Miniature Medieval Crossbows, Pistol-sized

This fella at Paleoplanet makes really beautiful miniature versions of medieval style push lock crossbows. If you're not much of a metal worker, you can buy strips of flat spring steel (already tempered as a spring) in various widths and thicknesses in 3 ft of 5 ft lengths. I'd guess a length of spring steel 3/8" or so wide and 1/16" thick would make an adequate prod. You can scale some of the un-specified dimensions, roughly, from the photos. The push lever doesn't have to be metal, but could be a thin slice of hardwood like oak, maple, or bamboo. Even the prod could be made from bamboo, as suggested.

http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/33160/Mini-crossbow#.UEioSKBZzM8

Be sure to look at the second page of the discussion as well.

This idea could be extended even into making miniature roller nut locks using small diameter Delrin rod, and a variety of historically accurate tiller shapes.