OT: Next step in primitive-weapon hunting

That explains the scalps we saw at this year's Memorial Day parade. And I thought they were fake!

-- Ed Huntress

I was an atlatlist for years before my shoulder gave out. Google Atlatl. I competed in the World Atlatl Association competition at Valley of Fire, Nevada in their yearly competition. My son won first place in the juvenile division one year. I used to teach Scouts, and give demos at Scout-a-Ramas and Rendevous's. I sold eight sets to an Arizona Fish and Game agent on ebay who does hunter safety programs, and he was going to offer this primitive weapon technology course and continue to educate people.

I still have three. One made by world famous atlatl expert Bob Perkins, Manhattan, Montana, one made by Wade Brian (IIRC) former Guinness record holder, and one I made for short range throwing. Current Guinness world record is 848.56 feet. My best toss was 307. The competitive darts have no fletching, and are made of special aluminum and balanced precisely. I shall mount them all one day in a wall display.

The atlatl bridges the gap between spear and bow and arrow. The oldest bow in the New World is estimated at 2500 years, and the oldest in the Old world about 9,000. The atlatl has been in use for 40,000 years, estimated, and is still used by aboriginal Australians, Aleuts, and IIRC some New Zealanders. Many projectile points found are actually atlatl points, as they are much too big and heavy to be arrowheads.

There is a theory that the atlatl was one of the causes of extinction of the mammoths. The atlatls at that time had one long shaft, and several short ones. The throw would cause the short shaft to wound the animal, and the long shaft would fall off and be retrieved, another short (1ft or so) shaft put in a conical receiver, and a hunter could keep on wounding the animal numerous times. This was better than getting within a couple of yards of a huge animal with a little spear and taking a chance of losing the competition. Studies show that the force of an atlatl impact is roughly 7x that of a hand thrown spear.

More than you wanted to know.

Steve

How about the Cheerleader that took the alligator with her crossbow?

Not at all, Steve. That's fascinating. Thanks for taking the time.

I first saw the term in books when I was about 10 years old, and it's stuck with me ever since. I can imagine that it's an interesting weapon with which to get involved.

-- Ed Huntress

Close, but it would be more impressive if she did it with a club or a knife.

-- Ed Huntress

On Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:55:14 -0700, the infamous "Calif Bill" scrawled the following:

Cool! And oh-so handy at political shindigs, wot? Tres chic.

-- "To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical." -- Thomas Jefferson

I'll bet that she only uses clubs or knives on liberals.

How about a raw chicken with some big ol' titanium caltrops stuffed in it? >:->

Cheers! Rich

I guess we know where this all ends. Bare hands and teeth.

-- Ed Huntress

On Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:04:21 -0600, the infamous "SteveB" scrawled the following:

Cool.

Your toss was right around the Olympic javelin record, not bad for a wannabe Aztec. ;)

That's considerable, and probably helped pierce--or made it possible to pierce--the tough hides on those huge critters.

Not at all. That was great. Thanks!

(Discovery Channel, eat your heart out!)

-- "To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical." -- Thomas Jefferson

On Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:06:02 -0700, the infamous Rich Grise scrawled the following:

Oh, no! Cheerleaders are much more aggressive if they're not fed before hunting. Ask Buffy.

P.S: That caltrop would make for one sore mouth, huh?

-- "To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical." -- Thomas Jefferson