Build your own crossbow kit
Crossbows are not toys, they are weapons, but that being said, they are quite a bit of fun. A while back I went to my local SCA groups archery practice and had the pleasure of trying out one of the members crossbow. It is a traditional style crossbow fashioned after the crossbows used since the medieval times.
The satisfaction of the *thunk* as the bolt flies from the crossbow and smacks into the target is unparalleled. I love my traditional bow, but the crossbow was just too much fun to pass up. After playing with the crossbow for as long as I could I thought to myself "surely they can't be that difficult to make". The owner of the crossbow, an expert on archery through the ages, confirmed this for me, while his model was quite advanced there are others that are much simpler to make. So began my quest to learn how to build a medieval crossbow and searched the internet for crossbow plans. Since I am a historical re-enactor, and my focus is the medieval ages, the crossbow plans I have mainly considered are as closely resembling medieval crossbows as possible.
I can't believe the number of DIY crossbow plans available on the net. I've tried to include as many of them as possible here, but the list is just never ending. If you come across any I have missed feel free to drop me a line in the comments section and I'll add it.
Free Online Crossbow Woodworking Plans
I have been scouring the net looking for the best plans for how to make a crossbow. Below is a collection of links to the best of the best of crossbow construction plans I have found. All of these plans require some skill at woodworking. If you've never done any woodworking projects building a crossbow is probably not the best bet for your first project.
This is an ever growing list of great online free plans for making your own crossbow, so check back often if you can't find the crossbow you want to build. Good luck, and if you manage to make a crossbow from one of these plans please feel free to come back and post your results, I'd love to hear how it went.
Crossbow Parts For Sale Online
Here are some of the best sources for crossbow parts and kits. Crossbow Kits enable you to make a crossbow on your own without having to fabricate some of the more complex parts. It's a great way to have a more complex crossbow but still having the satisfaction of DIY.