I'd take a piece of plain mild steel,,1/4" round.
Leave it and inch or so extra longer than needed for the shaft length of the part.
Upset one end by forging it (acetylene torch for heat) to rough shape of the cocking rod.
It's just a double elbow bend with some extra material there. Bump up the rod and then forge it out while hot will give that extra.
Then finish file that end to shape.
Place the extra length in the lathe,,or if you don't have one a drill press will do.
Slow the speed down, you might have to give it a few light wacks to straighten it from wobbling as it spins.
Then trim down the shaft the extra .025" to the finished dia.
A rough cut file works fine in a drill press set up
Case harden the ends of the part. Casenite if you have any left. They've removed it from the market I guess. I can't find it anymore.
The CherryRed surface hardening stuff works well too. Brownells has that as well as many other supply places.
...Just the way I'd do it.
