atlatl

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user 972

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I recently did some trading and got me an atlatl. you know, one of those spear chunking thangs. :D
anyway, last Saturday I had some time and went to the archery range at Lake Graham ( TWRA lake at Jackson) and tried it out. a feller can throw his shoulder out if he isn't careful. I only 'chunked' about 12 times then grabbed my LB to shoot at the targets for awhile.

if you can tell,the feathers are only tied on the ends. I was surprised how well they spun the darts. the darts are made of cane. a wood dowel was added to put a glue on field point on the end.


 
You will throw til your arm falls off. The last one I made is a Basketmaker style but I like the "Kentucky" style better with an antler handle and antler tine hook. River cane makes the best darts I've thrown.

They are SO addicting. I've still got a lot to learn, and I get some funny looks when someone pulls in the driveway and sees darts flying. But, watching some guys who can really throw, it's amazing how good they are out to about twenty yards.

Plus, the scrap ends from my Osage staves are the perfect length for atlatls.

Load up on Ibuprofen and have some fun!
 
I got to work on my darts. lost a tip in that buffalo target on one and the 'nock' end on the other is not deep enough to stay in the hook good.

maybe I need to make a Hill style quiver to carry the darts. :lol:

LL, what is the shortest a dart can be and still fly well?
 
Eddie,

The shortest dart that will fly well for me is about five feet in length. Six to six and a half footers seem to be the most forgiving and consistent.

It seems to me that darts are a lot like arrows, spine is the key. One guy who was helping me at Old Stone Fort, where I first threw a dart while attending a knap in, said that everybody is a little different in regards to spine weight.

I don't know if you lurk on PaleoPlanet.com or not, but they have an atlatl forum there and lots if good info. Mark Bracken, a heckuva good flintknapper and several times world champion atlatl thrower, gives some good advice as well.
 
I haven't been on PaleoPlanet in so long I actually have forgotten about it. thanks for the info.
 
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