Staff slings are easy to make and use. The only limit to the size of rocks you can throw is your own strength. Once you try this, you will wonder how it was ever forgotten. slinging.org
Because he has long hair - offeten the guys hwo have Real hair - which is long they tend to be better - tend to do more things and better - master - and how much less cuted times was the hair better will be the guy's skills ability to master and all this
I made one with my friends sadly we had to use it in the oy open space there was near where we lived which was a field the has a playground at one end and a fountain on the other We shot it at the playground
As a visiting traveler from the timeline in which you dominated and ruled the Earth with your staff sling since childhood, I can confirm. These folk have no idea how lucky they truly are. I had to come here to escape you, and still you haunt me.
I made one without knowing that it was a staff sling I used a reed thingy and tied it around a stick while making a looser knot at the end you swing it and the knot at the end will loosen and fling the rock at the top your aim was where you were looking it was quite ineffective due to the way it released the rock but ey
@@Aethelvlad I used your time machine while you are asleep. Now I have a shield on my left arm and a tompson gun in my right hand and dominate the earth from the age of 10 instead.
I remember making these with you at Bushmoot some years ago. When I got back I made another one with my nephew so he could use it to throw balls for his dog to fetch. I was the best uncle ever at that point thanks to what I learned from you.
@@davidmorningstar have you ever recorded the speed at which those stones go flying when you sling them ? They look to be moving pretty dam fast ! But it would be nice to know ! Thanks for the content ! Very interesting
I wonder why it's never shown in historical movies or documentary films? It would've been a great detail if it was used to fling grenades or moldof cocktails or the like ☄
@@Dav624 so this is David remarking upon the prevalence of Davids upon seeing David commenting on a video by David about a weapon that was probably referenced as being used by King David.
@Warcrime Appreciator 2015 Just like combat staffs/staves. They get no real representation either. Even though both of these weapons are really good and really old. Kind of easy to make too, considering wooden sticks are relatively easy to come by in real life just as much as in a typical rpg setting.
while I've never seen it in games I know a novel/manga where it's featured at least in the first few chapters of the story, which got me interested enough to find this video. The series is called Re:Monster, it's an Isekai and the main character starts his new life as a Gobiln, and retains his original power of Absorption that lets him eat anything and gain their abilities for himself. They use a Sling Staff as early as chapter 2, though as they get better stuff they eventually phase it out for other ranged weapons.
I made one of these as a kid after studying trebuchets. I didn’t realize it was actually a weapon that was used. With the right size rock these slings can pack an incredible punch.
I've known about staff slings since I was a kid, but never really gave them much attention, after this demonstration I realise they're a lot more powerful than what I would have assumed, thanks.
Excellent description with key details about ranging and cord length. I'm writing a fantasy novel and these weapons are absolutely going to be appearing in battles. The distance you were 'throwing' those rocks was astonishing and the throwing method does not require the kind of space around a slinger that the standard slings require. You could get a large number of slingers using these in quite compact formation and with considerable accuracy against an approaching enemy for a long period of 'charge' or approach. Fascinating.
I have used hand slings but not staff slings on a reenactment battlefield. Compact formations are not good during the missile exchange part of a battle. If the enemy is using missile weapons against you, then you want your own missile troops to be widely spaced so there is lots of open ground for enemy shots to fall harmlessly into. Visibility is a huge deal. If you cant see past your own people to the enemy, you can't aim at them. Open formations help here too. A slight rise in the ground is a massive help. Open formations can move fast to reposition themselves, exploiting a break or dodging a cavalry charge. A compact block of people snarls up instantly unless very well drilled.
@@davidmorningstar On the other hand a close formation allows for a better concentration of force. Spread your forces too thin and some of your slingers will be out of range most of the time.
Talking about fantasy novels, this weapon remember me the jubak=staff+slingshoot of the kenders from Dragon Lance..mayber you can mix the idea with a spear in your novel, to have a middle and long range weapon, at same time can be a walking staff during the travel, about ideas, do you listen about Canary shepper leap..? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WpAj_WFOJng.html Other weapon idea will be a mix from argentine boleadora+ the iron spiked balls from a flail..(imagine using that like juggling puyos with only one chain in close range, being able to throw..)xD
I must disagree with you - there are ways to throw the stone from a sling that require as much space as seen in this video. Usually they are called overarm styles/techiques. Good luck with the novel!
