Atlatl

[gfish]

Check it out! Thanks to my very loving wife...








(Also, yes, I'm getting a bit fuzzy.)


We took it out to play with it a bit in the backyard. I really like the feel of it. It has a good heft, and the way the darts leap off of the tip at the end of the stroke is very satisfying. It's far more direct and personal than archery.

Does anyone have an idea where one could practice with such a device? Basically, anyplace you'd be okay using a hunting bow will be fine. It was nice getting a feel for it in the backyard, but it would be far too easy to lose a dart (possibly into something valuable and fragile, like a neighbor) overshooting the fence back there.

Comments

[niac.livejournal.com]

spiffy.

[encapsulate.livejournal.com]

I firmly believe in teaching children to respect stone age weapons, at a young age.

http://raindog.net/photos/d/2078-2/DSCN0469.JPG

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

Man, when we have kids, they're going to learn all sorts of wacky things at a young age...

[corivax.livejournal.com]

Yay! You should kill a raccoon. :)

[craigp.livejournal.com]

nooo, not a raccoon!! maybe a dog or cat-eating coyote.

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

That's really cool! I tried to make some, as a child, just after visiting Chaco Canyon for the first time, but they never worked worth beans. Yours clearly does better. How is the accuracy?

[gfish.livejournal.com]

We tried making one while camping once when I was a kid. Didn't work very well either, but I can see now we were going about it all wrong. The darts are more like arrows than spears; they flex.

Hard to say what kind of accuracy is possible without more practice on a real range. Feels like it could be pretty good, with time.

[darlingfreak.livejournal.com]

Sweet.

[loree.livejournal.com]

That rocks! And Uncle Google rides to the rescue with a list of local (within 2hr drive of Seattle) shooting/archery ranges (http://www.interlakesporting.org/ranges.htm).

[tfabris.livejournal.com]

As long as the archery ranges aren't too close to the water. I'm told that you can quite easily overshoot with one of those things.

So, if he DID end up throwing one of the spears into the ocean, would that make it a SeaAtlatl?

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

I, in fact, overshot my very first shot with it, and Fishy had to climb over the fence to get it. Oops.

[olafthunderfoot.livejournal.com]

swifty!

Well, if you can make it to NoVA . . .

[blackanvil.livejournal.com]

My place has some wide-open fields, plus an assortment of small game that's always in season (woodchuck, rabbit, and so on). Berryville, VA, drop me a note if you want to come out.

We used to play around with making atlatl back in my boy scout troop (along with slings and bolos), they're a lot of fun, but it takes time to achieve the accuracy needed for hunting.

Nice toy, good luck with you experementations.

--doug

Re: Well, if you can make it to NoVA . . .

[gfish.livejournal.com]

It would be tempting, particularly with some of the other things you host on occasion, if it wasn't a trans-continental drive. My parent's place has plenty of room and is just on the other side of the state. Thanks, though.

[kcenya.livejournal.com]

Hey there, small world. I saw a slog comment by "gfish" and figured it had to be you. So you're married... any kids? I've picked up a husband and two small boys along the way.
-Jamie

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Hey, wow, long time! No kids here yet. We keep putting it off... What are you up to?

[kcenya.livejournal.com]

Mostly kid grunt work. We lived out on Vashon for a couple years and recently moved back into the city. We both went to UW, but my liberal arts tendencies have made it so it makes more sense for me to stay home with the babes. I think you would get along with my husband... you don't meet *that* many guys who are into AI and jane austen.

[kcenya.livejournal.com]

hmm "made it so it makes" well, you get the idea.

[rhapsody-98.livejournal.com]

That is so cool!!!

You could go down to the local shooting range?

[theferrett.livejournal.com]

Now that's cool.

[barefootorbust.livejournal.com]

If you want to road trip down to Eugene, I have 3 friends who have real archery ranges....and I am sure they would love to play with you! I myself have gone for the crossbow...