Atlatl

[CowboyPete]

I want one so bad.

Anyone ever use one?

 

[VampireMonk]

what the heck is it?

 

[CowboyPete]

That information might help. Image and explanation time!

Essentially, it's a stick with a hook used to throw another stick. It's been found across cultures dating back almost 20,000 years. The stick thrown is more of a dart than a spear. It's thin and flexible which adds to the power of the darts elasticity when it bends against the thrust of the atlatl then springs off of it to regain it's shape (like in the last picture). These darts were usually between 4 and 6 feet long although some modern atlatlers (?) use darts as long as 7 feet. They've got the power to pierce plate armor (Aztecs vs Conquistadors) and have a range of about 70 meters. In "Old World" societies, the atlatl was replaced by the bow because of it's relative ease of use and much smaller ammunition.

 

[Tim Chan]

somewhat like a javelin sling shot, interesting.

 

[>>jonutarr>]

the Aborigines use to use them for hunting kangaroos, they generate much more speed and power than throwing a spear javelin style

 

[CowboyPete]

It's important to recognize that the darts are different from javelins or spears in that they're flexible. This plus the extra leverage of the stick adds an assload of power.

 

[Soulfly]

I saw something on TV awhile ago about hunting with the atlatl. They didn't look too effective.

 

[CowboyPete]

I saw something on TV awhile ago about hunting with the atlatl. They didn't look too effective.

It's all about skill level. It's hard to be accurate with an Atlatl compared to a bow, since you have to throw with a full body motion and can't just stand thee, hold your breath, line the shot and let the arrow fly. It's more damaging than a bow or thrown spear/javelin but harder to aim.

 

[Soulfly]

It's all about skill level. It's hard to be accurate with an Atlatl compared to a bow, since you have to throw with a full body motion and can't just stand thee, hold your breath, line the shot and let the arrow fly. It's more damaging than a bow or thrown spear/javelin but harder to aim.

That makes sense actually. They were trying to ban the atatl because the accuracy was so bad. They deemed it inhumane because you had a good chance of seriously injuring the animal instead of killing it.

 

[CowboyPete]

Atlatl hunting is generally done in groups where you're killing larger prey like bears, wild cows or something else that's big. That's where the need for large missiles with big penetrative power comes from. 4-8 guys hitting the side of a moose with atlatl darts will probably bring it down. If not, the trail of blood from the animal's wounds makes it easy to find once it collapses from the blood loss. You'll never hit a deer's eyeball with one. It's easier to catch rabbits and squirrels with traps anyway.

 

[VampireMonk]

thanx for the reply and the images,

I heard it flies far!!!!

personally I'm more into slings.
but I would like to throw javelins.