The piece of maple or pine selected for the stock must be planed
and sandpapered on both sides, and then marked and cut as shown in
Fig. 1. A groove is cut for the arrows in the top straight edge
3/8 in. wide and 3/8 in. deep. The tin is bent and fastened on the
wood at the back end of the groove where the cord slips out of the
notch; this is to keep the edges from splitting.

A mortise is cut for the bow at a point 9-1/2 in. from the end of
the stock, and one for the trigger 12 in. from the opposite end,
which should be slanting a little as shown by the dotted lines. A
spring, Fig. 2, is made from a good piece of oak and fastened to
the stock with two screws. The trigger, Fig. 3, which is 1/4 in.
thick, is inserted in the mortise in the position when pulled
back, and adjusted so as to raise the spring to the proper height,
and then a pin is put through both stock and trigger, having the
latter swing quite freely. When the trigger is pulled, it lifts
the spring up, which in turn lifts the cord off the tin notch.

The stick for the bow, Fig. 4, is dressed down from a point 3/4
in. on each side of the center line to 1/2 in. wide at each end.
Notches are cut in the ends for the cord. The bow is not fastened
in the stock, it is wrapped with a piece of canvas 1-1/2 in. wide
on the center line to make a tight fit in the mortise. A stout
cord is now tied in the notches cut in the ends of the bow making
the cord taut when the wood is straight.

The design of the arrows is shown in Fig. 5 and they are made with
the blades much thinner than the round part.

To shoot the crossbow, pull the cord back and down in the notch as
shown in Fig. 6, place the arrow in the groove, sight and pull the
trigger as in shooting an ordinary gun.

The arrow sling is made from a branch of ash about 1/2 in. in
diameter, the bark removed and a notch cut in one end, as shown in
Fig. 7. A stout cord about 2-1/2 ft. long is tied in the notch and
a large knot made in the other or loose end. The arrows are
practically the same as those used on the crossbow, with the
exception of a small notch which is cut in them as shown in Fig.
8.

To throw the arrow, insert the cord near the knot in the notch of
the arrow, then grasping the stick with the right hand and holding
the wing of the arrow with the left, as shown in Fig. 9, throw the
arrow with a quick slinging motion. The arrow may be thrown
several hundred feet after a little practice.
--Contribu