Atlatls

[AustinTXShooter]

It has been a while since I have posted on BladeForums, so I am not really sure if this is the correct forum for this question or not. If not, I apologize and ask the moderators to please be gentle and move this to the correct place.

That being said, after watching a recent episode of Top Shot I decided I wanted to get an atlatl. I already have throwing knives and tomahawks and the atlatl seemed like a logical next step. I ordered one from atlatl.com, which seemed to be a reputable site, and that is where my problems began. I ordered on July 17 and was told via automatic email they would get back to me as soon as they could. Since then, nothing. They are not responding to emails and the phone number on their website just rings and rings and rings.

My question is does anyone have experience with this company? I realize I should have done this research before ordering, but it is too late for that so I have to do it now. I understand things come up, especially with smaller companies, so I am willing to give the owner time to fill the order. However, with no communication, I don't like my chances.

Also, if anyone here has experience with atlatls, where is a good site to purchase one? Thanks.

 

[Myal]

I dont know about buying online , Id encourage you to look online for info tho and have a shot at making one yourself .

youtube has a lot of how tos , making , throwing etc

the woomera tho , is often different to an alatal , it was a real multi tool

it was peeled from tree , about the length of a mans arm and the width of the palmof his hand , roughly
the sap wood was to the rear . the heaart wood to the front , it was worked green , left to dry a little while it was decorated , then smothered in fat to make it last , I think this helped it keep soome spring in it too

the whole thing is about spring ..

the tip that connects to the spear has a bone point bound to it , it sticks ino the spear butt and holds it for the throw , the handle usualy has a flint knive set in it , everything it usualy bound by roo sinew , and covered in resin , the sinew shrinks as it dries , cool stuff you bind it as tight as you can and it shrinks down tighter as it dried , then you cover it in a fair to midling primitive version of epoxy , makes it all water / blood proof , and stronger

the edges of the woomera were handy for breaking bones in combat , the knife set into the handle , think stoneage cleaver . you can put a lot of force behing your chops with that , usualy butchering an animal , but at times , in combat too tho if needed

the edges of the woomera too I have actually seen used to make a fire , used as a friction saw across a split log . theyre tough things .

the spears are light whippy projective delivery devices more than spears as known from europe .. the woomeras spear has to whip , when they fly they make a unique sound , stiff shaft wont work . not nearly so well anyway . My experience .

upside to them is it doesnt take long to be good enough to hit a roo sized target , with a bit of practice tho , you can get deadly accurate .

problems tho .. they tend to be relatively short range weapons , by comparison ... much of the hunting relies on the users stalking skill .

With fiberglass shafts and steel heads , I have seen alatal darts being thrown thru steel 44 gallon drums , impressive stuff for a hand thrown weapon

I read a few people specifying ratio of dart to alatal to user height ... aboriginals with their sper and woomera dont seem to follow those ratios tho .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vleudAj43tk

http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/austn-indigenous-tools-and-technology