@burteriksson I have 'built' a world. Tens of thousands of years of history (obviously not every detail!), multiple species and civilization models. Essentially a pre-electricity kind of industrial potential. No shortage of basic raw materials for all manner of complex 'making'.
No intention of making one of these, but when someone named Morningstar with a castle in the background wants to tell me something... damn straight I stop and listen!
I created fustibals based upon the medieval portrayals of them, with a pouch directly anchored to the shaft, and the release ring (I used a small brass ring) attached directly to the other end of the pouch. Essentially the same setup you have, only without the cord at all. The result? A highly accurate fustibal that can take a projectile and fire it like a rifle shot, as you bring it directly behind you, and snap it forward, almost as though you're executing a vertical sword strike to the low position. Extremely effective.
@@6Sally5 The principal is the same - you are in effect making your arm longer so the ball is travelling faster. Having a sling pouch on a cord adds a whip effect and multiplies the speed at which the projectile is moving at release.
Loving the simple straightforward explanation. When I saw this, my first thought was: the dog would love this. And then you go and give a tutorial on how to make it for tennis balls 🤣
I've built myself several versions of staffslings by now. I am usually using quit a long string. In playing around with it I discovered that when I swung it horizontaly my stones tents to fly pretty straight ... in the direction of my shoulderline... so all I had to do is getting my shoulder to point towards my target. For me this works especially in closer distances.
What an engrossing presentation and demonstration! Excellent presence and performance by the professional in front of the camera, and wonderful narration to top it all off. A 10/10 video
Brilliant! I personally have never seen this before, what an amazing bit of kit. I can just imagine an army using this to great effects during a battle. Paracord extremely versatile and underrated by so many. Thanks I shall research this further.
TY!! After 65 years of using multiple weapons, You have presented me with another. My fav is the atlatyl, but the staff sling has the advantage of being more readily available, and just as discouraging to attackers.
I'm making threaded sockets for the end of my hiking staff. A screw on nylon slinging tip, a slingshot crosspiece for a slingshot rifle. Both of these would be light and easy to store.
You are very calming to watch. Good job. Ima try this. I live in America so I’ve got guns. Unfortunately I live in California so I can’t shoot them anywhere. This looks fun and cheaper and quieter. 👍
What a beautiful weapon and dog ball throw stick, and what a great video - nothing extra. Video was as precise as the weapon. Must make one for myself. This is the same principle of movement as a Samurai sword strike from Kendo. Elegant, deadly, effective. Thank you!
This Weapon is a beauty! The emotion ( screams and curse words galore) Ive just created a few houses down by hurling half full dog poo bags is most satisfying. Thanks Dav
This video help me make my own. Went into the backyard (to an abnormally large stick pile) found a stick, did some cuts, added some para cord, and I now have a staff sling. I did have to use a couple different sticks of course, but in the end, I got something that worked more often than not, and I find it how crazy this can give you an advantage in distance over just using a normal sling (at least for me it was quite the advantage)!
As kids, our D&D Staffs had a hollow core that we put metal pieces, or stones in and whip it just like this. Then, I discovered putting tent stakes in the shaft and whip it like this. It is as powerful as an atlatl. You can easily impale a tree.
We used to make similar for throwing "darts" that we'd made from sticks and playing cards ;-) It can easily be doctored for throwing spears / javelins too! It works very simply off the law of levers... little movement this end, tons of movement the other end.
@@AndrewFosterSheff69 We also made a dart thrower, but not quite like this. The stick was flexible, like a fishing rod and the "arrows" were cut out of wooden shingles. We'd tie a knot on the end of the cord and fit that into a corresponding notch cut in the side of the arrows. We'd hold the stick up overhead with one hand, pull back the arrow with the other and let it go. It flew great, although hard to aim.
I started 2 years ago but had to research many sources, including Trébuchets. This video alone not only resumes everything I know, but I now have the answer to my ultimate question: what is a hook good for? One thing I have been doing differently is having a much longer tip for the loose end to travel (about 2 inches) Now I have to go and make a couple more staffs, WOOHOO!
The hook helps to keep the cord on the shaft until you throw, it can slip off a plain end when you dont want it to. This makes it easy to move with the sling loaded, e.g. on a city wall you can reload behind cover, step out and shoot, step back into cover. It also delays the release which means the cords are shorter with a hook than with a plain end, this makes the sling easier to handle when reloading quickly. You can also transfer a bit more more power by staying on the staff for a greater arc of throw.
