Can I Make a Crossbow From Scratch?

Huge shoutout to Helix Sleep for sponsoring today’s episode! Click here www.helixsleep.com/htme for up to $200 off your Helix Sleep mattress plus two free pillows! Free shipping within the US! #helixsleep
We've explored a few different projectile weapons on the channel, but what happens when we advance further into history? Things start to get a bit more complicated. Today we're attempting to make a crossbow from scratch. Check it out!
Check out the full interview Dr. Stuart Ellis-Gorman here: • Full Interview with Dr...
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▼ Episode Chapters ▼
0:00 | Episode Introduction
0:30 | Chatting with the "Doctor of Crossbows"
3:53 | Forging the Metal Parts
10:28 | Carving the Wood
12:10 | Making the Bolts
14:09 | Assembling the Crossbow
15:25 | Testing Out the Crossbow
19:03 | Episode Outro

[@htme]

Thank you again to Helix Sleep for sponsoring today's episode! Click here www.helixsleep.com/htme for up to $200 off your Helix Sleep mattress plus two free pillows! I always get a good night’s sleep on my new Helix Sleep mattress! #helixsleep

[@ajithsidhu7183]

Homemade saber please

[@rrkred3561]

Hey youtube messed up the link

[@gaza102289]

I'm surprised you went straight for a metal bow.

[@matthewmorrisdon5491]

The bombard predates fire arm and the smallest weighs a ton. Good luck on that.

[@Thejennyshams]

Grenades. Muskets. Air rifle. Siege equipment. Canon. Boat. Planes. Armor. *CHAIRS* Edit: Building equipment.

[@loganstrong5426]

Something that I don't think you've explicitly called out, but I think is really cool, is that you're developing one other part of society along the way too: society. The initial question is can one person do it all, and the answer is no. As technology advances, there comes a point where you need more and more specialization to successfully complete even one project, and you're showing the value of that with both having your own team members divide and conquer, as well as bringing in guests like Adri as their skills are needed.

[@SF-li9kh]

Exactly.. Andy should have paid him in those HTME coins (just for the camera of course). Ancient societies were full of masters in their craft trading with each other rather than being the jack of all trades and master of none

[@eps3154]

Yes! Social inventions are so important and often overlooked. The most obvious being democracy

[@FrostCraftedMC]

this is such an awesome point! not only is he showing us how individuals make the world's advancements, hes showing us how teams make the world's advancements through individuals. truly highlighting what makes humans so human: Teamwork

[@exilestudios9546]

Don't you feel like he is being just a little dishonest by not admitting that one person can't do all of this and that the entire premise of this series was flawed from the start?

[@loganstrong5426]

@@exilestudios9546 not really. A, because he doesn't use that intro anymore, probably for this reason. But also B, a gimmick being lost for the benefit of furthering knowledge and making cool content is a sacrifice I am 100% willing to make.

[@rubeniscool]

biggest advantage the crossbow had was the fact that anyone could pick it up and be trained in a matter of days if not hours. A longbow took a life time to train with in order to build up the strength required to use it in war. At one point in England, it was a requirement for all boys and men to train with the longbow in their free time to the point where in 1349, football was outlawed entirely because Edward III was concerned it was distracting people from their training.

[@DrBastycore]

That's literally what they say in the video lmao.

[@rubeniscool]

@@DrBastycore must have missed that, my bad.. I thought they just said that the advantages of the crossbow was power and that it could stay loaded.

[@KainYusanagi]

@@rubeniscool Kyle, Adri's friend, only briefly mentioned it right at the end, that crossbows were much faster to train than bows.

[@MGSLurmey]

@@rubeniscool They metioned it right at the end.

[@morrigankasa570]

They should bring back that law about Longbow training and even bring it here to America.

[@unkn0vvnmystery]

14:48 I’m glad it broke while stringing and not firing. 17:36 really show how much energy that bow has.

[@larsliamvilhelm]

110 lbs for a steel prod really isn't that much or dangerous if it breaks. It starts becoming dangerous however when the draw weight goes up like 400+ lbs.

[@angrydingus5256]

I can't remember if you ever made one or not. But making a hand plane is a pretty fun project and not too complicated. Might make for a good video if you have a lot of wood working stuff coming.

