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Catch Off-Guard would allow you to bash them without penalty, but you would not be able to apply your weapon focus etc. feats to it, because you're attacking with an improvised weapon, not a crossbow.
I agree with Dennis that it would likely be as a club, so 1d6. Unfortunately, that puts it in line with spiked armour, so you might as well save yourself the feat, unless you're desperate to have a bludgeoning weapon (in which case use a cestus, which is another option while still holding your crossbow).
@Mergy with hunting undead bludgeoning is probably a valueable thing.
i do really like this character concept, and since many lower order undead (zombies spring to mind) don't actually make use of weapons then they might be flat-footed for your attacks... though i don't have my book on me and can't look up the wording for catch off-guard.
OK I have an idea for a crossbow weilding undead slaying fighter. I dont really want to use any other weapon, more for flavors sake than anything else. I visualise him smashing the skull of a zombie, he let get a bit to close, with the stock of his crossbow. I also like the idea of stabbing a bloodsucker in the eye with handy bolt, after they sneak up on you while you are reloading.
Now, how do I pull this off? My first thought was Catch Off Guard, but I cannot find a reference to useing a weapon in an unintended fashion as making it improvised. I think it might work with the bolt seeing as how its ammunition not a weapon. I would like to be able to Weapon focus, Weapon Specialize, and Weapon Train these attacks.
Any suggestions would be apprciated.
Thanks Rob
I'd suggest that you have a look at the firearms section in UC to base a case to your GM on. From memory, there are a couple of 'oddities' in there around double weapons that are 'Ranged + Melee'. Have a word with the GM if you can make yourself a Crossbow / Club or Crossbow / Mace using what is in there as a guideline. You'd end up needing to spend the feat to be proficient with such a weapon though I'd suggest.
The other completely random thought (which also will depend on the GM). Run them as a gunslinger with a 'heavily customized' crossbow and specially made / tempered non-standard heavy bolts rather than an actual 'Gun'. Run everything rules wise as a Gunslinger with rifle, but visually, it's a REAL pretty crossbow with a much greater draw than normal because of adamantine arms on it and stuff like that (to justify the extra cost AND why it's not a normal crossbow). That whole class (to me) is written to support the idea of using your firearm as your only weapon.... including an out of the box pistol whip at 3rd.
I don't remember that rule, no, but it seems fair enough to me since the -4 is the standard improvised/non-proficient penalty.
I would personally allow a crossbow to be used as an improvised melee weapon, since it clearly is not designed for that (by default, hence improvised). So it should work with catch off guard. Pretty sweet concept!