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General >> Project Goliath - The History of The Sling >> Where are the slings in Historical movies?
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Message started by TN.Frank on Sep 18th, 2009 at 7:05pm

Title: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by TN.Frank on Sep 18th, 2009 at 7:05pm
Seems like when you watch a period piece about the Greeks or Romans you see a bunch of archers but never any slingers. From what I've read most of the armies had as many slingers as archers and used em' both quite a bit. I did see a movie about Sodom and Gomora years ago where Abraham(or maybe it was Lot) had slingers but I've not seen much lately. Any other good movies with slingers in it.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by xxkid123 on Sep 18th, 2009 at 8:03pm
because nobody thinks of slings any bit. and since Disney does most of them even if their were slings they would be sling shots with the surgical tubing and stuff.

it''s probably because their power is underestimated so much that barely anybody thinks pf them. if they do they assume that their useless toys or something like that. and most of the movie directors only have to rip off and make a twisted version of a book, then look col in their french artist caps and megaphones. nobody in the film service thing is even close to smart, i wouldn't be surprised if they didn't even have archers any more

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by TN.Frank on Sep 18th, 2009 at 9:41pm
I watched "300" last night, no slingers, plenty of archers. I'm watching "Troy" tonight, no slingers, plenty of archers. Both should have slingers since they were in wide use during both times.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Aussie on Sep 19th, 2009 at 12:16am
'Hysterical' movies are made for entertainment not for teaching history. Historical accuracy is fairly coincidental. Quite possible the producers didn't even know that the ancients used slings. Even if they did, bow shooting extras are much easier to find and look a whole lot sexier; bows in - slings out.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by slingbadger on Sep 19th, 2009 at 3:14am
Also, because of the "low" and "dishonorable" status given to slingers of the time, they usually were not given much credit in things.
Movies tend to concentrate on the flashiness of swordplay, because it just looks better on screen. Not many audiences would be thrilled with seeing people lob rocks, but bring out a sword and shield, and you have their undivided attention.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by David Morningstar on Sep 19th, 2009 at 5:17am
There are slingers in Alexander, briefly.

One difficulty would be training your extras to use a sling convincingly, when real slingers are so rare.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Fundibularius on Sep 19th, 2009 at 6:35am
There is at least one mounted (!) slinger in the Cannae chapter of a TV production on Hannibal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKw98Hs4sDk&feature=PlayList&p=6C4C9E5406CE3B80&index=5

Though I generally liked the film more than many other "hystericals", I find it sad that slingers do not have a more prominent (and more realistic) role in it.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Sep 19th, 2009 at 7:37am
Quite difficult, generally, to show what an ancient battle looked like-- typically, lines of men run at each other, then mingl in a swirling melee-- whereas the point of a battle, before e.g. 1914, is that blocks of men stay together.

But slings, also, in an Italian movie on the Gallic Wars (not sure of title)

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by TN.Frank on Sep 19th, 2009 at 9:07am
I'll have to check out "Alexander" again when it comes on TV. Seems like with all out computer tech. we could come up with something in the movies today.
Of course you have to understand something about me, I like accuracy in movies(I know, wishful thinking,LOL) and I really hate to see a '73 Colt Peacemaker in the hands of guys during the Civil War and believe it or not a lot of older movies did just that. It would be kind of like watching a War Movie about Korea and seeing a guy with an M-16, it just wouldn't happen.  There are enough History books out there that people who make movies should at least try to get things right and slingers were in many of the battles "back in the day" and to leave em' out just isn't showing History in the right light.
So can we try to come up with a list of movies with slingers in em'?

"Sodom and Gomorrah" 1962(slingers)
"Alexander" 2004(possible slingers)
Others???

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by David Morningstar on Sep 19th, 2009 at 12:32pm
We had a thread about that a while ago. Slings crop up in all sorts of odd places: http://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1237077816/0

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by slingbadger on Sep 19th, 2009 at 12:54pm

Fundibularius wrote on Sep 19th, 2009 at 6:35am:
There is at least one mounted (!) slinger in the Cannae chapter of a TV production on Hannibal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKw98Hs4sDk&feature=PlayList&p=6C4C9E5406CE3B80&index=5

Though I generally liked the film more than many other "hystericals", I find it sad that slingers do not have a more prominent (and more realistic) role in it.

Im impressed they actually showed proper color of skin in the movie. So many historical movies from Hollywood have an all white cast.  
 I won't even mention Orson Welles portaying Othello in blackface.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Fundibularius on Sep 19th, 2009 at 2:27pm

Thearos wrote on Sep 19th, 2009 at 7:37am:
But slings, also, in an Italian movie on the Gallic Wars (not sure of title)


Could it be "Vercingetorix" with Christopher Lambert in the title role :-X?

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Fundibularius on Sep 19th, 2009 at 2:38pm

slingbadger wrote on Sep 19th, 2009 at 12:54pm:
[Im impressed they actually showed proper color of skin in the movie. So many historical movies from Hollywood have an all white cast.  
 I won't even mention Orson Welles portaying Othello in blackface.


