THIS REPEATING CROSSBOW has all the
handling characteristics of a fine repeating
rifle of the slide-action type. In the hands of an
experienced crossbowman it will deliver five
shots in five seconds with near-rifle accuracy
over ranges up to 40 yards. The steel-pointed
arrows, or quarrels, as they are correctly called,
are loaded from the top into a magazine just as
are the cartridges in a bolt-action rifle. After
loading, the bow is cocked by a slide, and the
quarrel is fired by pressing a trigger which releases
the bowstring. Nocking of the five quarrels
in the magazine is done automatically by
the repeating mechanism as shown in the lower
detail in Fig. 3. The two-piece barrel, Figs. 1 and
2, has a square bore, the groove being cut to fulldepth in both halves. Then parts
of both halves are cut away so that
when assembled there will be an
offset slot for the bowstring as in
the lower detail in Fig. 2. Brass
runners, fitted with 3½-in. brass
strips soldered edgewise to them,
are screwed to the lower barrel as
in the center left-hand detail in
Fig. 2. Care must be taken to space
the runner strips so that the inner
edges are exactly flush with the
inner edges of the magazine liners.
After making a trial assembly, it
may be necessary to file the slanting
ends of the 3½-in. strips or the
underside of the upper barrel to
permit free passage of the bowstring
through the offset slot. The
purpose of the offset in the slot is
to force the bowstring upward sufficiently
to release it from the
notch in the quarrel, permitting
the latter to enter the bore in free
flight.
In making the stock, it's a good
idea to copy a rifle or shotgun
stock that fits you and has a grip
and tang shaped to your liking.
Bandsaw the wood to the rough
outline of the stock selected, then
finish to contour with wood rasps
and sandpaper. Care must be used
in cutting and finishing the magazine
slot in the stock, as the magazine
liners must be spaced accurately
so that the quarrels drop
freely into firing position, Fig. 3.
The inner rear corners of the liners
are rounded to a smooth curve.
To assure free movement of the
quarrel in firing position, it may
also be necessary to round the inner
corners of the brass runners.
The pump slide, Fig. 2, engages the
bowstring as in Fig. 1 when in
the forward position. Overhanging
brass strips, which are screwed to
the guide blocks, Fig. 2, ride on the
brass runners. In cocking, the
slide is drawn back as far as it will
go and the forward end is pulled...Download the pdf for all information