[@karatehit]

when you get to the gunpowder videos, remember that ballmilling, or properly milling the powder makes all the difference. the longer the better.

[@grzegorzbrzeczyszykiewic3338]

wow, it's always a pleasant surprise when you guys make an improvised weapon and it actually seems to function properly.

[@roberson644]

where did you find an elven black smith? Thats pretty OP.

[@Thisismycomment.]

You mean a gay blacksmith

[@scuffedroller2298]

@@Thisismycomment. thats what he said. Elven.

[@Thisismycomment.]

@@scuffedroller2298 oh. Elven means gay

[@scuffedroller2298]

@@Thisismycomment. no.. its a joke. Elves are traditionally very andrdogynous. Men and women look near identical.. this is a woosh moment

[@Thisismycomment.]

Woosh

[@recklessroges]

I love when you bring Adri in because I know that they bring talent and competence to HTME and share the most important "everything" in HTME: technological knowledge.

[@viniciovp4ever]

The care on focusing the Steele name on anvil, was so cool 💕

[@SF-li9kh]

From Alec Steele ?

[@vegaro1510]

@@SF-li9kh Seems like it is from Alec Steele

[@TheElfsmith]

@@SF-li9kh Yes, the Steele Co. 140lb anvil is my main use anvil.

[@townsville69]

The wood work scene reminded me about the importance of the relationship between the master craftsman and the apprentice. Something that is as old as the craft it's self and remains to this day.

[@bow-tiedengineer4453]

I fully get why you didn't want to use homemade steel for the crossbow, but it would have been nice if you had "unlocked" spring steel, like you did with other materials after the reset. Maybe made homemade high carbon steel, then made a knife or something out of it. Still a very cool video, though, and it's nice seeing you springing back after the shop fire.

[@siristhesalamander4186]

So happy to see more of this channel's awesome work! Lots of love for the whole team behind these videos and the patrons that help fund it all!

[@scribejackhammar]

Tod from Tod's Workshop could've been a viable resource for this as well, as he makes historical crossbows pretty often.

[@zzzires5045]

He didn't mention how they added the significant advantage of being able to hide while you reload (or have others reloading) Or how they are easier to hit a target due to your not holding the strain of a warbow.

[@hedgehog3180]

You don't hold a bow while aiming, you pick out your target and draw and aim in a single motion that lasts no longer than a single breath.

[@brunoethier896]

regarding the bow VS crossbow, there is also the fact that crossbows were much easier to use from inside castle defenses and murder holes, where a big bow could not fit.

[@jacobkudrowich]

Murder holes are my favorite part of mideval castles except for communal cesspools

[@RealAndySkibba]

This is awesome. A ballista would be cool as heck to make.

[@TheLonelyBrit]

Hell of a project to make though. You can make the prod with wood, like some crossbows, so maybe that would make it easier on the metalwork side of things. I think that instead of going straight to a ballista they could refine the crossbow & maybe make a windlass crossbow which has a much higher draw strength & will need a winch/hand crank to load it.

[@garethbaus5471]

Human hair was sometimes used for springs in ancient artillery, so the material gathering could start now.

[@ViktorSarge]

It's impressive for sure, but I'd love to see it tweaked a bit since it's close to being a good implementation.Tweaking the length of the bolt should help with being front heavy and feathers might be a good idea as well.

[@KainYusanagi]

Similarly, the use of sinew instead of rope.

[@jeice13]

@@KainYusanagi apparently the rope is necessary because the draw weight (not power, european crossbows are not efficient) makes durability important. This is also why the limbs are metal instead of wood

[@KainYusanagi]

@@jeice13 The rope is not necessary if you use the proper materials. While the string WAS thicker than that of bows of the period, it was never any thicker than the quarrel or bolt fired from it, and usually still much thinner, about half of the diameter of a quarrel or bolt. It was more like a steel cable made today, but made with strings of linen and flax, with another section of cordage wrapped around it to act as a binder (on top of the wax coating). Think something like a whipcord. Nowhere near as thin as modern crossbow and bow strings are, of course, but not that giant twisted rope that looks like it belongs on a ship (seriously, it *is* pretty good rope).

