Using a home-made Fustibal/Staff-Sling

T

TheMaskedMarauder

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Sep 8, 2005
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A little while ago I started exploring the idea of primitive weaponry, and I did a little research on the Fustibal/Staff Sling. I remember having made a sling and teaching it to some friends before, and the weapon sounded interest. I made one out of a Bow I had made years before which had cracked (sob). A little leather and string later, I tested the toy in my backyard, which I soon discovered was a bad idea. I tossed a lava rock and it exploded somewhere I couldn't see! I decided I better wait until I got to a more opportune location to try out the Fustibal...
Later in the day, or rather, night, I took the Fustibal out to a a nearby levi to see how far the weapon could throw ammunition, and I was pleasantly surprised. I'm going to play with it more today and in coming days as well. There's something remarkably satisfying about swinging that Festival, knowing that an object is now traveling at dangerously high speeds because of you. Has anyone ever used or made a Fustibal/Staff Sling? Also, does anyone know if these can be accurate? Windage doesn't seem to be a problem but adjusting the elevation and distance of the shots seems rather difficult.
 
A bit primitive for me, but sounds interesting. Any photos?

I've dabbled with the atlatl and blowgun, but not enough to get good with them. They are remarkably accurate with practice though and I see no reason why the staff sling shouldn't be accurate when the mechanics are right. Maybe it was meant to propel it's missiles long distance?
 
Is this the gizmo that's like the throwing arm on a trebuchet (AKA, wrongly, "catapult") - arm with pin at end to hold loop end of sling?
 
No, this should actually be more like a catapault, but portable.

Think of a sling attached to a semi-rigid staff to increase the lever arm action of the throw.
 
Watchful said:
No, this should actually be more like a catapault, but portable.

Think of a sling attached to a semi-rigid staff to increase the lever arm action of the throw.
Click to expand...

So both ends of the sling stay attached?
 
Well, it's designed so that one end of the string comes off. There's a little groove at the end of the staff so it doesn't detach until the time is right, so it takes a lot of adjusting. I could take pictures of mine, sure. I'm currently thinking of ways to improve the basic idea on it. For starters, I think I'm going to add a small cross section to tie the strings onto, so that there will actually be 3 strings holding the pouch... this will make it easier to keep ammo from falling out. I'm heading out in a minute or two to try and see if I can get any control over the distance! Aiming left and right though is remarkably accurate! I'll be sure to let you know what happens.



about the window... O_o... Sorry. I'll have to save up my lunch money to help you get a new one. Hit me back up in seven years.
 
Super size it, lash the "stick" (throwing arm) it to a cross-bar (replaces one hand) on a framework, use weight to provide the whipping action (replaces the other hand) -- presto, a trebuchet. Playing with the release pin is part the game. Funny that I have never read that these were the origin of the trebuchet.
 
Ahh, off course, if I did that, I'd have a treb then! Looks like pix will have to wait for saturday... I was experimenting today and it seems that aiming is difficult to explain, but I'll try and word out what I saw today:

So far as feel goes, there's two levels to throw at in terms of strength. Soft to medium and medium to hard. There's a distinct threshold in the middle, and depending on which level of strength you throw, it affects the distance.

I'm not too sure about throwing it hard, but throwing medium to soft, cutting off with the follow through and pointing the end of the stick is generally where the launched ammo will land. Throwing hard means a complete follow through, meaning that distance is then affected only by the strength with which the stone is thrown, and no longer the follow through...

If anyony can correct me if I'm wrong, that'd be nice. If anyone is interested in making one, I strongly encourage you and if you'd like tips I'd be glad to share some. Just using the Fustibal/ Staff-Sling is loads of fun and feels great. I can't wait to experience that rewarding euphora when I finally hit something I aim for.
 
I made one in the spring out of a poplar stick. My backyard is about 120 yards from a river and I can almost get there with the right size of rock. It also launches golf balls well. I had a number of notches on it that the fixed string would fit into that would vary the trajectory.

Still have the sling part but I smashed the stick killing a mouse that got in the house. I'll have to make another one of these days.
 
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