Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: stuckinthemud on August 15, 2025, 07:26:35 am
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(https://stuckinthemudsite.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/img_20250815_095256857_mfnr-e1755248805555.jpg)
So I finally got around to posting the 'finished' pic of my replica of the Lillohus lockbow. What a sweet bow this thing is! No metal parts and a really unusual trigger. It doesn't have an axle, the front end is forked and floats in a receiver. Friction and geometry holds the mechanism together - the trigger pin only has an inch of free movement before it binds in its tunnel and so it can't fall out. I love it.
The draw weight is 150lb which was a surprise as the prevailing theory is that the original was lost during combat while attacking Lillohus castle. This bow is almost exactly the same dimensions as the original and so the original can't have been too much stronger. A really nice knock about hunting bow, not a war bow
(https://stuckinthemudsite.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/img_20250815_102905149_mfnr-e1755250863278.jpg)
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V Nice :)
Del
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Sweet! I'd love to see more photos if possible?
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Interesting!
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Here are all the parts for the stock and trigger. Pin is fastened as a through tenon into the lever. The trigger is forked, the fork floating in a pair of sockets under the bridle. The limited movement of the pin prevents the lever falling off as the pin binds in its tunnel.
(https://stuckinthemudsite.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/image1.jpeg)
I used one hole for binding on the bow, the other for a rope stirrup, but, I crossed that rope under the edge of the bow and they hold each other in place. The front of the bridle isn't dished or socketed to receive the bow, which is unusual, but the rope and bow work really well together
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Looks pretty darn cool. Bow-yew? Stock? Lock?
150lbs @ 12-14"?
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Yew bow, 150@12", stock is yellow pine because I wanted to see if it could take the forces involved, which it does, but it dents if you so much as look at it crossly
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Wow. Just wow. I love this. Very cool indeed. Is this sinew backed? I love the simplicity of it and primitive nature of it too. I’ve often thought about making a version of this set up for a horn bow even. I was thinking yew as the core wood with sinew and horn of course. I believe it’s been done already but this is inspiring me to do it. Well done. Thanks for posting this. Need more pics!
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Did a little digging on the webs and found this article on another replica (had to translate it from French--thanks Google!). Really interesting. Seems like you'll need some industrial-strength serving on the string--that notch is going to wear on it in a hurry. What a cool design. Rethinking my plan to burn all this twisted ash, chokecherry, and juniper I have lying around...
https://www.licorneargent.be/les-arcs/arbaletes/reconstitution/lillohus/
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I liked a lot about that reconstruction. There's a lot of info on a thread I started at the Arbalest Guild, here
https://thearbalistguild.forumotion.com/t1862p25-solvedskane-lillohus-crossbow-thread
hopefully it doesn't break the rules about advertising.
Superdav, this prod is just yew, no sinew, but there's no reason not to go with a different type of prod. Many peoples had Summer (sinewed) and Winter (not sinewed) bows. This type of mechanism needs a hefty shove on the trigger as the string is being pulled forward into the wood of the string groove and you need to overcome that force. All that heft leads to a lot of wear on the string. I am going to fit a horn plate to try and smooth the action out. They tell me you can go up to 300lb with a push-pin lockbow but I think I wouldn't go much bigger than 200
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Hey thats really something cool and unusual around here. How much set did it end up taking? What are the dimensions of the prod?
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It has a centre measure of about 27mm thick by 37mm wide at centre and 13mm x 28mm at the nocks. Set is half an inch. Length ntn is 89cm. It draws to 14" which adds 25lb. Draw weight rises very linearly at 12lb per inch
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That's a cool project and looks like you done a fine job on it. :)
Pappy
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Couldn't have done it without y'all casting an eye over the tillering this time last year