Aluminium or bamboo blowpipes

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
Messages
4,453

I come from a country that boasts of excellent bamboo blowpipes.

However, due to science and technology, blowpipes are now made from aluminium. I also have one of these.

What I am not sure of is which type of blowpipe is better. In the jungle, bamboo blowpipes, of course, blend in with the environment.

I have seen the aluminium ones. They are efficient but seem to lack the "character" of the bamboo blowpipes.

Who has used both types? Give me an assessment of both as far as hunting is concerned.



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Make Love your strongest weapon. Compassion your shield and forgiveness your armour.
 
My personal one is an old aluminum .40 caliber 3-piece. Each section is a different length allowing you to us it in 4 different overall lengths up to 6' long, but has a carrying length of a little over 2 feet. It may not have the true character of a bamboo one, but it's always worked beautifully with really fantastic power and accuracy.

For hunting, I've seen a good sized armadillo taken with the same model (bead dart, wire, with broadhead). I've actually taken small rodents with just a bead (blunt force hit), although I wouldn't recommend it for anything larger (raccoons don't even care much when hit with just a bead).

cj
 
one non-tactical thought to keep in mind is that some people have a negative reaction to aluminum. Aluminum is actually a neurotoxin. Too much of it can cause brain damage. There is a correlation between people that are exposed to significant contact with aluminum and alzheimer's disease and parkinson's disease. There is also a correlation between aluminum and certain degenerative nerve and muscular diseases. Keep in mind that these are only correlations and do not indicate a cause/effect relationship, but i personally don't care for the idea of taking chances, especially considering how much aluminum we're already exposed to - - -lots of cookware is aluminum, coke cans are aluminum, there's aluminum in coffee creamers, pancake batter, drinking water, salt, any powdered food, processed cheese, etc.


Aluminum overexposure is a known cause of certain kidney diseases and bone diseases.

Based on all that, I wouldn't wanna be practicing all the time with an aluminum blowgun. I'd take the bamboo myself.


 
Actually, the one I use has the formed plastic mouthpiece which also prevents inhaling of the dart. As such, no part of me actually touches aluminum, and in fact cannot unless I stick my finger down the business end.

All the same, your warning is definately something to consider when shopping for one.

cj
 
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