@@Flashahol rewatch the bit where I talk about the rounded surface and the tapering around it. A bad hook with sharp edges is worse than no hook at all because it will wear through your loop.
I had the benefit of growing up in "the before times" when being recorded acting "aggressively," or throwing a thing at other things, wasn't even a thought we had, so I got away with taking full advantage of being a latchkey kid. I made and used tons of Lacrosse sticks, slings & sling shots (they are different and I hate it, even today, when people use the terms interchangeably), D bows, crossbows, spears & javelins galore. I've made and used Atlatls, Amentum, and Ankyle (not sure if I got the words right but one is a strap wrapped around the shaft that comes off during the throw, and the other is permanent loops on the shaft) Pilum & Plumbata etc... My parents were not completely hands off though, and at an early age (12-ish) they recognized that any time I had a combination of sticks and string in my possession, "Interesting" things would happen (stuff got broken) and "Concerned" (angry ;) ) neighbors would be on the phone, so they quickly determined that combination of items was to be outlawed for me. The point? During all of my experimenting and research of "primitive" ways to chuck stuff at other stuff, I have never encountered a handheld Trebuchet! Nice video, thanks for posting.
A person who has heard of the amentum is a rare beast indeed! The amentum and ankyle are the same thing, the first is the Latin name and the second is Greek. They can be either permanently attached for military use or wrapped on and detaching for gymnastic use. I have slo-mo videos of both types....
@@Pygar2 Sheep herders also had a staff for goading the sheep and beating up robbers. And everybody carried a stick for self defense back in those days. David did not necessarily have a staff sling. It is just a theory that is 50/50. Either sling type would have K.O.ed Goliath. But staff slings are not as accurate as regular slings... they are better against massed troops/Phalanxes, and mobs.
Thanks for the history lesson! When we're young my cousins made and perfected our aim with simple Slings without the staff. We usually used marble-size stones for ammo. They're Very accurate so we had to stop our "war" when one of us drew blood !
If societal collapse ever takes 'us' back to primitive warfare, whomever hires the army of eccentric Englishmen who have been keeping the skills alive, is going to have quite an advantage!
@@pricklypear7516 Well, that is a fair point, but then again, if you want to be really pendantic, the second sentence in your post lacks a subject, and is therefore not grammatically correct. At least my transgression was just a typo... I think we need to settle this with fustibali at 30m.
I made one of these a while back and have been playing with it since. I made mine to throw golf ball sized projectiles, and golf balls since I had a bunch of them... they are all in the neghboring field now, so I use rocks.
@Mr. Cool I have built several, I have a .75 cal one for the fourth of july to make noise with. .... probably ilegal to make your own, but it'd be realy hard to shoot someone with! .. they would have to stand still for a while so I could load, aim and light the fuse...
@Mr. Cool A few years ago, a friend of mine made a pedestal mounted semi-automatic air-powered golf ball launcher, using a windshield wiper motor to trigger an air valve. By using a gravity feed tube and feed hopper above the 'firing chamber' he could get continuous stream of golf balls flying through the air. He took it to a nearby frozen lake to see how far he could shoot a ball, and said he lost sight of it in the distance. I never had the chance to see it in operation, as he disassembled it soon after testing it to use the parts for other projects.
@Mr. Cool as a teenager, my friends and I made a mortar by sinking a PVC pipe into 5 gallons of concrete. Using dry ice as the charge, we could launch 24 oz bottles 300 yards.
Yes. Deca B. Nothing but BRILLIANT! Where I am. Night sight. Determine direction and range. And the short answer is. The buck stops HERE! Voila! Thank you kindly David Morningstar. Excellent!
I finally have a yard big enough to play around with one of these so I'm glad to find these great detailed instructions. The 30 degree hook and cord length were things i was looking for
While not a trebuchet, look online for trebuchet design calculators. I'm guessing you can optimize the hook and cord and sling length by using similar data to the trebuchet to squeeze more efficiency out.
When I was young, we used to make throwing arrows, using a short length of string as a force multiplier. The string was knotted at one end, wound around the throwing hand and tensioned along the arrow shaft by wrapping the free end around a notch in the shaft and back over the knot. This, effectively, extends the length of the throwing arm. Like your slings, the string releases easily as it is only held in place by the tension over the knot.
