First attempt at an Atlatl !

[pitdog]

I was going to try and make an improved bundle bow today but there wasn't a Cedar tree in sight so no cordage meant no bow !

I then remembered the recent post about the Atlatl and thought....That's what I'll try today !!!

There is no way that I could carve one of the fancy ones with the finger holes etc....maybe if I worked on it for a month,LOL......so this was going to have to be a basic variation !

I did a few test throws and it was pretty lame, maybe with work on technique it would improve. I then figured I'd try it with a paracord loop handle~

This was a big improvement but my problem now became the volume of tree's around me. Having very little clear space my spear kept hitting one tree or another so I could never see just how far it would go.
I think this is the kind of weapon that would require lots of practice to perfect your throwing.
Give one a go and let me know your thoughts !!!!

It was really warm again today, having a dark coat Maisy soon warms up and starts to pant !

I wandered a little off trail and found a nice spot to drink my coffee~

This view would do just fine~

I then noticed something unusual under the rock my thermos was on. It had definitely been made and was probably by the First nation people. The rectangular part was thin copper plate that had been folded over the weaved grass ring. Having the copper it had obviously not been made on a whim but had been made and taken to this spot. Being a little superstitious when it comes to these things I took a quick pic and placed it back under the rock !

In case anyone was not yet sick to death of seeing my Breeden Woody here is another pic I took today !!!!

And a pic of the tiny terror !

 

[August West]

Looks awesome pit. :thumbup:

I am pretty far from an expert but I have been reading everything I can soak up about these things and they say that the dart is super important for accuracy, it has to flex just right to leave the atlatl properly. I am going to use rivercane for my darts, I have some cut and drying in the garage, and probably duct tape for fletching for the first darts. There are some awesome videos on youtube but these guys are amazing. Chris

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q8s_HDnQr0

 

[sicily02]

Great job, pitdog. I made a one many years ago. They are a neat way to throw a spear/ dart. I never practiced enough to get good with it but it was fun to make up and try out.


As to getting tired of seeing your Breeden made knife. I don't .

Take care,

Bryan

 

[Bolt-action bultema]

Nice atlatl Pitt. Your design is pretty close, but try shortening the shaft of your thrower and the spike. It works best if the dart rests almost on the atlatl.

August is right about the dart being important. It must have weight on the end in order to generate power in the throwing stroke, try tying a rock on the end of you shaft if you don't want to haft a point. Fletching helps a lot, even poor fletching.

I had some darts with detachable fore shafts, and to practice without breaking my hard knapper dart points, I made a simple weight out of a leather sac filled with about 100 .17 cal bbs.

Have fun with those tools, that is perhaps the most powerful pre-firearm weapon around.

 

[Mountain Lion]

You have my compliments on the atlatl, but I'm also impressed by your leaving that grass wreath where you found it. Good for you. I like the idea that hundreds of years from now someone else might find it, speculate as to its origin, and hopefully leave it as you did.

 

[upnorth]

Cool, I have what I believe to be an original atlatl stone point. It's a ''McKean'' point aprox. 3000 years old give or take. I always watch for stone spear\arrowheads while metal detecting the fields out here. My last one was a broken half point found just before the snow flew.

 

[Bolt-action bultema]

Nice up north. The site I worked on in Wyoming last year yielded a couple McKean points, and they are indeed dart points. In fact, most of what people think of as arrow points in north America are in fact points for the dart. The bow and arrow didn't make it down from Canada until quite recently in the latter part of the Holocene. 10k+ years of dart and atlatl with maybe 1k using bows and arrows.

Really good on you for leaving that artifact where younfound it. Superstition aside, that belongs to someone else, and it was left there for a reason. Pitt, you deserve respect for showing the respect the owner deserves.:thumbup:

 

[Bladite]

can't wait to see how this flies in an open field...

i should get back to making one of my own again

 

[lightleak]

You have my compliments on the atlatl, but I'm also impressed by your leaving that grass wreath where you found it. Good for you. I like the idea that hundreds of years from now someone else might find it, speculate as to its origin, and hopefully leave it as you did.

+1