - 18 millimeters.

And use a grinder to carefully cut out the part we need. Working with an angle grinder is a fairly safe activity, but still be careful when using it. Next, you can immediately cut out the crossbow stock so that the blanks are pleasing to the eye and instill confidence that everything will work out for you.

Next we will need emery; I’m sure many people have it in their personal garages. Using sandpaper, we process the crossbow arc blank so that the ends narrow to 5 millimeters. Process evenly from the middle to the edges until the desired size is achieved. After processing, we will stretch a steel cable onto the arch. to do this, clamp it in a vice, not forgetting to insert a round timber in the center so as not to interfere with the arch when bending, and tighten the cable, at the same time checking the strength and distance of the tension future crossbow shoulders.

Now we really need a weight. Similar weights were previously used in stores on mechanical scales, but now in some places they can be seen in warehouses, scrap metal collection points, in general, where a large load is required. Unfortunately, such scales are rare now; more and more electronic ones are used, but I think they are still available in stores.

Well, in general, we take a weight, make markings, drill a hole slightly to the right of the cut of the weight and saw it in the right places with the same grinder. However, fans of the “Golden Calf” can use a regular hacksaw for metal. As a result, we should get a hook like this - one of the most important parts of the crossbow.

Next for making a full-fledged crossbow lock we need to make a sear and trigger. They can be made from any steel plates as thick as the toe end. The picture below shows very clearly how it should be assembled.

There are no specific sizes, but you can print out a photo and make templates for the sear and trigger. Using these templates, draw their outline on steel plates and cut out the parts... that's right, with the same grinder. Drilling holes couldn't be easier.

Oh yes, do you see the red bolt on the hook in the photo? So for it you need to drill a hole approximately in the place where it is drawn in the photograph. This strip spring bolt is needed to secure the pin from axial movement. So, main parts of a crossbow lock We have it ready, now we’re making a body for it. The body will probably be the most difficult part of the lock, since in addition to the figured cutting of the body parts from sheet iron, their subsequent welding is required.

Unfortunately, there are no specific sizes either, but why do we need straight arms and strong judgment? We look at the photographs and try to make something similar, focusing on the dimensions of the internal parts of the castle. I think you can use aluminum sheets instead of steel sheets. They are much easier to saw, bend, and solder.

Well, I think you coped with the task and you have a lock body. We try on the parts: hook, sear, trigger to the lock body, adjust and drill holes for the pins. We make the pins from steel rods, insert them and saw them off along the body.

Now you can use a strip of the same aluminum to make a protection for the trigger, which we attach to the lock body with bolts.

Don’t forget to insert the spring inside, resting it against the sear, and insert a fixing bolt with a thrust spring made of a strip of elastic steel into the back of the hook. Let's try the lock on the wooden stock blank, everything seems to be in order, everything is the right size.

Let's start carpentry work. Let's drill and hollow out a place for the lock in the stock using drills, chisels and files. We insert the lock inside, fitting everything tightly to its size.

Let's put all this aside for now. Now we need to make a dovetail to mount the rear sight. Solder it to the lock body.

Now we need to drill holes along the edges of the arch with a Pobedit drill for attaching the clamps with bolts.

I think making the clamps will not cause you any difficulties, but the rollers will need to be ordered by a turner, since their manufacture requires a lathe. However, you can look in the store and pick up nylon rollers. As they say, whoever finds what. Let's adjust the clamps to the size of the rollers. Let's drill holes in them and prepare axles (fingers) for the rollers.

Now we need to make a clamp with which the arch is attached to the crossbow stock. By the way, all the clamps can be easily cut from a U-shaped channel. Attributes such as bolts, bushings, pins can be picked up in auto parts stores.

We bend a stirrup from thick steel wire and fasten it in a clamp.

We screw the arch to the clamp. For the bowstring, you can use a thin steel cable. Having cut off the required size of the cable, we make loops at the ends, inserting them into copper tubes, and crimping them with a special crimping tool, which is used by electricians.

By the way, instead of copper tubes, you can use ready-made crimps for electrical wires, which can also be purchased at an electrical goods store. This is what our roller block should look like.

All metal parts can be subjected to.

Now let's take up our bed again. We need to hollow out a groove in it and insert a metal or aluminum guide, which you can find in hardware stores. Place the guide in the groove using epoxy glue.

I use carpenter's chisels to give the butt an aesthetic appearance.We make a slot in the stock for the bowstring to move; it must have a free gap of at least two millimeters between the stock and the bowstring.

You will need

• - boards;
• - carpentry tools;
• - hemp rope;
• - feathers:
• - leather;
• - iron wire.