:) Or Anthony Quinn, who played a member of almost any ethnic group on the planet (except Icelanders, I guess, but I'm not sure).

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by timann on Sep 19th, 2009 at 3:08pm
I watched that Alexander movie on DVD once, just to see that slinging.  It lasted just a couple of milliseconds.  And the movie was horrible, in my opinion.  But then, I had it on fastest possible forward as much as possible, to save myself the grief.  But, just to say it, the much-mentioned "man-love" witch bothered so many back then, was really not an issue at all, the way I see it.  It was more the fact that the shoved just the army between the battles, and the planning of the battles, and a lot of talking,but almost never the battles themselves.  And when they did, it was unclear and "artsy"  and "dreamy".

Most movies and Discovery/History stuff showing  Roman legions has legionairs in one-on-one combat against those barbarians.  Supposedly that was exactly how they did NOT fight.  Due to their strict punishment system it was supposedly better to keep your place in the rank and die a horrible death, than breaking rank and survive.
timann

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Sep 19th, 2009 at 6:30pm
Hey Fundibularius--

No, it's not the Christophe Lambert movie (which looked horrible). I saw, ca. 1982, a French documentary, called "Les Grandes Batailles de l'Histoire" or "du passé"— on Alesia. The talking heads were interspersed with scenes from a movie, and I think it was Italian, for some reason (it was probably credited at the end).

And there is a very good scene with slingers: Gauls charge, line of Balearic slingers waits, then they start swinging these HUGE slings, then all release at the same time. (And then, for some reason, pull swords and wade in to the close range fight, which seems wrong to me)

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Donnerschlag on Sep 19th, 2009 at 9:45pm
I can only recall one movie in which I saw a sling being used; "Princess Mononoke".
Unfortunately, it was only one slinger who knocked one of the protagonists out (rock to the head). the slinger wasn't in the shot for more than 3 seconds or so.  :P

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by TN.Frank on Sep 20th, 2009 at 9:12pm
Come on, some of ya'll have to know a few more movies that have guys slingin' rocks at each other.  What about "10,000 B.C." ? Any slingers?

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Masiaka on Sep 20th, 2009 at 10:50pm
Stargate SG-1 the tv series has slingers in the Minoan episode.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by curious_aardvark on Sep 21st, 2009 at 8:15am

Quote:
One difficulty would be training your extras to use a sling convincingly, when real slingers are so rare.


Yeah and having used a staff sling I can't help but feel that staff slingers may have played amuch greater part than most people believe.

It takes about 5 minutes to get pretty consistent with a staff sling to the point that you can sling serious distance in a straight line. That takes weeks to years with a hand sling.

I'm seriously wondering why they aren't mentioned in historical texts more.  

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by timann on Sep 21st, 2009 at 11:19am
"10 000" BC has no slings>:( But it has a lot of other stupid stuff :(.

The book "Kings Mirror", a Norwegian book from around the year 1200, suggest (if I remember it correctly)that the kings men should practice with, or at least try, the sling and the staff sling.
timann

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Aussie on Sep 21st, 2009 at 6:16pm

Curious Aardvark wrote on Sep 21st, 2009 at 8:15am:

Quote:
One difficulty would be training your extras to use a sling convincingly, when real slingers are so rare.


Yeah and having used a staff sling I can't help but feel that staff slingers may have played amuch greater part than most people believe.

It takes about 5 minutes to get pretty consistent with a staff sling to the point that you can sling serious distance in a straight line. That takes weeks to years with a hand sling.

I'm seriously wondering why they aren't mentioned in historical texts more.  


Absolutely agree and posted a question along those lines. When you consider that with a Brown Bess musket as used by the British army for around a century, hitting a man at 100 yds was a matter of pure chance it's a wonder that armies didn't use companies of staff slingers. They could stand virtually shoulder to shoulder and deliver a rate of fire superior to the musketeers for a fraction of the cost.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Masiaka on Sep 21st, 2009 at 11:13pm

Aussie wrote on Sep 21st, 2009 at 6:16pm:

Curious Aardvark wrote on Sep 21st, 2009 at 8:15am:

Quote:
One difficulty would be training your extras to use a sling convincingly, when real slingers are so rare.


Yeah and having used a staff sling I can't help but feel that staff slingers may have played amuch greater part than most people believe.

It takes about 5 minutes to get pretty consistent with a staff sling to the point that you can sling serious distance in a straight line. That takes weeks to years with a hand sling.

I'm seriously wondering why they aren't mentioned in historical texts more.  


Absolutely agree and posted a question along those lines. When you consider that with a Brown Bess musket as used by the British army for around a century, hitting a man at 100 yds was a matter of pure chance it's a wonder that armies didn't use companies of staff slingers. They could stand virtually shoulder to shoulder and deliver a rate of fire superior to the musketeers for a fraction of the cost.


