I wanted to try several things with this crossbow that I haven't done before. This is the prototype for a smaller overall size -- I've since made and sold several based on it. The overall length is 32 inches -- the tiller itself is 28 inches long. It has a 90# draw at 8.5" of draw, for a 765ip rating. Although a smaller person would feel very comfortable using this crossbow, it can be employed equally well by a taller person. I stand 6' tall, and this is the size I prefer to use on the field.
The crossbow is based on an image from C.
Leberthais' Ancient Tapestries of the City of
Rheims that appears in Payne-Galwey's book on crossbows, and depicts two 15th century crossbowmen in what appears
to be eastern European armor. I
chose the crossbow because of it's simple
lines, classic trigger shape, and compact, heavy appearance. I started
with my "western" teller outline, made it smaller, and added some
taper to the fore-stock.
The prod is made from a 32" length of .25" x 1.5" 7075 T651 aluminum bar, and is about 30" from tip to tip when strung. The prod on this crossbow is attached to the tiller using a set of bow irons (perchased from Alchem) which are held in place with a couple of steel wedges.
The tiller is walnut, has a straight top profile, and a tapered butt. The 'cheeks' of the tiller (lower edge just behind the prod irons) are tapered inward giving the crossbow a very nice 'feel'. Along both sides, I've added some very striking peg inlay work, which is done by drilling holes, and gluing contrasting pegs into place. The tips of the pegs are then cut off and the whole thing is sanded smooth.
There is a heavy brass bolt hook on top to hold your bolts in place. Steel stock tickler, spring-loaded rising-pin release, and flush-mounted axle pin.
The string is made of several loops of a dacron braid cord that is subsequently hand-knotted to give it that old-world flavor. The string is designed so that replaceing the center wrapping should take only a few minutes with no specialized tools -- extra center wrapping material is provided with the crossbow.
The crossbow is capable of shooting either Fellwalker-style bolts or tube-type bolts, such as golftube/tball and siloflex omarad-tipped bolts, and breaks down for easy transport.
This crossbow is one of my all-time favorites, and I am kicking myself for deciding to sell it.
Home| |
|
|
|
|
|