[@jeice13]

@@KainYusanagi ah, i thought you were questioning why it wasnt basically a bowstring. Actually considering they said this was only a 110 lb drawweight they might have been able to use a bowstring instead as long as it can handle being dragged against the stalk

[@jeice13]

@@KainYusanagi *stock

[@Budehgong]

6:17 holding a piece of steel with tongs in a forge with the pinky up is just too perfect! love this smith!

[@Nono-hk3is]

Hell yeah always nice to see Adri

[@dim1723]

so thankful to see you back up and making new things!

[@brendangarrett7163]

The fact that you loose the bolt head is actually accurate. If the bolt head falls off in combat after its shot it does 2 things: 1 the bolt can no longer be picked up and used against you, and 2 the bolt head can end up in the target making it more lethal.

[@alexbecket6945]

Super cool build! Love the blacksmithing! Good info too!

[@HistoricalWeapons]

Great work

[@lady_draguliana784]

cutest... smith... EVAH! 💞

[@zanekovac726]

Honestly a very informative video, i love all these videos as it shows us all the tech we're surrounded by came to be. Huge fan of what you do! 👍

[@inbredbanana8156]

One of my favorite videos yet. Incredibly cool.

[@alderbraue]

Does Adri have their own channel or somewhere I can see their work other places? I always love it when they come on the channel.

[@TheElfsmith]

I'm bad at uploading lmao

[@robertcase1435]

@@TheElfsmith In England they would say "He's quite fit, innit?" That's as far as I'll go without getting in trouble. ;)

[@alderbraue]

@@TheElfsmith thanks for the reply! :)

[@TherapyGel]

@@TheElfsmith Hope you can find the time to record and share some more. Your insight in this video was wonderful and I'd love to see more. Great work!

[@nefariousyawn]

​@@TheElfsmith indeed, I love it when you show up on this channel, and I hope we get to see more of your work on your own channel in the future.

[@timnosgirg7017]

This is so cool, love the simple crossbow trigger.

[@hedgehog3180]

Watching Adri work iron is honestly mesmerizing.

[@lemmonsinmyeyes]

I really like the contrasting blue light with orange metal, very cool!

[@DarkestVampire92]

Little complaint here: The steel you're using for the bow is so pure and refined it would be nothing short of MAGIC in the middle ages :P

[@TheElfsmith]

Literally one of the first things I said about our steel choice was that we weren't going to carburize or smelt our own steel for reasons of safety.

[@jonajo9757]

​@@TheElfsmith Well aint that a shame

[@doodoodew]

Hey man that sucks that your shop burnt down, my apartment was burnt in an electrical fire a few months ago and most of my stuff was destroyed. It was hard to deal with at first but stuff is replaceable and the main thing is that nobody was hurt. Hope your rebuild is going well.

[@PersonCalledErin]

Aaaa glad to see more of Adri! They're great :)

[@zechsblack5891]

In a totally different vein on the same topic, I've been having a ton of fun making Adderini crossbows with my printers. They are just fun to shoot!

[@anthonydo9401]

Mr Historian is wrong, in Europe it existed in the form of the gastraphetes on the island of Cicily at least by 420BC. It’s mentioned by a different Roman writer 300 years before the one mentioned in the 1st Century AD in reference to a previous source about the city state of Syracuse

[@TheElfsmith]

Chinese crossbows existed before the gastraphetes. The one shown is just the oldest *complete* ancient Chinese crossbow we've found. They predate the gastraphetes by a minimum of 200-400 years.

[@anthonydo9401]

@@TheElfsmith I’m well aware it’s why I specifically said in Europe and in the video there’s no mention of the Chinese crossbow nor the Gastraphetes.

[@corbin_fishing]

Thanks for the Tutorial

[@alexc8114]

So to finally answer the question "How to Make Everything?"- Ask Adri!

[@TheElfsmith]

[@Heeby-Jeebies]

very cool show on the creation and history of this historic tool!

[@dydactic1112]

I think Asian tribal style crossbow using bamboo and wooden prod would be more simple and appropriate than going for steel.

[@ss-sq1hn]

Nice! It looks really practical and easy to carry!

[@heyitsthatdude17]

Been so excited for woodworking hand tools to get introduced to the series, planes are gonna be so fun!

