In this video I carve a primitive spear thrower/atatl using only hand tools. I talk about what the atlatl is and why it's my go-to primitive hunting weapon. I finish the video with a quick demonstration of the atlatl in action. `
When I was a kid you could buy wooden boomerangs that would about take your head off from the sporting goods/toys department. That was back about 5-10 years before they sold lawn darts which were discontinued in stores. Hey different time back then. I had a .410 shotgun bird shot and a few slugs I never got to use at the age of 10. People probably don’t believe that but I’m sure there’s many mature gentlemen could say the same. 😏 Liked the upload
That is a beautiful piece you made. Historically they built some that wide and heavy. That thing would tear up my elbow in one season. I throw competition. I built my atlatl similar to that other one you showed. Except slightly wider and a single finger hole. I throw 7'6' river cane darts with copper points. I build darts and atlatls for World Atlatl Association competitions.(ISAC) That other atlatl you got looks like a Thunderbird Atlatl. Bob is a great guy.
@@rhysfontaine ISAC-International Standard Accuracy Contest. You don't need to be a member of WWA-World Atlatl Association to participate in our events. We throw 5 darts at a target from 15 meters and 5 from 20meters for International contest. We throw several different practice games before throwing the ISAC. The most participating states are Ohio, MO., Pa. and NY. Yet folks have some events all over the US, France, Spain, Italy. In Ohio there is an event every other weekend from middle May till Halloween. We teach at these events and anyone can join in and throw an ISAC or other games. I'm from In. and I hold 1-3 events per year usually. The rest of the season, I travel to SE Ohio and SW Pa. to campout and throw. Mo. has an event almost every week. The people are all great and we have a great time. Check us out if you get a chance. Here is all the info and scheduled events throughout the world: worldatlatl.org/about-us/ Note: many events are still being held at private property because of Covid. Most events are normally held at Flint Nappers events or Native archeological sites and summer festivals in various state parks. Would be great to see you at an event sometime. Many of the top ten atlatlist throw at the Ohio events is why I mostly go there. They will hook you up big time in Ohio, Ny or Mo. The real deal about best equipment, native history atlatl history, hunting groups ........
For functionality wouldn't a narrower channel improve functionality in two distinct aspects? One: Hold the dart securely with no small lateral movements. Two: Reduced noise as the Atlatl is swinging through the air. I understand the need to play with design. The finger holes remind me of the basket weavers atlatls. Their design used a shaped stone at a balance point to keep darts flights level. Which I believe is also an important improvement on this design. Those things said it's still nice work on creative and functional primitive weapon, and tool design.
The Atlatl has long been one of my favorite weapons. As I usually make fun out of a stick I believe I'm going to try to make me one or two like the ones on the right of the pictures you showed the longer ones. I have some Maple that may turn out pretty good I also have some Oak that I believe will turn out pretty good too. Thanks for showing how you made yours and I shall try making me one besides out of a stick. I went into your archive to see if you had tanned a skin with hair on it and I didn't find one I'm pretty sure I know the other things that you showed but I will check them out. Thanks for the video. Stay vigilant!
Outstanding! You will likely enjoy Matt Graham's book "Epic Survival" if you haven't read (or listened to) it already. Also Arthur Haines videos are tops, and his book "A New Path" is magnum opus material. Last, the recent text "The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity is superb. My Uncle travels with his Atlatl dart heads from field in the northeast, and many other stone tools. But I never realized how much of what used to be thought of as the agricultural period of human history was in fact a blend of agriculture and hunting/foraging. Keep up your fine work! Oh, and Tom Mcleroy has some top videos. Don't miss the Mojave Scissor trap if you haven't seen it!!!
The carved concave elongated shape was used not only for throwing a spear, but also used to hold water, food/plants, or as a club for combat or a killing blow to a wounded animal. Some were also equipped with a flint blade on the end of the handle.
Thanks! My good friend harvested a bunch of wood from a fallen tree about a year ago and just kept it in a dry place until fully dry. The wood I used was some left over from that.
I plan on putting out a how to throw a Atlatl sometime in the next few months. Some other people like Matt Graham have good short videos on throwing a Atlat on RU-vid already.
