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Spear making/ throwing???

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HickoryBill:
Any of you guys ever get into spear making and throwing? I don't mean atlatls( As those are darts) I mean a long shaft with a a head thrown with just the arm.If so what materials have worked the best... thanks

Pat B:
Bill, I collected, dried and heat straightened 2 sourwood shoots that are about 6' to 7'long. My intension was to add a metal point made from bandsaw blade material but I haven't gotten that far. I think almost any tree shoot growth would give you a nice heavy spear handle. Bamboo would also.

CherokeeKC:
Pat B what diameter do you feel is appropriate for spears? 

Pat B:
The best of the two I cut is 1 1/8" at the base end and 3/4" at the small end and is about 6 1/2' long. The other is a bit smaller diameter but longer.  These might be more of a lunging type spear than a throwing type.  I was thinking hog hunting when the idea came to me.

johnston:
I was also thinking hogs when I built a couple of heads from the leaf springs off an old
trailer. Got the idea from reading Peter Hathaway Capstick. That fool threw and stuck
a Cape buffalo with one.

My best spear was made from the blade of an well used machete. Cut it to shape with
a cutting disc on a dremel and filed it to final dimensions. Hafted it to a one inch piece
of bamboo footed with dogwood. About 6 ft in total length and definitely not a toy.

Lane

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