by thistledown » Sat May 18, 2013 10:38 am
Using the arms from a bow to make the prod is in theory workable, but you would need to keep them the same width. Your crossbow would end up being huge.
Custom making the prod (the bow part) is hard though. Material selection is important, and having the proper tools.
The stock itself is pretty simple.
The trigger mechanism. There's a few designs you could use. Generally, they trade complexity for damage to the string. The best mechanism is a knuckle wheel, and is pretty safe for the string. Other types are easier, but will tear the string up pretty quickly, and carry some risk of misfire.
Lastly, the spoon. This holds the bolt to the stock while you're preparing to fire. Technically, you could go without it, but I wouldn't recomend it. The spoon needs to be springy - tight enough to press the bolt to the stock, but loose enough that the bolt can slide in and out. It typically mounts behind the trigger mechanism and extends up and over it.