[@michaelarmbruster586]

For some reason I've been collecting old syle and old tools for a while now I know why

[@franklin11001]

Finally the video I've been waiting for

[@GoodandBasic]

This is super cool!

[@SarcasmoRex]

I love that the anvil is an Alec Steele one. Excellent content!

[@tore650]

The absolute main pro about a crossbow is that you can hand it to just about anyone and within a certain range they can hit, with the full power of the crossbow. With a bow on the other hand it takes years of practice.

[@naamadossantossilva4736]

" "If you want to train a longbowman, start with his grandfather ".And that is why we ditched them ASAP,the musketman's father and grandfather could be farming and making money for the king instead of training.

[@aziouss2863]

HTME has their own ELF blacksmith. I dont care about what anybody else sais that guy would have been an elf if we were in a fantasy universe.

[@TheElfsmith]

lol, so I've been told.

[@mathieukarate]

Keep rebounding HTME i love your vids

[@BartJBols]

The blacksmith looks really cute.

[@rafaelcalderabebber1198]

Is really good to see you recoveriong from the fire

[@gavinli1368]

Always a good episode where we get to see some blacksmithing. Excellent work, and I love your nails, Adri!

[@recklessroges]

I agree, (but Adri is my favourite HTME expert, so I'm biased.)

[@mouseblackcat5263]

@@recklessroges Adri is Waifu of Blacksmithing. 🥰

[@spacemanx9595]

that shit was chipped and awful looking lmao

[@gavinli1368]

@@mouseblackcat5263 If I recall correctly, Adri is non binary. Waifu for girls, husbando for guys, and spousu is what I’ve heard for nb. lol.

[@mouseblackcat5263]

@@gavinli1368 Hmmm, Spousu. Neet. Is like getting a two for one. :P

[@FitraNoveChannel]

-Title "Can I make crossbow from scratch?" -the video showing 95% of the bulid done by Adri..... -Basically you only helping Adri bulid the crossbow

[@mqnc6275]

also a bit disappointed that the question wasn't answered

[@mikoro88]

Looking forward to seeing you build a m16 from scratch!=) Great work as always!

[@carterhicks7441]

Love your guy's videos, keep it up👍

[@outsidealone]

Always love it when we get to see Adri!

[@dmanx500]

Oh yeah I made a couple 80-110 Skain lock bows out of PVC a few years back. Good fun for a lighter crossbow.

[@maxximumb]

Awesome video.

[@joshboyer8449]

Good work on the smith

[@morrigankasa570]

Another advantage of a Warbow/Longbow compared to a crossbow is less difficult to make and less parts that can break/malfunction. Additionally a Warbow can be a beast of a weapon that can outshoot some crossbows. Check out Shadiversity and some of his videos about bows/crossbows/archery in general. Anyway this was still a great video and I personally would love to have a Crossbow & a Longbow & plenty of Arrows/Bolts for both.

[@TheSilverOrn]

Yeah I did a double take when the "expert" was like "A crossbow is stronger than a longbow, the longbow is physically limited by how strong it can be." and I'm here hoping Shad sees this and does a response video. I would like to see a crossbow do for a full 100+ pound longbow...

[@morrigankasa570]

@@TheSilverOrn hell ya, that would be incredible.

[@morrigankasa570]

@@Red-jl7jj True, but still more complex then a Longbow or Recurve Bow.

[@TheSilverOrn]

@@Red-jl7jj Again actual experts have gone over things and discovered some shocking things, like for instance the stronger the crossbow the less pullback it tended to have with the strongest models tending to move the bolt less than a foot or so because you physically couldn't make wood contain any more force, even reinforced by metal. Alternatively Longbows tended to have much longer draws and while there were limitations on how strong the bow could be, the fact that longbowmen tended to pull in the 120+ range shows that it was mostly irrelevant. If you have a longbow that could be 160 pound but you have a full draw it would out perform a much stronger crossbow because its only pulling back perhaps less than half the length.

[@SapioiT]

Finally, wood planes have been shown on the channel! I can't wait for Andy to make his own wood planes, including the forging of the metal. It could start with a stone-blade plane which needs frequent re-sharpening and a though type of stone (i.e. granite), then a copper followed by a bronze blade, then an iron blade, and optionally a sand-glazed terracotta blade could also be tested (heck, maybe even a compacted-cement one), because it would be interesting have and compare all of those. Not only that, but those which are not going to be used anymore, could be auctioned, to help support the channel.

