Knife tied to a long stick: to spear or not to spear?

[Myal]

some of the barbs and points are bone , others are hardwood , these were made by an old guy who wanted some of the tribal ways remembered even if it is in a museum .

I have seen nails and even heavy fencing wire used as points and barbs tho , as well as glass , stone bone ,hardwoods , anything to give a bit extra sharpness to the point , and add to the internal trauma as the animal thrashes and the spear flogs around inside it

its not pretty , but it is effective ..

 

[Codger_64]

...its not pretty , but it is effective ..

Mama always said "Pretty is as pretty does"..

Some of those spear designs are works of art. And some are great examples of form and function. Others are "field expedient". All of them look like they would work though. Its funny to think about, but most of the stone "arrowheads" we see in museums and find at old camp sites today are not arrowheads at all but rather casting dart points. Many were used with a variation of the atlatl, a handle used to double leverage and speed of the cast dart.

Codger

 

[coote]

This is a great thread...thanks everyone.

Great photo Myal. You know, I've seen quite a few pictures of spears, but this is the first time I remember noticing the 'tied on' separate barb. What an excellent idea. That would certainly help hold a fish or a bird to stop it wriggling off the spear and escaping.