Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: bjrogg on May 16, 2018, 05:58:04 pm
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Last year about this time I made my first Atlatl and dart. It was
A bit of a experiment but it actually worked pretty good. I ended up putting a nice stone point on the dart and DSV traded me a nearly finished yew bow for it at Marshall.
I had a bucket of sheds and antlers people gave me. I took this one that just looked like it should work for a Atlatl handle complete with rest for dart. I had a small antler point I had saved when I cut it off while I was make a knife handle. I cheated and glued it on a Red Osier shaft with epoxy and then wrapped it good with sinew. I drilled a hole into the base of Antler and cheated again using JB weld. I think pine pitch and the sinew would probably hold but not really concerned about using a few modern products. I wanted to be able to throw this one and still have a wicked durable point. I heated up a pole barn spike and forged a one barb point. (Actually I originally was going to use this point for bow fishing but never got to). I made a fore shaft and main dart. Sinew wrapped two turkey tail feathers for fletching. It actually flew really nice bareshaft. Of course I got carried away with my Bjrogg markings but what the heck. I'm probably gone add a little fur trim yet but it's fun to cast.
Bjrogg
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No dough that's a Bjrogg.....good job Brain. I like it.
DBar
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Thanks Bill. I plan on bringing it to Marshall if anyone wants to give it a try. Who knows, if I get enough practice maybe I'll try the bear across the pond with it.
Bjrogg
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Wow ...bear across the pond.....you my need a barrel full of darts....:) :)
DBar
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Should be easier to find than my arrows.lol
Bjrogg
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Thats sweet, looks like a good rig from here!
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(AT) :OK
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Thanks helmet, really for not knowing a whole lot of information about Atlatl's. I've found them interesting to make and fun to use. Kinda enjoy watching that big dart sail through the air.
Thanks Bob
Bjrogg
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great work
how much is long the dart?
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Gills the dart is just under 5'. Main dart is 42" then fore shaft and point. It's probably a little short both thrower and dart for most people, but I'm a short fella. The thrower I made last year I could throw much better if I chocked up on the handle a bit. Here's a picture of the dart. These things are harder to take pictures of then bows. Afraid it's not a real good one.
Bjrogg
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Not bad at all even if that point might need Moby Dick as target (lol)
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It's a little wicked but works great for just throwing it and sticking it in the ground. It seems to takes a fair amount of weight forward of center to fly nice.
Bjrogg
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Very nice BJ, love the point.
Pappy
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Thanks Pappy.
Bjrogg
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That looks like a well thought out and constructed weapon there BJ.
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That looks like a well thought out and constructed weapon there BJ.
Haha. Thanks Ed, it may have turned out that way but it started out looking for a knife handle.lol. Just got sidetracked.lol. Oh well turned out pretty good. Made a better Atlatl handle than knife handle anyway.
Bjrogg
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Real nice, Brian, like the idea of seeing the dart rest in the antler and the the nocking spur. Be careful with the bear across the pond, though!
Hawkdancer
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Real nice, Brian, like the idea of seeing the dart rest in the antler and the the nocking spur. Be careful with the bear across the pond, though!
Hawkdancer
Thanks Jerry. It just popped in my head, that'd make a nice Atlatl.
I'll be careful with the bear. Wouldn't want to get him mad. Fortunately he's not a real bear. Probably wouldn't get close enough that'd he'd realize I was throwing at him anyway.
Bjrogg
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not exactly atlatl action but as soon as I saw it this post came to my mind :OK (AT)
inuit spear fishing (especially the end of the movie)
youtube.com/watch?v=_sdJA1M0XcQ (add standard www ...)
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If it's the same one I watched it's very entertaining
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Hey bjrogg, can we see the full draw? Wait no that’s not it, I meant the whole thrower in one picture? I can’t quite picture it in my mind ;D
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Ryan I'll try to get some more pictures when I get a chance. Maybe Sunday.
Bjrogg
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Thats a nice on. I like mine better though. Lol
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Thats a nice on. I like mine better though. Lol
Really glad you still like it Dave. I'm very happy with our trade.
Bjrogg
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Holy smokes!! Whats the dart shaft made from??
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That's a dandy, been thinking lately about constructing one. John
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Thanks John, you should make one. They are pretty simple compared to a bow. They really are fun to cast. I still can't hit anything, but I can get close. My cousin that has the artifact collection he found loves it. At first he really struggled casting it. He couldn't put it down though and he actually got pretty darn good at it. I told him it was his but he wouldn't take it. Wish he would've. I got the most fun out of watching him throw it. People really do like trying to cast it.
Sorry stalking Fox. I didn't see your reply till now. If your still looking it's a Red Oiser main dart with two feather wild turkey tail feathers fletching. The removable fore shaft is also red osier and point is a pole barn spike I actually have forged for a bow fishing arrow. It works great for this dart though.
Bjrogg
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BJ.
You'll need at least one more dart! Cast, chase, cast chase, gets you a lot of exercise! I went to an informal primitive shoot last month, and my friend, Ken Wee, offered to help me make some cane darts. He is a former national champion. I have at least one red osier shaft waiting to be made int a dart, and some cane that might work. When I go out to the range, I seem to spend more time explaining than casting! The atlatl draws a lot of attention at my Hunter Education classes, too! Btw, I think Nebraska has a spear/atlatl deer seaso. Bob Berg of Thunderbird Atlatls has a video, and I think Ken Wee does also. The dart rest really helps accuracy, too.
Hawkdancer
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Yah Jerry I should make some more darts. I got some very nice bamboo in a trade with ksnow that should make some very nice darts. It's not legal to hunt with Atlatl or spear in Michigan. I'm no where near good enough to yet anyhow. It certainly would be a very deadly weapon in the hands of a expert.
Maybe someday I get good but not today.lol
Bjrogg
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thats a must have and already on my to do list.
really nice !!!
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Great job, It's on my list also. John
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Thanks BTW and John.
You guys should try make one. There pretty easy compared to a bow. To me trickiest part is nipple. Gotta be just right length and depth that they say ingaged long enough, but disengage when they need to. I'm sure there's lots of little secrets to make em better than mine, but it's fun to toss around. I'm thinking Atlatl golf would be cool.
Bjrogg
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Brogg , that is what put man on top of the food chain 40,000 years ago.Nice work. I have made a few myself. Lots of fun throwing the darts.