[@garethbaus5471]

I would probably start with bronze or iron, because anything softer or more brittle would be excessively difficult to use and maintain.

[@SapioiT]

@@garethbaus5471 Might be, but I think it would make an interesting content, for the channel. I mean, imagine, as impractical as it might be, using a stone bladed wooden planning tool. It would definitely make for an interesting thumbnail, at the very least. And it might show how usable such a wood plane might be. Now, it might not work for harder wood types, but I think it would work great for softer wood types.

[@skadoosher7747]

If you guys do get to gunpowder and by extension gun making id love to see a video on pepperboxs they're so fun and alot easier to manufacture than something like a revolver

[@raymondraptorclaw2901]

I think an important thing to note here, is that even though there’s no limit to what you can learn, the importance of specialists is simply because of the need for teamwork and time efficiency. I believe that any person can indeed learn to do it all, and their specialty or “thing” is nothing more than what their current role in an ongoing project is. In other words, your specialty can change just like your job in a team, and what exactly that specialty/role is only depends on your KNOWLEDGE. And that’s the crucial part right there. When they say you master something, I believe that simply means that whatever the things you master are, are simply your favorite things to do. In other words, you master something because you spend the most time doing them. I think “Jack of all, master of *none*” is kinda flawed… A perfect example is engineers. Any kind of engineer is expected to handle a variety of situations. As an engineering student, I can confirm I will be expected to be no less. And your specific major in engineering can be very broad. Civil or mechanical engineering are probably the broadest. Because they both deal with something that EVERYTHING has: Structure and Mechanics, respectively.

[@NuculearFallout1]

Great video ! And thanks for throwing me down the rabbit hole of crossbows lmao

[@Stoutshield]

Glad to see I'm not the only one who was smitten with Adri, they're so gorgeous ♥ Amazing video once again!

[@ookydooky8892]

that dude is freaky what are you talking about lmao

[@blossomnessstudios4446]

Adri has their own channel! @The Elfsmith

[@ookydooky8892]

@@blossomnessstudios4446 His own channel* also nobody cares

[@TheElfsmith]

@@ookydooky8892 maidenless behavior my man, ngl

[@ookydooky8892]

@@TheElfsmith Retort again but without buzzphrases from reddit and twitter which can also be applied to yourself

[@WmJared]

Machine thinking has a video several years old about the first all metal lathe "the 1751 machine that Made Everything" (not lath like this crossbow) but I can't wait until you get there. Also I think you'd enjoy that channel and its few vids

[@dangerdavedestroyerofdomai6991]

I cant wait for the future episode where he makes an AR-15 from scratch!

[@SylviaRustyFae]

I have done this! But mine wasnt made of classic materials heh. You can make a rly grt crossbow out of PVC for the arms (theres a way to heat treat PVC for makin regular bows too) and just some wood cut out in the rite shape. We used toothbrush headss to make the perf thing to hold the front end of the bolt in place so we cud turn it upside down and the bolt wudnt fire, but wud fire easily still when the trigger is pulled (or somethin else pushes up the string in the back). We used sheets of plywood that we glued together so we cud make much lighter crossbows and cut them out with a CNC machine rather than by hand. Also let us easily cut the hole for the trigger. I cant recall the bowstring we used, but it wasnt just regular bowstring but was instd somethin else that we just used as such for the crossbows. It was remarkably sturdy still, i remember goin out with my friends i built it with and just firin bolts at brick walls from 20 ft away hundreds and hundreds of times to test that durability spec and also test out the bolts we were usin to make sure they cud withstand repeated firin at hard targets. Which was to simulate armour worn by our fellow LARPers is the main thing there, which wudnt be anywhere near as hard as that wall; for crossbows in our game (Amtgard) you just arent allowed to shoot someone within 20 ft tho cuz ya cant half draw a crossbow like a bow. Overall the methods we used and materials meant that one of those crossbows cud be sold for prty much the same price we wud sell boffer swords for; which drastically improves the likelihood of folks utilisin the Archer class and enjoyin the awesomeness of a crossbow; which just, imho, looks so much more thematic than a foam covered golf club core... Even if they took the time to shape it like a sword (like the guy i helped make these wpns wud do) rather than go the quick and easy wrap sword method that just looks like a large billy club. I used one of those crossbows for the whole yr i was with that guy cuz that simple to make wpn is just so devastating on the battlefield as i can literally point and click to kill my foes xD That guy ended up pullin a dick move and kickin me out with little notice over a petty slight (id had a trip planned and found out rite before i was rdy to leave that he wanted my help with a project that weekend but i didnt wanna cancel on my other friend i was goin with and he said it was fine... But then i got back from the trip and given less than a week to leave bcuz i wasnt "helpin out enuf"). But his wpnsmithin techniques were on pt and i feel that information deserves to be free. So i rly hope someone uses these instructions to recreate such a crossbow. The shape is prty easy to figure out, and the PVC doesnt even need heat shaped, just closed flat at the ends if ya want a better look to it, it has enuf natural pliability that the arms will bend. Feel free to ask me for more info on it if anyone readin this does decide to recreate these. Screw shitty landlords like that guy.

