Diagram of a StonebowA. The steel bow (length about 2 ft. 6 in.; width at centre, 3/4 in.; thickness at centre, 5/8 in.).

B. The bow-string.

C. The crosstrees.

D. The pocket for the bullet.

E. The loop behind the pocket witch is hitched by hand over the catch of the lock preparatory to bending the bow.

F. The metal fork across which the skein of thread is stretched that carries the bead which acts as a fore-sight. This fork hinges down flat when not required for taking aim.

G. The lock and its case.

H. The catch of the lock which, when the bow is bent, holds the stretched string secure till it is released by pulling the trigger T, to be seen beneath the stock.

M. The back-sight with its peep-holes. This, like the fore-sight, hinges down flat (over the top of the lock) when not required for aiming.

N. The steel lever. This lever pulls back the lock together with the bow-string, when the latter is hitched over the catch of the lock. The lever is hinged to the stock and also to the casing of the lock. It fits into its recess in the butt-end of the stock when the string of the crossbow has been stretched, or when the weapon is not in use.

R. The knob fixed to the top surface of the loose end of the stringing lever. By means of this knob the right hand presses the lever towards and finally into its recess in the stock, as the bow-string is being stretched and the bow bent.

S. The spring thumb-catch which secures the end of the lever in the stock when the string of the crossbow is fully stretched. This catch also releases the end of the lever from the stock, so that it may be hinged forward preparatory to stretching the string of the crossbow again after the weapon has been discharged.

I shall be making another Stonebow as soon as I find the time, and will be adding the "how to make a Stonebow" page after I write down the steps,tools needed and make new drawings so that you don't need an interpritor to read them. (my wife say's she can't make heads or tails of my "chicken skratchs")

The information above has been transcribed nearly verbatim from Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey's book, "The Crossbow."