Because the soldiers would have to swing, instead of pointing in a straight line? Just guessing.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by mrboss on Sep 22nd, 2009 at 11:53am

Aussie wrote on Sep 21st, 2009 at 6:16pm:

Curious Aardvark wrote on Sep 21st, 2009 at 8:15am:

Quote:
One difficulty would be training your extras to use a sling convincingly, when real slingers are so rare.


Yeah and having used a staff sling I can't help but feel that staff slingers may have played amuch greater part than most people believe.

It takes about 5 minutes to get pretty consistent with a staff sling to the point that you can sling serious distance in a straight line. That takes weeks to years with a hand sling.

I'm seriously wondering why they aren't mentioned in historical texts more.  


Absolutely agree and posted a question along those lines. When you consider that with a Brown Bess musket as used by the British army for around a century, hitting a man at 100 yds was a matter of pure chance it's a wonder that armies didn't use companies of staff slingers. They could stand virtually shoulder to shoulder and deliver a rate of fire superior to the musketeers for a fraction of the cost.


A staff sling superior to a gun?? HMMMmmmmmm :-?

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by TN.Frank on Sep 22nd, 2009 at 2:12pm
When a sling can send a .690" round ball at 900-1000fps(typical musket velociety) then I'll believe that a staff sling would be better then a musket, until then I'll stick with the musket. That being said, if you can't get a musket a sling would be better then chuckin' rocks with your bare hands, a lot better.  ;)

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by mrboss on Sep 22nd, 2009 at 2:23pm
Yeah i agree, cuz staff slings dont have as much velocity or range as normal slings. So a sling is more toward the powerful side rather than a staff sling. Some bp pistols only achieve 400 fps and slings can achieve speeds close to that and with heavier ammo. Staff slings cannot generate enough force as a normal sling, let alone a gun, ever, period.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by funda_iucunda on Sep 22nd, 2009 at 4:25pm
In "Alexander" slingers are very shown during the battle at Gaugamela, when they come out from the spaces between the Makedonian phalanxes and Persían cavalry. But that scene is very short.

funda iucunda

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by xxkid123 on Sep 22nd, 2009 at 7:44pm

Mr. Boss wrote on Sep 22nd, 2009 at 2:23pm:
Yeah i agree, cuz staff slings dont have as much velocity or range as normal slings. So a sling is more toward the powerful side rather than a staff sling. Some bp pistols only achieve 400 fps and slings can achieve speeds close to that and with heavier ammo. Staff slings cannot generate enough force as a normal sling, let alone a gun, ever, period.


depends, in general for all of us who don't use mrboss slings it is better. for those who do use mrboss slings it's worse.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Aussie on Sep 22nd, 2009 at 9:48pm

TN.Frank wrote on Sep 22nd, 2009 at 2:12pm:
When a sling can send a .690" round ball at 900-1000fps(typical musket velociety) then I'll believe that a staff sling would be better then a musket, until then I'll stick with the musket. That being said, if you can't get a musket a sling would be better then chuckin' rocks with your bare hands, a lot better.  ;)


You and mrboss have missed my point. Sure the musket ball would be travelling a lot faster and have more energy. But smoothbore muskets were notoriously inaccurate. Remember the expression, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." How far would that be; 20 metres or so. The staff slingers would be hitting their marks from 100metres away and slinging their stones at twice the rate that the musketeers could reload their weapons. Accuracy and rate of fire would be more important than mere power.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by TN.Frank on Sep 22nd, 2009 at 11:25pm
Having owned a couple three smoothbore muskets(2 Jackie Browns in .62 cal and one L.E. Williams in .75 cal) I can personally say that they're only as accurate as a person loads em' to be.  Sure, in a Millitary setting with very lose ball and patch they'll shoot miniute of barn at 50 yrds. but if you load em' up with a tight ball and patch they're on par with a rifle out to 50 yrds and maybe a bit further. The main problem with em' is the lack of sights.  I've seen guys print groups the size of a softball out to 100 yrds. with a properly loaded smooth bore musket that had sights on it.  Just like with slings, practice and the proper load can make a world of difference in accuracy. I'm sure that in a survival situation the sling would probably be a better "weapon" because you can pick up your ammo from a creek bed or from other natural sorces and it's a lot quiter too.  Plus you can't fold up a musket and stick it in your pocket, LOL.  ;)

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Aussie on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 2:00am
I bow to your superior knowledge of the musket's capability. Of course all of this is purely theoretical as no such battle has probably ever occurred in history. However if a company of staff slingers and a company of musketmen of the Napoleonic era were to face off on open ground I don't think the odds would be nearly as much in favour of the musketmen as people would generally think.

Some time ago we had a lively discussion here on the relative merits of slingers v archers. One of the opinions was that archers replaced slingers because of the inordinate time required to train effective slingers. Another factor which go against the slingers is that they require a lot more individual space than archers who can stand shoulder to shoulder and bring very concentrated fire to bear on an enemy position.