[@stockloc]

What was the poundage of the bow?

[@SylviaRustyFae]

@@stockloc It was designed to meet the standards set for bows/crossbows in Amtgard, which allows for up to 35 lb bows (at 28 inches); or around the equivalent of that for crossbows I dont actually remember the exact poundage of it, tho i know many of his first crossbows turned out to be too high of poundage; so i know you can evem make probs a 50-60 lb bow or crossbow with pvc. Doublchecked some tutorials and yea, one of them says they pulled a 63 lb draw on theirs; backyard bowyer achieves rly high poundage by doublin up the pvc usin a smaller pipe within another pipe

[@MCsCreations]

Brilliant, dude! Fantastic work! 😃 Your friend there, I'm calling him Legolas from now on. 😬 Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@Valdrag]

Love the Steele anvil.

[@sethmiller8768]

Reminds me of a crossbow I built in middle school, took an old piece of wood, some galvanized steel from a barrel ring, some paracord, I “routed” out the well for the trigger mechanism with an electric drill, and overall it worked really poorly for any kind of bolt but it was absolutely excellent for nerf darts and really packed a punch in all our nerf fights

[@sethmiller8768]

I also used the design and upsized it to an 8 ft wide ballista I built with a friend and actually integrated a twisted paracord tension system for the bow, which from my knowledge is more historically accurate to ballistas

[@nicydarko552]

Great video I love it

[@adamwee382]

I don't really agree with the statement that a crossbow is more powerful than a traditional warbow like the Longbow. It's definitely true that in terms of poundage the crossbow comes out on top, some crossbows had a draw weight of well over 1000 pounds whereas the Longbow maxes out at around 200 pounds and only a few people would have been strong enough to draw that. The reason I don't agree is that traditional European crossbows had a very short Powerstroke, the crossbow only drew back a few inches compared to a longbow or a composite bow that drew back a few dozen inches. This means that the bolt itself has much less time under tension and won't accelerate as much as a traditional bow and arrow. Modern crossbows solved this issue but England adopted the longbow for a reason and it wasn't just rate of fire. There are accounts from the English where knights while fighting the Welsh were shot while on horse and arrows went through chainmail, the thigh, their saddle, and into the horse. The biggest downside the warbow has compared to the crossbow is that it takes a lot longer for a person to develop the muscle needed to shoot than that of a crossbow. You could train a peasant to use a crossbow and have him able to defend a castle in a short period of time whereas a warbow might even take years.

[@kuriboh635]

Ya next you should do various black powder firearms. It would be pretty cool to see.

[@camerondees4440]

Awesome video and totally love the Sponsor

[@calvinwright1816]

I saw A alec steel anvil in the blacksmith shop! so in a way you have 3 diffrent channels in this vid. pretty good work on the bow!!

[@tildessmoo]

Andy: The next step from a bow is a crossbow. Andy: _makes arbalest_

[@EoThorne]

You got to Crossbow! Omg, you're gonna take over the world in NO TIME!

