My atlatl project......

[CMH]

This is a atlatl Ive been working on.....handle is made of caribou from western Alaska and the knocking point is moose antler.... handle wrap is indiana tanned buckskin. I have four 6' plus pcs of bamboo. Still need to make points abd hopefully a winter goose will allow me use if its plummage for vanes..... Thanks, Craig

[aaron]

I love the primitive look of this thing! You may find it needs some tweaking of the angle of the spur. If you get darts coming off the spur during the throw, it may be your spur angle is too low or the spur is too long. ... with the whole setup held so the dart is horizontal, I try to make my spur point at a 45 degree angle. Also, I make them shorter than yours.

[CMH]

 Thank you for your reply. Im curious about the spur angle as well.... when I placed it there I imagined the geometric follow thru.... the arc of a full throw. I may just launch the mpty bamboo to see how it flies tomorrow. Cold and snowy here..... will give me a reason to get outside. Thanks, Craig

[CMH]

Well...... back to my stoneage drawing board Looks great but throws poorly. Will make the classic caribou antler club 😉 Ive seen some great designs on here so I think Ill find me a pc of nice osage to whittle away on and go from there 😁

[bjrogg]

CMH, I'm thinking your spur is probably to long. it needs to be able to slip out of dart at maybe a 45 degree angle. not exactly sur of angle but something fairly close to that from my limited experience. to short its hard to keep dart on. to long it doesn't disengage from dart properly. I've made a couple I'll try find some picture

Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

Here's one I made
Bjrogg

[CMH]

Very nice 

[bjrogg]

It still takes a little getting use to it. To me it's similar to casting a fishing pole. Just a little trickier.lol Of course I'm pretty sure there are simpler designs to cast than mine.
Bjrogg

[CMH]

Looks like it would throw well

[Hawkdancer]

Motion is very similar to throwing an American football, arm and atlatl more or less level depending on range, hand very near the ear, off hand and foot pointed to target, and practice, lots of it!  Darts will need to be straightened now and then, just like arrows.  Expect lots of questions if you are at a public range!
Hawkdancer

[Hawkdancer]

How is your project progressing?  I hope to get a chance to cast a few darts next week, when it warms up a bit!  Springtime in the Rockies is interesting!
Hawkdancer