craftsman
Member
In case you've never heard of it - considered to be a primitive weapon.
Consists of a launcher ("woomera" in Australia) about the length of one's forearm (16 - 24 in.), having a hooked back end, with a nock point, and a "dart". The handle end usually has two loops (for your fingers). It is used as a launcher for a "dart" (for hunting - or a harpoon for fishing). Mainly a North American thing (Mayans, plains indians, Eskimos), but found elsewhere.
The "dart" or harpoon is an over-sized arrow - about 5 - 6 ft. long. The nock at the tail end is an indentation, not a cut, like an arrow has for the bowstring. Claims to be accurate for dozens of yards in the hands of an experienced user, and was used to hunt mastadon, bison, and the like.
Modern atlatlists claim to be able to take out a deer just as easy as a bow-hunter can. Fishing with one, claims to be able to get up to 12 ft. under water (bows only get arrows down about 4 - 6 ft.). Tie braided line on, about 30 ft., with a float.
They sell on e-bay for $30 - $60 (one to three darts and a launcher), on primitive weapons sites - the launcher can range from $60 - $150, and darts go between $8 - $15 each.
For those familiar with it - a suggestion to combine the modern with the primitive: Use a carbon-fiber, or aluminum arrow shaft, with a modern razor sharp broadhead tip, but don't fletch it, or add in the string nock. Get a 3 - 4 ft. hardwood dowel about the same diameter as the arrow, make a knock hole in the back end, fletch the back end of the dowel, make a nock point in the front end of the dowel to fit into the nock end of the arrow (to make a two-piece dart). Now load that up on the launcher as a hunting dart. Use a target arrowhead to practice and develop your skill.
Consists of a launcher ("woomera" in Australia) about the length of one's forearm (16 - 24 in.), having a hooked back end, with a nock point, and a "dart". The handle end usually has two loops (for your fingers). It is used as a launcher for a "dart" (for hunting - or a harpoon for fishing). Mainly a North American thing (Mayans, plains indians, Eskimos), but found elsewhere.
The "dart" or harpoon is an over-sized arrow - about 5 - 6 ft. long. The nock at the tail end is an indentation, not a cut, like an arrow has for the bowstring. Claims to be accurate for dozens of yards in the hands of an experienced user, and was used to hunt mastadon, bison, and the like.
Modern atlatlists claim to be able to take out a deer just as easy as a bow-hunter can. Fishing with one, claims to be able to get up to 12 ft. under water (bows only get arrows down about 4 - 6 ft.). Tie braided line on, about 30 ft., with a float.
They sell on e-bay for $30 - $60 (one to three darts and a launcher), on primitive weapons sites - the launcher can range from $60 - $150, and darts go between $8 - $15 each.
For those familiar with it - a suggestion to combine the modern with the primitive: Use a carbon-fiber, or aluminum arrow shaft, with a modern razor sharp broadhead tip, but don't fletch it, or add in the string nock. Get a 3 - 4 ft. hardwood dowel about the same diameter as the arrow, make a knock hole in the back end, fletch the back end of the dowel, make a nock point in the front end of the dowel to fit into the nock end of the arrow (to make a two-piece dart). Now load that up on the launcher as a hunting dart. Use a target arrowhead to practice and develop your skill.