Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Cave Men only "Oooga Booga" => Topic started by: GlassKnapper on October 08, 2008, 06:53:46 pm
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Here are some pics of an atlatl that my friend Josh built at the NC KnappIn and Primitive Skills Rendevous this past weekend. This was his first one.
(http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq17/GlassKnapper/NCKnappInPrimitiveskillsRendevou-36.jpg)
(http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq17/GlassKnapper/NCKnappInPrimitiveskillsRendevou-33.jpg)
(http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq17/GlassKnapper/NCKnappInPrimitiveskillsRendevou-13.jpg)
(http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq17/GlassKnapper/NCKnappInPrimitiveskillsRendevou-4.jpg)
(http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq17/GlassKnapper/NCKnappInPrimitiveskillsRendevou-1.jpg)
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awesome ;D
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He made it froma piece of iron wood that I brought for people to try and use. I worked on one made of maple and will finish this weekend while camping. The snake skin is a banded water snake, and i wish i had a close up of the spur because it looks real good 8)
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Thanks for sharing the pics glassnapper, I was curious how Josh was progressing with his "finish work", he's done a great job, kudos to him! 8)
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Looks like the ironwood thins down nice and the skin looks really good on it. He did a great job on it. Glad to see that bag of tools I brought got to see some use. Montana is making one from a piece of hickory limb that was in the shop.
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WOOOHOOO!!! look at that badass atlatl :)
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Hey Josh. Loks like you are a little excited about it.
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Well it is still incomplete, i am working on the initial carvings I will put to use on the upper/back of the atlatl. I also have some ideas of the next one i want to build, maybe a carved totem pole theme? i dunno. either way its gonna be way cool.
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Hi
just caught this message on atlatl's. The atl atl shown is really looking good. I've made a few out of yew and other wood in various designs, cobra, bird's head, but the most successful to use is a copy of an Australian aboriginal one, who must be among the last peoples to actually use them. They call them Woomeras, and when Britain first started their space exploration programme they called their launch pad, built in Australia, Woomera. Good name eh?
I've heard that Atlatl is Aztec for 'on water' because they primarily used them to shoot the dart swiftly through the water, from boats, into fish.
I wonder why the Atlatl name has stuck and not woomera, or spear chucker, as other peoples used them as well?
I'll post pics soon
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be sure to get some pics when you get it carved
bryan
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Wally, be morew specific on the woormera. I went to the NPAA websit and they have 17 different styles for it.
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madcrow, the woomera is basically the same thing as the atlatl, it was the Aussi abo swiss army knife, they mostly had a long dished out leaf shape to them, they were spear throwers/club/eating bowl/fire board. you could spear a lizard, run over knock em in the head with it, start a fire and serve it up on your woomera ;D they vary quit a bit, each abos had their own preferace, but most were siimilar.
bryan
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As longfletch said there were different styles for different tribes. I'm out shooting this weekend but will post pictures of 2 types I have made. The aborigines lived in some very harsh climates and the dished out long bowl type was used in Western Australia, where I lived and worked in the goldmines for 12 years. All woomeras as Longfletch said were a versatile weapon. True nomads like the Aborigines in Western Australia did not carry much as they walked across the arid land. The dished woomera was used in this side of Australia and could double up as a moisture carrier. When they found water the soaked vegetable matter in it and pack it in the dish. Also useful as a club and eating bowl.
They work well but I prefer the longer simple straight type copied from one from Queensland. The hook is held on with spinifex gum which they made from the spinifex, a very tough, grass like plant which grows even in the desert land.
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WOW, you guys make it hard not to learn somethin new. Didnt get to finish my new chucker this weekend, amazingly i couldnt find any free time while camping? ;)
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Here are some photo of atlatl's I've made. I'm no artisan but, interested in primitive life, I fiddle around. The black bison head is made from a cow hoove on hawthorn (actually from half a limb of bow that broke in tiller).
The long one on the deer hide is a copy of a woomera from Eastern Australia and I love to use that one.
My dish shaped woomera I can't find at the moment 'cos the missus decided to tidy my shed!
The others are from odd bits of yew, small old bits of which are great looking for carving.
The feather/beak one is a fun piece that was meant to be eagle beak but not many dead eagles around here (London) so I found a dead sea gull which I used. The feathers are magpie which I like the look of.
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How's a primitive supposed to understand how to upload or is it download pics? Machine says my attachment is to big. Is that good or bad?
anyway more pics I hope
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and again
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I hate my computer and I don't think it likes me very much either. Pic
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Nice atlatls, do you have any pics of the darts you use.
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Wally, well i think I would have to argue that maybe you are an artisan ;) How does that bison head atlatl throw? I would also like to see your darts! Nice stuff!
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No really I'm not at all skilled. I've seen some excellent pieces on this web site. I really just fiddle about.
I can't find woomera from W.Australia so here is a pic from e bay.
My darts/spears are nothing special. I've seen the aboriginal ones and they upto 10 ft long bits of straightish hardwood, no fletching on!
Mine are usually from beech shoots or sometimes bamboo. We've got wild bamboo at our archery club grows 12 ft high. Good for arrows or spears.
I'll post pics of spears soon
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cool stuff wally, seeing other peoples work is innovative and makes me want to get on the move to make new stuff.
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wally where u are you at with the darts? Glassknapper and Battle w/ Atlatl are due are @ USC (South Carolina) with a bunch of cool primitive displays. Could use a helping hand ;) splurge.
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wally where u are you at with the darts? Glassknapper and Battle w/ Atlatl are due are @ USC (South Carolina) with a bunch of cool primitive displays. Could use a helping hand ;) splurge.
Sorry man
In hospital at moment. I've had a liver transplant and it rejects a bit sometimes nothing serious. when he's out he will contact
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Great looking work.
Hope you are feeling better Wallynosocks.
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the atlatl fire has just recently been rekindled for me again. and i just looked through all the ones posted here and all are great, but i absolutly LOVE the yew "character" one. top notch work gents!
hows the recovery comming Wally?
Phil
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Hi thanks for your concern. Out of hospital but still feel rough as a badger's ass.
Will be out in my shed soon enough though. Any one got more Atlatl's to show?
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not yet, but im making use of a hickory bow limb that didnt pan out. if i get it close ill post it.
Phil
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Yaya im working on a couple of atlatl's myself. I work in a woodshop so i have the luxury of getting ahold of some exotic and domestic woods. Got some cherry atlatls started that i think the structure of the grain with my badass carving skills (ha) Also would like to play around with a couple different species of wood and variations and possibly even a laminated atlatl (hmmm hope u beat me to it cause its gonna be nice) anyways u guys keep posting and building!