Hello everyone. I am a new member and I would like to start my first complete crossbow project and have an interest in chinese archery. I originally planned to make a replica han crossbow but I am now considering building a chinese stone shooting crossbow and I am wondering if there are any resources you can point me towards.
So far I understand that a single 2 axle bone trigger is employed. However I am a bit unsure about probable draw-weights and bow construction.
I understand these bows were used to stun pigeons so they could be reared and used as breeding stock. Do they have any other uses?
Thanks
Jchurch
Here is a picture from the Pitt Rivers University Museum Oxford. "A manchurian pellet crossbow"
KenH
The bow in the foreground of your photo (the one with the deep U in the stock between the action and bow) is a European stonebow, not Manchurian. It's description is on the card at the bottom of the photo. It is a more sophisticated version of the 16th century stonebow shown n chapter 33 of Payne-Galley's The Crossbow book
The Manuchurian Stone bow described in the other label in the photo may apply to the other curved and straight bits in the picture, but I can't tell.
The two bone trigger mechanism described on the card isn't hard to do; I've seen drawings and photos either here or on the Arbalist Forum.
Most Chinese crossbows we see commonly use a 'leaf-spring' loose laminate prod of bamboo strips. If you're not interested in an exact replica, that would certainly be an option, covering the prod with leather for the look.
Draw weight for pigeon-shooting? Probably under 150 lbs. 'Way under. Like 50 lbs. I build and shoot conventional crossbows and crossbow pistols. And I've shot my share of 'winged rats'. A BB gun or pellet gun will kill pigeons easily. So does a 50# prod, and for that matter a 25# prod. You don't need much power or long distance shooting -- 30 yards would be a real long shot.
Bede
Ken,
Though I am not sure of the photograph, the label above the crossbow appears to refer to the lower crossbow. Note the description of the fore sight and the trigger mechanism. Its similarity to a European stone bow should not confuse us. European travellers of the nineteenth century made similar comparisons. There is one in the Grayson Collection, #1995-0781, which I have handled. There is a drawing of one (Fig. 9) in the Journal of Archer-Antiquaries Vol. 29, p. 32.
Here is the description of the one in the Grayson Collection.
Pellet crossbow. Composite bow. Straight limbs and recurved tips. Elliptical cross-section, more rounded on sinew-side. Horn belly, bamboo core, sinew back. Wood stock, metal front sight, wood rear sight, antler? trigger, metal rivets on side of stock hold trigger mechanism in place. Double string of gut with pocket for pellet and loop to hook onto trigger mechanism. Leather pads on bow where string contacts belly. Length of bow along front is 62.7 cm; length of stock is 71 cm; stock thickness is 2.2 cm.