Subsequently several members have been experimenting with staff slings and have generally found that the learning curve for staff slinging is much quicker with reasonable accuracy attainable in a single learning session. Also though it may not shoot as far as the hand sling it also appears that larger rocks can be launched more easily. With only an overhead sweeping motion I surmise that a company of trained staff slingers could stand much closer together than ordinary slingers and have the same advantage of concentrated fire enjoyed by the archers as well as the major advantage of being trained much more quickly than either archers or ordinary slingers. I asked our historically minded members whether staff slingers were ever used that way in open warfare. The use of the staff sling in siege and naval warfare is generally wll documented.

Hence the musing whether such staff slingers could hold their own against smoothbore firearms. I suspect the musketmen would be horrified when fist sized rocks started raining down on them when they were still too far away to reliably return the fire. But perhaps the alleged inaccuracy of these old guns has been overstated. Softball sized groups at 100m is impressive with any weapon, rifled or smoothbore.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by curious_aardvark on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 10:01am

Quote:
When a sling can send a .690" round ball at 900-1000fps(typical musket velociety) then I'll believe that a staff sling would be better then a musket, until then I'll stick with the musket. That being said, if you can't get a musket a sling would be better then chuckin' rocks with your bare hands, a lot better.  


Lmao - okay what you can do with a staff sling and about an hours training.
Hurl rocks a pound in weight well over 100 yards.
Clear tall obstacles - trajectory adjustment with a staff sling is very easy - I put a golf ball about 200 yards the other day and it went so high I almost lost sight of it.
So staff slings can drop much heavier missiles/grenades behind barricades - muskets can't do this. They can deliver much heavier missiles to the same or greater range than a musket.
And with the right staff and attached sling - yeah I'll go with staff slings having a greater average range than a hand sling. Which means they easily outrange a musket. They certainly have a much faster rate of fire.
Took my matial arts teacher to the end of the carpark with the staff slig the other day. He had 3 throws, all went dead straight and all over 100 yards.
Try that with a hand sling :-)

At short range a musket is potentially more lethal - but anything beyond 75-100 yards staff slings rule, no question.
And shooting a staff sling does not send up a cloud of smoke that obscures your vision or create a huge bang that gives away your position.
A staff slinger could drop grenades or rocks on a musketeer from concealement without the musketeer having the slightest idea where they were coming from.
Other reason they are better than muskets: anyone can make one. Ammunition readily available, don't require gunpowder, weigh considerably less than a musket.
Won't explode in the users hands if you ram a bit too hard.

Nope give me a company of staff slings over muskets any day.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by TN.Frank on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 11:16am
I can put a golf ball out about 275-300 yrds with my driver,LOL. ;D Guess it'd make a pretty decent weapon if we were using golf balls to fight with.  ::)

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by mrboss on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 12:30pm

Curious Aardvark wrote on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 10:01am:

Quote:
When a sling can send a .690" round ball at 900-1000fps(typical musket velociety) then I'll believe that a staff sling would be better then a musket, until then I'll stick with the musket. That being said, if you can't get a musket a sling would be better then chuckin' rocks with your bare hands, a lot better.  


Lmao - okay what you can do with a staff sling and about an hours training.
Hurl rocks a pound in weight well over 100 yards.
Clear tall obstacles - trajectory adjustment with a staff sling is very easy - I put a golf ball about 200 yards the other day and it went so high I almost lost sight of it.
So staff slings can drop much heavier missiles/grenades behind barricades - muskets can't do this. They can deliver much heavier missiles to the same or greater range than a musket.
And with the right staff and attached sling - yeah I'll go with staff slings having a greater average range than a hand sling. Which means they easily outrange a musket. They certainly have a much faster rate of fire.
Took my matial arts teacher to the end of the carpark with the staff slig the other day. He had 3 throws, all went dead straight and all over 100 yards.
Try that with a hand sling :-)

At short range a musket is potentially more lethal - but anything beyond 75-100 yards staff slings rule, no question.
And shooting a staff sling does not send up a cloud of smoke that obscures your vision or create a huge bang that gives away your position.
A staff slinger could drop grenades or rocks on a musketeer from concealement without the musketeer having the slightest idea where they were coming from.
Other reason they are better than muskets: anyone can make one. Ammunition readily available, don't require gunpowder, weigh considerably less than a musket.
Won't explode in the users hands if you ram a bit too hard.

Nope give me a company of staff slings over muskets any day.


If you are using misshaped rocks and live somewhere below sea level, i can understand why people are having a hard time with 100 yd.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Aussie on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 10:07pm
Wow! Underwater slinging; this i gotta see!

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Donnerschlag on Sep 24th, 2009 at 4:44am

Aussie wrote on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 10:07pm:
Wow! Underwater slinging; this i gotta see!

I kind of know how this would turn out, but now I kind of wanna try this, mainly to be one of the only people who willingly tried to sling underwater! :D

Of course, the locations I sling at are all below sealevel, so I guess I'm slinging under the sea?