@@endprg6477 Вот, я не замерял. Потому что бросал из садового участка, а за забором пожарная полоса. И улетало в лес. Получается метров на сорок минимум. Камни брал крупные. Где-то с кулак
I can just imagine Centurion Dirtius Harrius standing over a rebellious slave and grunting; ‘I know what you’re thinking, did he fire one stone or one tennis ball?’
I made one yesterday , it took a couple of times with the length of the cord but I got it . Me and my Son's are having fun ! Thanks for your videos ! Today it's a sling .
Thanks! Its only now after years of meaning to do it that I have got off my backside and started producing proper videos explaining stuff. Your videos on long range slinging are amazing. I havent solved the question of how Greeks etc. practiced their aim with lead bullets. They fly out of sight so you cant see where they land, and they bury themselves in the ground so you can only throw them once. How did they get good enough to fight effectively? I have an idea about using targets in shallow water on sandy beaches to show splashes and slow the bullets, but I havent actually tried it.
@@davidmorningstar thanks, i ponder a lot on these aspects too. i like to think the ancients did just as ive tried to do with rocks, and just as you described (using water and splashes). we know some greek islanders used long slings and slung for distance out to sea with heavy rocks. ive only slung lead a few times now (covid has been an interruption), but intend to continue as soon as possible. the idea of using water impacts in shallows to recycle lead shot is fascinating, it never occurred to me at all. ive always been forced to regard lead shot (which i sling for maximum distance) as unrecoverable and destroyed. ive always suspected that islanders (especially slingers) are particularly fond of ranged combat due to the very solid (and risk free) feedback from slinging into the sea. i know that i developed my hand throwing (in the absence of the sling concept) from lobbing rocks into the ocean. when i found the sling, i was straight back to the sea, and have been slinging on beaches ever since. its nice to see you speaking and giving instruction after so many years of silent slowmo, will be watching for more.
Depending on the distance the ancients practiced at, various methods could have been used to recover the lead shots. One could have been to use large sheets of fabric or animal skins for shorter distance throwing, the sheets could hang freely from horizontal ropes, that way when impacted by the lead shot, the sheet would absorbe the impact while stoping the lead shot on its tracks and allowing it to fall to the ground almost intact. For longer distances, they might have prepared a patch of land free of grass and cover it with several inches of white sand which surface could be smoothed out before practicing sessions, that way the lead shot would disturb the sands surface when landing and be easy to locate after training sessions. Or both techniques could have been implemented together for more accurate shooting sessions. But of corse that’s just my imagination, which is a pretty active one.
I made something like that when I was in 3rd grade. I called it the "wick stick"😂 We were always making something. The early 70's were amazing. Thanks for the video
I like that the staff and ammo can basically be scavenged and all you really need is a pouch and cord. I’ll have to whip up a couple and try it out. Thanks!
That was demonstrated very well. You could educate a lot of RU-vidrs on how to do a video. I could see that little bit of knowledge might also come in handy some day.
Could you mitigate the release angle issue of the longer sling strands if you changed the angle of the notch in the end of the staff? I imagine a staff with less of a notch would release earlier. Conversely, a more extreme notch would delay the release further. This makes me wonder about a staff sling with an angled peg at the end in place of a notch, but make the peg movable so that you can fine tune the release even further.
Yes, if the notch angle was steeper then the cords would be shorter for the same trajectory. A variable angle peg would be interesting because you could look for the perfect combination of slip angle and cord length for distance.
I think the main issue is practicality. By simply untying and adjusting you can leave the angle alone, whereas you could not reasonably continue to increase and decrease angles... on the same staff at least.
@@pop9095 the practical solution is to delay the power slightly, this delays the release and gives you a flatter trajectory. Start soft, kick in the force when the staff has moved a bit. It becomes very natural after a while.
I bet you were fun as hell to hang out with back in grade school. "Alright Davey, we have 3 maybe 4 kids trying to raid our tree house. What's the plan?"
As a maker and shooter of slingshots, I never knew about this very effective medieval weapon, and your video very clearly explains all the steps involved: excellent! I've given the concept a try with two 25 mm diameter wood staff slings, one measuring 100 cm and the other 130 cm in length. I use paracord cut to an active length of 40 cm, and a leather pouch for fist-sized rounded stones. I found that the 30 degrees angle of the string loop release ramp sends stones to a fairly high trajectory, which seems to be counterproductive for distance (wasted energy), and subsequently reduced the angle to roughly 20 degrees for a flatter trajectory. Practicing this skill on a lake shore for safety reasons (and plenty of "ammo"), I seem to achieve roughly 70 meters distance with the method you show in your video. Definitely good fun, and at times some strange looks from the public. A question for you: is a "fisherman's" knot stronger than the constrictor knot ? The forces involved seem to require the strongest knot possible. Keep up the good work!
