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Winged atlatl replica - my first!

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swamp monkey:
My wife surprised me early with a replica winged bannerstone for Christmas.  I immediately started looking through resources to assemble a replica.  For a shaft I used an ash sapling that looked like it needed to be made into something.  It had been cut/seasoned for just such an occasion.  The hole one the banner stone was 13 mm so my shaft had to be real close.  I used a spoke shave  and curved cabinet scraper to clean the stick up.

The way I did this was to work the stick through from the handle toward the spur end.  That way I could keep it thicker where I wanted to stop it from moving further forward.  I did not want to fight momentum which might cause this to slide forward.  I wonder if Archaic people did the same?.  Once that was done I crafted a spur out of a white-tail deer antler tine and then worked on the handle from a large base.  Both received a 13 mm hole.  The hole in the handle was 2.5 inches deep.  The hole in the spur was more like 1 inch and some change.  Both fit together nicely and were glued in place. 

I have no idea if my shaft was long enough or too long.  The stick definitely has a flex to it.  It will take some getting used to.  It felt heavy to me when throwing.  I called it the "bison stalker".  I am so tickled I may sleep with this smile on my face.  Now I need to make a display rack!

THIS IS TOO COOL! 

swamp monkey:
This atlatl was made in line with the finds form Indian Knoll Kentucky.  This is the site that helped identify the proper placement and use of a bannerstones. 

A few more pix. 

Ifrit617:
That sucker is interesting... How does it throw with that much weight and resistance towards the tip.... I personally like my atlatls very light and narrow so I can achieve a better  "flick"....

Jon

bubby:
that's pretty cool looking, but look's like it would ad alot of resistance, Bub

swamp monkey:
Oh it adds plenty of weight.  A buddy of mine had a similar replica and let me use it a couple of years back.  I thought it was heavy and gave it back so I didn't hurt myself.  After a few shots in the rain today, I was convinced this one is also heavy.  You would not want to give a huge heave on this bad boy!   I may have the main shaft a bit too long.  I am contemplating making a similar version with a shorter wooden shaft and then do some comparison shooting.  I also plan to make a third that has no stone at all and see how that all works.   After reading up on Indian Knoll's atlatls I am convinced this the purpose of a bannerstone- on the atlatl shaft. Now were they just for show or were they functional is another question.  Bob Perkins posted an article on line a few years back that suggests that wings help reduce the swishing noise volume and sound frequency so it is lower.   A silencer of sorts.  Stealth technology according to him. 

As heavy as this feels I have come to realize there is a lot I do not know.  I made a replica of an atlatl found at Council Hill Nevada and came to the conclusion that it was not a very good thrower.  It was about 20 inches long but was not more than 7/16" wide and the spur was terribly short.  My darts would barely fit on the spur.   Then a fellow atlatl enthusiast came to an event with these little 3-4 foot long darts.  They were almost arrows, and they worked GREAT in a smaller, thinner atlatl.  I tried the Council Hill replica and it was a dream boat to use.  The atlatl was fine.  I just needed lower mass darts.  My six feet long river cane darts were mammoth in size by comparison.  It never occurred to me to adjust my dart.  I will see if I can dig up a photo of that thrower to post.

Does this winged bannerstone atlatl seem heavy?  yeah.  Do I understand why?  no.  Will I?  If I keep workin' on it I might.  ;)  Feel free give me some of your thoughts.  I love the exchange.

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