crossbow mechanisms

rob · Post by **rob** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:49 pm

hi,
i am looking for a working bronze crossbow mechanism original or a reproduction that would be suitable for a replica crossbow,and also to anyone who has made one how effective are these crossbows ?
thanks in advance

Romain · Post by **Romain** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 12:25 am

If you can read French, we have a few guys that built Han style mechanism on webarcherie, out of steel or wood

Dale Proctor · Post by **Dale Proctor** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:50 pm

Hi Rob,

I have some replica crossbow mechanisms. They are lost wax cast in bronze. They are not quite as smooth as a good working original. They are full size, about 5" long from front to back. I'd be happy to sell you one for 100 USD plus shipping. If you are interested I can send you some pics or post them here if any one else is interested.

The chinese crossbow mechanisms are great. clean, smooth, easy to cock. Really nice.

Dale

rob · Post by **rob** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:06 pm

post some picture of the mechanisms.How heavy are they? would lost wax be the method used in china back in the day?
Thanks

Dale Proctor · Post by **Dale Proctor** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 6:06 am

The smaller crossbow mechanisms I have examined have been lost wax cast. With the larger ones it is hard to tell, most probably a variation of sand casting called stack casting. I understand some molds for them have been found at one of the digs in China.

The triggers I have made weigh about 3 pounds. The mechanism pictured is not fully chased but is quite functional. Not as smooth an action as some of the antiques I have. The elegance, design and precision of casting found in the ancient triggers isn't obvious until you try to recreate one.

rob · Post by **rob** » Mon May 01, 2006 8:39 pm

Dale
could you give me your email address so i can contact about this mechanism
Thanks

Dale Proctor · Post by **Dale Proctor** » Tue May 02, 2006 2:46 am

Hi Rob,

No problem, here's my email address:
[email protected]

Dale

Jchurch · Post by **Jchurch** » Sun Jan 20, 2013 12:09 am

Hey. I would love to purchase a replica han-style crossbow mechanism. Do you still have any for sale?

KenH · Post by **KenH** » Thu Apr 04, 2013 5:57 pm

Realize, of course that this discussion is 7 years old. I don't believe Mr. Proctor has participated here since then. He only made a total of 6 posts...

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Thu Aug 14, 2014 6:02 pm

Resurrection is a wonderful thing.

Is there any reproduction of the chines crossbow mechanism available on any market anywhere at any kind of reasonable price?

Given the vast amount of stuff currently available from China one would have thought some enterprising guy would be making and selling them. But who? And where?

KenH · Post by **KenH** » Thu Aug 14, 2014 7:40 pm

Well, Ken;

As luck would have it there is a gentleman here in Florida who is prototyping these locks for CNC production, as we speak. I've seen photos and it looks very promising. He plans to produce them in bronze, as well as bronze-washed steel for that authentic look but modern strength. Here's a discussion about the subject:

http://thearbalistguild.forumotion.com/ ... ossbow-nut

I just "upped" the topic with a request for status on the Chinese actions...

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Thu Aug 14, 2014 8:52 pm

Many thanks indeed for that post. The thread is indeed fascinating even if a non mechanical like me gets confused between the different locks the guy speaks about. Certyainly tho0ugh if he comes out with a chinese lock at a reasonable price I would be in for one. Then all we would need is someone working it wood (and leather?) to produce an appropriate copy of the chinese stock.

KenH · Post by **KenH** » Thu Aug 14, 2014 10:22 pm

I do woodworking. The tillers/stocks aren't hard. I know of at least two designs which use that same action. One is the "Assault" tiller with the pistol grip at the butt end; the other a rather modernistic looking shoulder stock version. I need a good source for the bamboo slats to make the loose laminate prods that go on those tillers.

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Fri Nov 21, 2014 1:53 pm

Did this go anywhere? Was this ever produced? There would appear to an original for sale on Ebay just now: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ancient-Chine ... 566b0040c5

KenH · Post by **KenH** » Fri Nov 21, 2014 5:53 pm

I have one of the "Orlando" actions in hand, and in fact spent a short while this morning working on inletting it into the Ming Dynasty tiller that I'm working on. The action works like a charm, and except for modern materials looks like the original.

You can see what I'm up to here:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities ... 6591172188

The maker has had lots of "stuff" get between what he wants to do, so as Cheop's Law says, things are taking longer than initially projected. I haven't asked directly but I'm assuming sometime in the first part of the new year he'll start making them available. I'll mention to him that there's at least one other person eagerly waiting in the wings!

That action on Ebay may be a fake. The Chinese have been making really good fake antiques for close to 2000 years!

crossbow mechanisms

crossbow mechanisms

Replica crossbow mechanism?