Fun little project

[hasco]

I am always looking for excuses to use my fiddlebacks so I thought I would post a few pics of the atlatl and dart I made for my son. Actually I made a new atlatl for me too. This lady finger was my first fiddleback and the one I have used the most. I absolutely love it.

The tip of the atlatl is almost identical to the pot hook on the try stick. I used a small saw to make the initial cuts, but you could easily do it without that step. The wood is california bay. The dart is made from bamboo as I have a backyard full of it.

The dart has a hard tip made out of bay inserted into it. On this one I tried making a little step so the tip wouldn't get jammed in, but it ended up snapping off so I made a new one without the step. I intentionally made the tip blunt in case he threw it at me.

If you have never thrown an atlatl, they are pretty fun to mess around with. I call this last photo "flat tire".

 

[allen456]

Very cool project and nice work!

 

[Omega Leather Works]

Very cool! How far can you chuck that with accuracy? I think I'll try that.

 

[VANCE]

thats awesome!

 

[cmroberts1]

Really Neat! Great project!

Martin

 

[killharder]

Nice atlatl.

 

[thurin]

hasco that is sweet! I'm gonna have to try to build one of these. Nice shot on the Fat Tire. Great reason to down a case of 'em. "Sorry, I need a target."

 

[Joe Duder]

Nice project. I love that Ladyfinger.

Ever used one of those spears to dispatch any of those Santa Cruz mountains deer? Judging by how many I see on hwy 17, I'd say they're quite plentiful.

 

[Kirkwood]

Cool homemade atlatl. I'll have to give that a try sometime.

 

[schmittie]

This is a neat little project. I've always wanted to try an atlatl.

 

[NoFair]

Great project. Used to make something like that with my Brother as a kid. Quite a lot of penetrating power even when thrown by a 12 year old

 

[hasco]

Very cool project and nice work!

Thanks Allen!

Very cool! How far can you chuck that with accuracy? I think I'll try that.

Thanks man. People can throw them really far ... as far as accuracy it just a matter of practice. A lot of people just throw them far for fun. I am working on getting accurate with closer targets. Instead of reaching way back I keep it close to my ear, kind of like the way Elway used to throw the football. I have heard some cool stories of people getting small game and fish at distance with them. It is a lot of fun. If you don't have bamboo then willow can make a good dart.

thats awesome!

Really Neat! Great project!

Martin

Thanks guys!

Nice atlatl.

Thanks killharder and thanks for helping me realize my misspelling of atlatl.

hasco that is sweet! I'm gonna have to try to build one of these. Nice shot on the Fat Tire. Great reason to down a case of 'em. "Sorry, I need a target."

Lol. It makes it harder to aim but more fun!

Nice project. I love that Ladyfinger.

Ever used one of those spears to dispatch any of those Santa Cruz mountains deer? Judging by how many I see on hwy 17, I'd say they're quite plentiful.

Not yet

Cool homemade atlatl. I'll have to give that a try sometime.

I definitely recommend it. It is super easy and fun.

This is a neat little project. I've always wanted to try an atlatl.

Thanks schmittie. They are so fun to throw. As soon as you take one out, everybody wants to try it. The project I really want to do is a kuksa like the one you made.

Great project. Used to make something like that with my Brother as a kid. Quite a lot of penetrating power even when thrown på a 12 year old

They are even more fun as an adult!

 

[Fiddleback]

This is neat as can be. Can you please post pics of the knock in the dart, and some lengths. I pictured the atlatl longer. Does that vary?

 

[Mistwalker]

Sweet!! I haven't made of of these in decades. I need to do a project like this with my daughter!

 

[hasco]

This is neat as can be. Can you please post pics of the knock in the dart, and some lengths. I pictured the atlatl longer. Does that vary?

Thanks Andy! The one in the previous picture is short because it was made for my four year old son. He couldn't even wrap his fingers around it and still hold the dart so I had to whittle the handle down. I think on average they are around 22-24" in length but I have seen longer and shorter. Some people get really tricked out and add weight to the atlatl. I like to use body parts for measurements so both my son and mine are about the length of our arms. The darts are about the length of our heights. I think there is a lot of variance though depending on what you want to do. Here are a few more pics of the lengths and the knock (sometimes called spur) in the darts.

Here is a pic of preparing the end of a willow dart.

Willow dart.

Bamboo dart.

Sweet!! I haven't made of of these in decades. I need to do a project like this with my daughter!

I bet she would love it! Here is a pic of the little man in action.

 

[xxwjtxx]

Great pics dude; looks like an awesome time! Good manly father / son bonding time as well (sharp knives, projectiles, fat tire ale)

 

[cmroberts1]

Great pictures. Really Cool!!!

Martin