Instructions

The crossbow consists of three parts. This is a stock, an arc and a trigger mechanism, aka . To make a crossbow of the most ancient design, start with an arc. The parameters of the remaining parts depend on it. Select boards. Suitable for the arc are yew, hazel, and rowan. Conifers are not suitable. The board must be well dried and seasoned. There should be no curling, cross-layering or knots. Cut a piece 70-80 cm long, 3-4 cm wide and about 2 cm thick. Process it with a plane so that the arc evenly thins towards the ends to a width of 1-1.5 cm.

Make a bed. It is made from deciduous wood that has sufficient... It can be maple, beech and even oak. Keep in mind that the crossbow was not pressed down when firing and did not have a butt. Therefore, make the bed in the form of a board that is comfortable to hold in your hands. In the front of the stock, make a groove into which the central part of the arc should fit.

At a distance of 8-10 cm from the groove, make a hole for the rope fastening of the arc. Temporarily secure the bow in the slot with rope by wrapping the rope around the bow and threading it through the hole in the stock. Attach a bowstring to the ends of the soul. To do this, you need to make small cuts on it with a knife. Tension the bowstring as you would during shooting (as much as your strength and arc strength allow). Make a mark on the stock in the place where the drawn bowstring is located at this moment. Remove the arc from the bed and continue processing it. From the bowstring mark, step back a distance equal to the length of your forearm. Saw off the workpiece.

Make a trigger mechanism. In this design, you can use the most ancient lock of the so-called pin type. Drill a through hole in the stock at the location of the bowstring mark. In the upper part of the stock, make a transverse recess to the depth of the bowstring. At the bottom, fasten it to the hinge according to the drawing. The lever axis can also be made of wood and fixed with two pieces of wire passing through it. Insert the axle into the stock, thereby securing the lever. Secure it by piercing it on both sides with pieces of wire. Holes for the wire can be drilled or burned. The latter method is more consistent with historical technology. Wrap the protruding small ends of the wire around the axis.

Place the stock and lever together. Secure them in this position with a clamp or rope and, using a ready-made hole in the stock, drill a blind recess in the lever to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. Remove the clamp. Check how freely the lever moves on the axle. Friction should be minimal.

Using a knife, cut a round pin from oak or beech so that its diameter is slightly smaller than the lock hole. The pin should fit freely into the hole without friction or snags, resting on the trigger lever. The length of the pin should be such that when the lever is fully raised, the upper edge is level or slightly above the upper plane of the stock. The function of the pin is to push the string out of the groove.

Make a groove for the bolt (arrow). Cut it from the front edge of the stock to the top hole of the lock. The depth of the groove should not exceed a quarter of the diameter of the bolt.

Carry out final processing of wooden parts. Sand them down using sandpaper. You can coat them with albumin varnish (egg white dissolved in water) or wax them.

Use a rope to secure the bow to the stock. Check that the lock is working correctly. When the lever is tilted upward, the pin should confidently push out the bowstring.

Well, well, searches on the Internet yielded results. I finally found normal drawings in compliance with GOST.

If you have available material and some equipment, it will not be difficult to make a real (or almost real) one.

At the end of the page there is photo of a homemade crossbow, made according to these drawings from scrap materials.

Naturally, it will not replace a purchased crossbow (after all, the build quality and structure of the material in the factory version are not much higher), but shoot at

So, here is a general diagram of a homemade crossbow.

What does this type of crossbow consist of:

Stock, shoulders, butt, trigger mechanism, sighting device, block system.

The stock is best made from natural hardwood, solid or laminated veneer lumber. Choose the size at your discretion, but

Shoulders and decks of a crossbow

If you have a small arms stock, then this would be an ideal solution, but you can try to plan Pinocchio yourself.

Block crossbow design makes it easier to cock the bowstring, but perfectly retains power and allows you to carry it cocked for a long time.

The processing of the guide boom must be carried out particularly precisely. The lines must be smooth and straight. The accuracy and

bowshot. It is best to do this on a milling machine, and then carefully process it with sandpaper. Then polish the groove.

It is better to make a crosspiece with shoulders installed at the end of the stock from an aluminum plate, but you can also make it from wood

Don't forget to make a sighting device consisting of a rear sight and a front sight. You can make a mount for an optical sight.

where you can order the execution of any drawings.

All that remains is to pick up the instrument, recharge yourself in a good mood and set about achieving your goal. Good luck!

P.S.

The article is a rewrite. The administrator is not responsible for the accuracy of the information. Everything you do, you do at your own peril and risk.

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 operation 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.