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Sep 24th, 2009 at 5:10am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfvCjLgbpy0

Why did black-powder era armies fight with, well, black-powder muskets (or firelocks, or "fusils"), rather than with staff-slings ? Hmm. No doubt for cultural reasons, but also tactical reasons, I suppose.

Windage makes the flintlock musket inaccurate, sure. But the C18th armies tested these things (the data are easy to get-- e.g. P. Haythornthwaite's books on Nap era warfare)-- or try

http://napoleonistyka.atspace.com/infantry_tactics_2.htm

which gives sources for accuracy and range: by the late C18th, at 160 yards (so 150 m or so), against a target the size of an infantry company (say 1.7m high, 50-60m across), you get better than 50% accuracy. At 300 m or so, you still get better than 20% accuracy. I don't think a staff slinger can match that: the point is fighting, and defeating ranged bodies of men in setpiece battles, with massed firepower.

Massed firepower: fusil wielding people can range up tight, first row kneeling, to deliver volley fire-- of course, the reason why they're massed in the first place is because the weapon is inaccurate and requires mass fighting (rather than the "skulking" war of the skirmisher-- which, incidentally, you can do with a smoothore fusil, though a rifle is better: and you can lie down or kneel to skirmish).

Just some thoughts. But, to be sure, a good deal of how states fight is determined culturally-- uniformity, blocks of men, straight-up slug fest of the black-powder battalion, is how states conceived of "real" war. John A. Lynn's books on esp. French but also Sepoy fighting are good on this.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by mrboss on Sep 24th, 2009 at 11:05am

Donnerschlag wrote on Sep 24th, 2009 at 4:44am:

Aussie wrote on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 10:07pm:
Wow! Underwater slinging; this i gotta see!

I kind of know how this would turn out, but now I kind of wanna try this, mainly to be one of the only people who willingly tried to sling underwater! :D

Of course, the locations I sling at are all below sealevel, so I guess I'm slinging under the sea?


Yes, and your slinging where there is tons of air resistence and air resistance plays the biggest role in how fast and far your ammo is going to go. Thats why people do the world records for slinging at places like the dessert near arizona and utah because its like 5000 feet above sea level. But you prolly already know about air resistance but i just want people to know that it plays the biggest role.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Fundibularius on Sep 24th, 2009 at 3:18pm

Thearos wrote on Sep 24th, 2009 at 5:10am:
Why did black-powder era armies fight with, well, black-powder muskets (or firelocks, or "fusils"), rather than with staff-slings ? Hmm. No doubt for cultural reasons, but also tactical reasons, I suppose.



Surely also the psychological impact of an army that uses organised firepower (guns and their big brothers, canons). The noise alone must have had an absolutely shocking effect on people who lived in far more silent times.

It seems absurd to us that for example North American Indians in the 18th and early 19th century gave up the bow and aquired relatively unreliable firearms which not only scared away animals from their hunting grounds, but also made the tribes even more depending on trade with the colonists for blackpowder and ammo. But they did. Maybe it was just the fascination of possessing and "dominating" one of those noisy fire sticks. Fashion, if you want.

Firearms had one great advantage from the pont of view of the ruling classes: An army of gunmen which was sent home after a war had only a rather limited access to black-powder. Thus is was a minor potential threat to its own rulers than a mass of experienced staff-slingers who could build their shooting devices in a few minutes from material which lay around everywhere.  

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by TN.Frank on Sep 24th, 2009 at 3:35pm
Many Native Americans were still using the bow well into the 1860's simply because they could make their own arrows and get off more shots per miniute then the slower muzzleloaders of the time. Even after they adopted firearms many wanted flintlocks because they could knap a flint where as the cap lock guns needed caps which were unavailable on the frontier most of the time.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Aussie on Sep 24th, 2009 at 5:18pm

Mr. Boss wrote on Sep 24th, 2009 at 11:05am:

Donnerschlag wrote on Sep 24th, 2009 at 4:44am:

Aussie wrote on Sep 23rd, 2009 at 10:07pm:
Wow! Underwater slinging; this i gotta see!

I kind of know how this would turn out, but now I kind of wanna try this, mainly to be one of the only people who willingly tried to sling underwater! :D

Of course, the locations I sling at are all below sealevel, so I guess I'm slinging under the sea?


Yes, and your slinging where there is tons of air resistence and air resistance plays the biggest role in how fast and far your ammo is going to go. Thats why people do the world records for slinging at places like the dessert near arizona and utah because its like 5000 feet above sea level. But you prolly already know about air resistance but i just want people to know that it plays the biggest role.


Yes we know; just having a joke with you. Fact is that the great majority of the world's people live close to sea level so we don't really have a choice, short of travelling hundreds of miles every time we want to sling.

Actually though, the greatest limiting factor to distance unless you're slinging table tennis balls is not air resistance, it's gravity. Gravity makes any projectile fall back to earth (naturally). Without it a projectile would go on virtually for ever. Unfortunately we can do even less about that than we can about air resistance. Fancy a trip on the space shuttle?