The fisherman's knot is extremely strong, it will not pull loose. In fact a disadvantage of this knot is that it is very hard to untie once it has been heavily loaded. Great to hear about your artillery experiments!
A few years ago, a friend introduced me to the trebuchet. I wanted to make one using a garage door spring rather than a counterweight for less space consumption. But after seeing this, I think I'll scrap that idea all together. You get some good throws out of that. I'm impressed.
Watched this video. Made a staff sling out of my mothers broom handle. Went down with the dog to the horses field. To test it out I put a 1/4 of a red brick into the sling and gave it a go. Threw that brick further than I have ever thrown anything in my life. Made me think I might be able to play golf with it, maybe?
I've used a similar concept with PVC piping. Just slip a rock or bearing small enough to fit in, swing it overhand at said target. Takes some practice but super fun.
My dad was a plumber and I did this with off cut's of pipe I found in the back of his van when I was a kid, I was amazed how far I could launch stones...
Thankyou for this demonstration. I go backpacking on the Appalachian Trail every year, and I always carry a 45 inch staff, mainly for stability hiking up/down mountains. At night, I have to hang food up in trees to keep bears from getting it. I think this staff sling will help me get the bear line over high limbs.
I think if you tie a loop a few inches below the weight on the end of your line, put that loop on the end of your staff and throw, this would do the trick.
I was half expecting some wizardry stuff after seeing the thumbnail, a man with long hair holding a staff above his head. I've never came across with "staff sling" before, this was quite educational and entertaining, thx.
This is a really interesting video. I played around with a home made sling over lockdown, but never thought to use a staff with it. Also, and I'm not usually one to notice jewellery, but your One Ring wedding band is pretty neat haha
Middle aged fellas teaching us about weapons on youtube is the best niche This weapon is incredibly effective for what it is! Imagine hundreds of those stones coming at you at once as you charge towards them
Awesome! Glad I saw this again. I made a sling and attached it to my customized combat cane I practice with everyday and take everrywhere. I keep making craters. So I was tired and didn't shorten it enough. Made more craters further away. Go out today and adjust it some more. I practice dual and triple weilding including knifes and small throwable tomahawks. I EDC all of it everywhere except I only the cane goes into federal facilities with me, not that I dig going into the turds. I got other stuff to carry with my cane that, like the cane, ain't weapons. So my Cane sling is detacheable, made of single cord. Can be mounted and loaded and locked. Then raised and released and slung. I just gotta not fuck up. Wish I was doing this with tennis balls instead of gravel and found golf balls.
1. I never heard of a staff sling before oh, so this is the first time seeing anything about one. 2. And being the first introduction to a staff-sling I consider myself fortunate that it was your video that provided the introduction 3. Because the production quality overall was excellent. 4. And the instructional value and presentation we're both top-notch. Kudos and appreciation!
I have been watching staff sling videos for a while now and this is by far the best. It's the only one that seems to conserve energy by using a almost swordsman like front strike instead of putting immense pressure on their rotator cuff by swinging the staff across their body
Your video is amazingly precise complete with no wasted time. Thank you for demonstrating both the device and a beautiful example of what RU-vid videos can and should be. David hitting Goliath used the released sling but without the added extended moment. (If you believe that story….but the technology obviously existed then)
I see a certain degree of comfort in modifying a walking staff accordingly when out in Bear country. It might just be a peace of mind thing, but I like it.
@@DaveDexterMusic A bear might actually get more angry after being hit with a rock. To hit anything would be a fluke in the first place. The stick part might be alright in some tree climbing scenarios if you don't carry hiking poles. Hit that bear in the nose if it climbs after you. That might deter it since it's a sensitive part of their body. I wouldn't go anywhere in bear country without a bear spray. I just watched Justin Outdoors hike some Canadian trail and he got charged by a bear. I could feel the adrenaline through the screen. Luckily he was ready with a spray and it worked.
I LOVE this presentation. Clear. Brief. Image/Video that's meaningful. NOT Designed for Entertainment but for Teaching. Wonderful. I rarely Subscribe to anything but do for David Morningstar. I had not heard of a staff sling before but I Am Going To Make One (or more) perhaps later today.
