Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: Bryce on March 09, 2015, 01:58:57 am

Title: Building the Atlatl.
Post by: Bryce on March 09, 2015, 01:58:57 am

Any good tips for a rookie Atlatl builder?

Thrower length? Dart spine? That sort of stuff.

Title: Re: Building the Atlatl.
Post by: chamookman on March 09, 2015, 06:15:48 am

Bryce - Bowyers make great Atlatls. Broken limbs work great. I've always made them 16"-24" long. Have never spined darts, but would make them the same length as the Person doing the throwing. I used 3/8" hardwood dowels for foreshafting (fire hardened tip) about 14"-15" hafted in 'Cane.Bob

Title: Re: Building the Atlatl.
Post by: bubby on March 09, 2015, 03:13:38 pm

I like atlatls as long as my forearm and dart spine is real low, they are a bunch of fun Bryce google it and you will find a bunch of plans for throwers, also thunderbird atlatls has videos and a lot of differant styles to check out

Title: Re: Building the Atlatl.
Post by: Patches on March 12, 2015, 09:18:11 am

Bryce,  I start out with most of mine being 15 - 18 inches, or fore arm length like Bubby said.  Depending on how far the dart is going be thrown, I take off length from the thrower.  For the ones I use for hunting, with shots hopefully being 10- 15 yards, I go with a 18" thrower and darts that are about 5.5 feet long (including foreshaft).  For bow fishing, where my shots are under 5 yards, I use a shorter thrower (14-15 inches) and shorter darts.  For fun and long distance throwing, I have a couple that are 20 + inches with darts that are 6 ft +.  Just start making them and see what works for you.  Good thing about them is you can get as elaborate as you want, or keep it as simple as you want.  I seen the President of the Missouri Atlatl Association go cut a fork out of a little sapling, cut the limbs off, leaving it looking like a stick that you would roast wieners with.  He wrapped a string between the points and used darts with nocks cut into them like arrows.  He kicked butt with that setup! 

And you can use scrap pieces of wood from wood building to make them from too.  I have a whole box of wood pieces that I am planning on making throwers with.  Every time I get nice scrap, it goes in the box for future use (but I am also a wood hoarder...but that is another story : )  ).   Good luck with the atlatl making! 

Neal 

Title: Re: Building the Atlatl.
Post by: crooketarrow on March 12, 2015, 12:25:05 pm

    THANKS  BRYCE Me and my son BRIER been talking about makeing ourselfs each a set.

  I hurt my left rotator cub in AUG. got almost better. In DEC. I fell through a barn floor. Instintively put my arm down. Rehurt it so bad now my left arm is against my side alot. So I wont be shooting my bow for a while.

 But I have a good right arm.

Title: Re: Building the Atlatl.
Post by: juniper junkie on March 18, 2015, 12:12:48 am

so, Bryce, you have reached the next phase in your addiction >:D the atlatl is a facinating weapon, and an important part of your journey. its simplicity and effeciency are remarkable. soon you will be knapping your own hunting heads and making shafts from shoots. ;D

Title: Re: Building the Atlatl.
Post by: nclonghunter on March 23, 2015, 08:30:51 pm

You guys that hunt or carry an atlatal around, possibly in the woods, the shafts are long and would not fit into a quiver I don't think. How do you carry several shafts when moving around in the woods?

Title: Re: Building the Atlatl.
Post by: chamookman on March 24, 2015, 04:12:30 am

Being right handed, I carry Darts (3 or 4) in My left hand - fletch forward. Easy to get one on the prong of the thrower when needed. Works for Me - Bob.

Title: Re: Building the Atlatl.
Post by: Bryce on July 07, 2015, 01:14:48 pm

I think I got one that I can officially call a weapon :) I'll post pics soon!