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by TN.Frank on Sep 24th, 2009 at 5:35pm
Isn't Death Valley actually Below Sea Level? Seems like I remember reading that. So a person can actually be on dry land(Death Valley is VERY Dry) and be below sea level too.  ;)

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Aussie on Sep 24th, 2009 at 5:52pm
Correct again. There are quite a few places where you can be "below sea level". The Dead Sea is itself around 1200 ft below notional sea level (didn't check before posting so may be out).

The joke relied on deliberately misunderstanding below sea level as underwater.

Wonder if anyone has ever tried slinging at the Dead Sea? All that condensed air should make it a treacley experience.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by David Morningstar on Sep 24th, 2009 at 5:56pm
I have slung at Badwater, Death Valley 282 ft below sea level. That was seriously warm.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Rockman on Sep 24th, 2009 at 10:45pm

Donnerschlag wrote on Sep 19th, 2009 at 9:45pm:
I can only recall one movie in which I saw a sling being used; "Princess Mononoke".
Unfortunately, it was only one slinger who knocked one of the protagonists out (rock to the head). the slinger wasn't in the shot for more than 3 seconds or so.  :P


That movie rules, one of the best I´ve ever seen. Those Japanese sure know their stuff.

A few days ago I saw, "Conquerors" I think that was the name. I can describe it as a poor man´s "Apocalypto". A lousy movie, Vikings attack North American Indians.

Anyway, the reason I mention this is that there´s a key scene involving a slinger. The hero guides the viking through a mountain pass, who for some reason are all tied together. The hero uses a leather sling and hits the last Viking on the line, who falls to the cliff, dragging everyone with him. The only good thing about the movie was that scene.  

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by TN.Frank on Sep 25th, 2009 at 6:01pm
I think we need to get a petition started that we can send to Holleywood tellin' em' to start puting slingers in their movies.  :)

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Donnerschlag on Sep 25th, 2009 at 6:01pm

Aussie wrote on Sep 24th, 2009 at 5:52pm:
Correct again. There are quite a few places where you can be "below sea level". The Dead Sea is itself around 1200 ft below notional sea level (didn't check before posting so may be out).

The joke relied on deliberately misunderstanding below sea level as underwater.

Wonder if anyone has ever tried slinging at the Dead Sea? All that condensed air should make it a treacley experience.

I've tried slinging at the Salton Sea in Southern California, but it was a long time ago and can't remember how it affected my slinging :P

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Knaight on Sep 26th, 2009 at 1:33am
I'm actually at about 5200 feet normally, and it doesn't seem to make much difference. Sure, the air resistance is different, but you get more air to your muscles closer to sea level, plus you can find better rocks.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by slingbadger on Sep 28th, 2009 at 4:17pm
Just found another remake of the David and Goliath story. Timothy Bottoms plays David.
 The sling is.... interesting.
 The 2 cords are bound together at the ends. Basically, it's just a big circle. The stone apparently simply flys  out of the pouch during the launch, without a release cord or anything.
 Sound possible??

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by xxkid123 on Sep 28th, 2009 at 4:24pm
on the cover of "high rulain" from redwall Tiara is holding a sling made out of what seems to be a full circle. i assumed that it was based off of what the artist thought a sling was. but it might be able to be used like Jax and thomas's non-traditional slings

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by David Morningstar on Sep 28th, 2009 at 4:50pm
A lot of non-slingers have no idea how a sling works, I heard a lot of 'Oh, you have to let go of the end?' when I was giving demonstrations.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Aussie on Sep 28th, 2009 at 7:35pm

slingbadger wrote on Sep 28th, 2009 at 4:17pm:
Just found another remake of the David and Goliath story. Timothy Bottoms plays David.
 The sling is.... interesting.
 The 2 cords are bound together at the ends. Basically, it's just a big circle. The stone apparently simply flys  out of the pouch during the launch, without a release cord or anything.
 Sound possible??


Short answer - no.  

Longer answer - possibly, if you could somehow tilt it from side to side to tip the stone out. Even then performance would be very unpredictable. A well seated stone doesn't just fly out like a ball out of a doggie ball thrower.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by BommareZ on Oct 7th, 2009 at 5:41pm
Rome's worst nightmare: Hannibal
sort of movie/documentary

slingers are beeing mentioned several times and you see a slinger from cartage on a horse taking down a roman cavalry soldier.
real nice shot, they are riding the horse with 2 men, one riding, one hurling.

and he uses the sling in a good way in a underhand release

as far as i could see, the sling was made of leather cords and leather pouch

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by TN.Frank on Oct 7th, 2009 at 7:39pm
The History Ch. is going to do a set of shows tonight about Rome. I"m going to watch it and DVR it to see if they're any slingers in it. If it's true to fact then they should have slingers.  ::)

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by xxkid123 on Oct 8th, 2009 at 6:55pm

TN.Frank wrote on Oct 7th, 2009 at 7:39pm:
The History Ch. is going to do a set of shows tonight about Rome. I"m going to watch it and DVR it to see if they're any slingers in it. If it's true to fact then they should have slingers.  ::)


search youtube for decisive battles. they show how the armies fought and stuff by replaying it on Rome total war the video game. it's from history channel and pretty accurate