[@AKBLoodyGMan]

I just wanted to share that the steel used didn’t feel fitting for the linear progression of the series but regardless it certainly didn’t deter me from the video. Very interesting, Informative, and entertaining as always.

[@garethbaus5471]

Although it has a little bit of chromium 5160 is a fairly simple carbon steel that is a fairly close modern equivalent to the type of steel a bow like this would probably be using.

[@Hellsong89]

Thing is back then human peasant life had next to no value, so if mass produced spring failed and smack the skull of that peasant in... well there is more where they come from so no biggie.. we only have one how to make everything so manufacturing material flaws should be avoided for safety concerns, specially when those armorer blacksmiths at the time learned trade in decades and perfected it over long period of time so quality was suitable. It was not just couple guys in hobby forge hammering metal and trying to learn. Also blacksmiths at the time had trainees and there was plenty to choose from, so new bow design... let new trainee to string it and take it into face if it fails.

[@jonajo9757]

@@garethbaus5471 Wait, they're working with modern alloy steel than historical steel?

[@garethbaus5471]

@@jonajo9757 historical steel is extremely expensive, and we know for a fact that the historical materials could work because they did. Using modern steel doesn't change much other than slightly reducing the chance of the spring snapping. 5160 has a composition that is within the range you could realistically get from a historical steel albeit with fewer inclusions and impurities.

[@swapertxking]

something you ought to work into the 'next' queue, bambo smoke rods. first developed by chinese alchemists first exploiting the volitality of nitre, and a development following its first use in fireworks. capping bambo rods full of this 'magical' powder caused it to explode, and if you can get it to fill just right without over pressuring you can make a dedicated explosive for expediting mining or fighting in wars. of course it was not until much much later did the idea of cannons to really get their footing, and their little sibling, fire arms. it would have to be an important milestone if you want to hop from wood and steel, and into the age that brought down the great castles of the medieval era and finally tore down Constantinople.

[@coreymn775]

I feel like a good idea for what you should try next is base it on the Time travel t shirt. If Andy woke up one day as a pre-modern era man, realistically what could he do. Crossbow isn’t going to make you king of the world. And a aerofoil In Roman times before the engine doesn’t help you. But if you could “discover” and idea earlier than it was made in the real World; what’s the earliest you could actually make it. Glad you guys are back you’re feet after the fire tho.

[@ss-sq1hn]

Put a light twist to the crossbow bolt tip to see if the bolt screws to the target inside and helps the bolt rotation with fletching.

[@sirpanek3263]

oooo yeee good shots

[@RubensASMR]

I cant wait till he starts making black powder weapons.

[@Nae_Ayy]

this is awesome

[@sailingtheblessing6557]

Nice Alec Steele Co anvil! 😉

[@sharpfactory3705]

Very cool

[@Darksagan]

Everyone is a pro at everything in the comments. lmao Love your videos, keep up the good work.

[@TheElfsmith]

Hey, I'm having fun with it at least.

[@lemoncola1164]

you can reduce the dipping in the bolts flight by adding fletching

[@nilsschenkel7149]

usally you´d drive a pair of wedges between the bow and the stirrup to tension it more, but what works works I guess.

[@Zthreve]

So love that someone will find a medieval crossbow bolt head on the ground and be very confused.

[@dieselgold4719]

Well I never thought this would happen!

[@PHEONIX881]

this dude is only dude who can survive a zombie outbreak alone cause hebasically can build everything

[@Azmodon]

that feel when he's called a "they" 4 times in this

[@PedroCarvalho-bk4yn]

should try to talk to tod from tod's workshop for a few tips on how to make the string and bow and whatever

[@Mireaze]

Yay, more adri!!! They're amazing

[@Case2_0]

Next project: the Arrowhead remover that was forged to extract arrowheads from a British prince’s skull

[@ottoneiii4353]

quite sick to see just weapon, make a bucket!

[@thekid4762]

a couple years later: hey guys today we are gonna be making a m60 machine gun

[@alexwhite9841]

Can't wait to see how you are going to make a musket

[@TheShonuff888]

Crossbows have been popular especially with tactical ones being made.

[@jedi_master-d.o.g6553]

I would love to see a video on making a flintlock pistol!

[@jedi_master-d.o.g6553]

@Милош Ђошић yup!