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by BommareZ on Oct 21st, 2009 at 6:39am
Just saw "the clan of the cave bear" from the book of Jean M Auel (book has the same title).
the movie wasn't as good as the book but that is always like that i think

anyway, Ayla learns to use a sling secretly (in the tribe, no woman was allowed to hunt) and she is really tallented.
in one scene, a child is attaked by a wolf, and she kills the wolf with her sling!

you can also see the sling very good, a leather pouch with leather string

slings are used a couple thimes in the movie, first by the male hunters (while practicing), then by ayla (while learning, practicing and hunting)

at the end she breaks a spear in half with her sling, guess I'm still need a lot of practice for that e

movie is hard to find, but easily to find for downloading    8-)

Ayla_slinging.jpg (33 KB | )

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Red Squirrel on Oct 21st, 2009 at 8:14am
"Escape to Athena" with Telly Savales and Elliot Gould. Telly uses a short sling ,no more than a foot, disguised as a greek orthodox rosary or greek good fortune beads to sling a ball bearing and take out a nazi 15  ft or so away. First use of sling i ever saw outside of the bible. :-)
Should be other threads on this if i remember rightly, Mods could you provide links?  

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 21st, 2009 at 12:29pm
Ayla slinging (2;03, I didn't have the patience to watch the whole thing)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb_LHtJoC_0

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by David Morningstar on Oct 21st, 2009 at 6:03pm

Hey, thats not a bad helicopter throw she's got there. Sideways stance, arm well back, nice straight throw. Well done DH  8-)

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Aussie on Oct 21st, 2009 at 6:18pm
Maybe the resolution on my monitor ain't what it used to be but is she actually holding anything in her hand? I can't see the cords at all. The camera shot is taken so that nearly all the whirling is out of view but I still can't see the pouch whizzing by against the clear patches of sky when it should be visible. Could she really spin so heavy a stone so rapidly with only minimal hand movement? Agree that her form looks nice though. Wonder if she had any training from a real slinger prior to making the movie?

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by David Morningstar on Oct 21st, 2009 at 6:33pm

Aussie wrote on Oct 21st, 2009 at 6:18pm:
Maybe the resolution on my monitor ain't what it used to be but is she actually holding anything in her hand? I can't see the cords in her hand at all. Agree that her form looks nice though. Wonder if she had any training from a real slinger prior to making the movie?


Yes, its all there. Its actually not in shot for most of the scene except towards the end. Oval leather pouch, leather thongs. I read somewhere that she practised quite a bit and was throwing rubber rocks on set.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Aussie on Oct 21st, 2009 at 6:52pm
Ah, that wonderful resource called somewhere :) I had a quick look on Google but no ready info. It would be interesting to know who the slinging expert was. There always is some expert for everything in movies; wonder who he was?

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 21st, 2009 at 7:00pm
Good wide grip on the photo, too.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Aussie on Oct 21st, 2009 at 7:27pm
Well wide grip definitely. Good or not is a matter of personal preference as there are plenty of slingers who use a narrow grip. The sling is very long so rotating as quickly as she does would get plenty of power but the double shot she uses to kill the wolverine would be out of the question.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 21st, 2009 at 7:47pm
Does pointing with a flat outstreched arm help with accuracy ?

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Aussie on Oct 21st, 2009 at 8:00pm
I think it does as it tends to focus and position the body for the start. I don't use helicopter but even with Fig.8 I look at the target over the pouch held in my left hand prior to commencing the backswing. Pointing does seem to be a natural reaction, many people do it prior to an ordinary throw. Otherwise you have virtually no frame of reference such as given by rifle sights or by sighting down the arrow in barebow shooting.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by bigkahuna on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 2:04am
Just as a little point of historic trivia: Ben Franklin proposed arming American troops with longbows during the American Revolution.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 23rd, 2009 at 9:04pm
I suggest we call wide grip (retention loop on pinkie, grip thumb and index) a "Darryl Hannah grip"

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by David Morningstar on Oct 23rd, 2009 at 10:04pm

That just sounds dirty  :-X

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by curious_aardvark on Oct 24th, 2009 at 9:36am
Reasonable throw - but why the stupidly long windup.

If there was a sling expert involved, they were either useless or overridden by the director lol


Quote:
Does pointing with a flat outstreched arm help with accuracy ?

nope, but it looks good on film.
It's make believe :-)

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 24th, 2009 at 10:08am
It was a joke.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Fundibularius on Oct 24th, 2009 at 10:56am

David Morningstar wrote on Oct 23rd, 2009 at 10:04pm:
That just sounds dirty  :-X


So?

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by David Morningstar on Oct 27th, 2009 at 9:26am

I have skimmed through the Clan of the Cave Bear movie. The slinging is very good throughout. There are some funny bits where n00b slingers send stones in all directions including straight up. It shows how you need plenty of practice before you can hit anything. There is a hand drill fire starting scene which is exactly right as well. They evidently had a primitive skills expert on the team.


Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 27th, 2009 at 5:28pm
Any indication among the credits ? IMDB lists one Robin Mounsey as the survival expert

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by David Morningstar on Oct 27th, 2009 at 5:51pm
Interesting. His website lists it as


Quote:
1984 "CLAN OF THE CAVE BEARS" location manager/ mtn safety & heli coordinator


But he also says he offers:


Quote:
SCRIPT TECHNICAL ADVICE
With years of experience in all aspects of remote environments and associated activities I offer technical advice relating to story line, activity and dialogue on scripts relating to outdoor activities, adventure and wilderness settings.


http://rmounsey.com

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by David Morningstar on Oct 27th, 2009 at 5:58pm

In the credits the movie lists "Primitive Skill Training - Jim Riggs". A quick Google lookup shows he has done a lot of writing and training in the primitive technology field.


Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 27th, 2009 at 6:20pm
We could ask him if he trained Darryl Hannah in slinging !

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by David Morningstar on Oct 27th, 2009 at 8:21pm

I have found his postal address, he has no phone or email. PM me if interested.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Jaegoor on Dec 10th, 2009 at 9:06am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpaeyIbk8N8&feature=related
Slinger in the Battle

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Jaegoor on Dec 10th, 2009 at 9:15am
Ayla :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb_LHtJoC_0

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Dec 11th, 2009 at 5:13am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgjM4Ibihao&NR=1


David and Goliath ! (but no RIchard Gere yet)

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Steven on Dec 13th, 2009 at 9:17am
Spaghetti Western. Is that historical? http://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1176675239/0#0

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Jaegoor on Dec 16th, 2009 at 1:35pm
Yesterday evening there was a film in the german tv with Stuart Granger - Sodom and Gomorha - .

There where slingers shown in a battle. They where tactical very good combined with Archers.

I unfortunetly could not find a link in youtube.

Greetings

Jaegoor

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by David Morningstar on Dec 17th, 2009 at 6:19am

Thanks Jaegoor, I'll see if I can find out more...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056504/

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Jaegoor on Dec 17th, 2009 at 8:10am
Jepp this is the film.

In the battle the Slinger not only are shown as briefly as in the trailer.
It is made very realistic.

http://www.digitalvd.de/dvds/35574,Sodom-und-Gomorrha.html

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by TN.Frank on Dec 18th, 2009 at 1:22pm
I remember that movie and think we mentioned it early on in this thread. I remember the slingers coming up over the dunes(IIRC) and slinging down upon the "bad guys". Pretty cool to see in a movie.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Jabames on Jan 4th, 2010 at 3:32pm
In Charlton Heston's 1956 movie The Ten Commandments or something rather, he plays the charcter Moses; when he is a shepherd he has a sling on his belt in some parts.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Jan 8th, 2010 at 8:56pm
How about the French TV series Thierry la Fronde ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARUnuQhG_p0&feature=PlayList&p=B107A3ABB4A2D573&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=42

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Fundibularius on Jan 9th, 2010 at 4:10pm
Ça alors!

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Jan 9th, 2010 at 4:13pm
Not great slinging style, our THierry

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Fundibularius on Jan 9th, 2010 at 4:17pm
But he looks like he's hit something (or someone). An expression I do not have on my face very often. Well, maybe better so...

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by slingbadger on Jan 9th, 2010 at 5:10pm

Jaegoor wrote on Dec 10th, 2009 at 9:06am:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpaeyIbk8N8&feature=related
Slinger in the Battle

I'm impressed with the accuracy of the armor and weapons. Someone did their homework.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Fundibularius on Jan 17th, 2010 at 2:05pm
Ahem... how do I say... Not really historical, but...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv3zqxtl7Ik&feature=related Watch 1.30 min

More on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_dHF3-a51E&feature=related at 4.38, if you're interested.


Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by David Morningstar on Jan 17th, 2010 at 2:54pm

I wish I hadnt watched that.... what has been seen cannot be unseen!  :(

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by slingbadger on Jan 17th, 2010 at 3:29pm
That may set slinging back 3000 years.

 Also--- My eyes! Oh the horror! Pink everywhere! Oh, the humanity!!  :o

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by slingingrat on Feb 18th, 2010 at 1:06pm
Its been a long time since i have seen it but i think there is a part in the old swiss family robinson the one from the 50s i think were the 2 boys us a sling when they run out of ammo for the gun they also in the move year 1 they the guy use a scraff as a sling at the very end ;D

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by LukeWebb on Jun 24th, 2010 at 9:47pm
 There is one at the very end of the Russel Crowe Robin Hood movie, my little brother spied it when they were shooting off the cliffs at the end of the film at the normans landing in the barges, (anyone see any comparison to that scene and the storming of the beaches of normandy in barges almost exactly the same in world war 2 on D-Day, I think it must be intentional, they were normans in the barges, it seems strange and I don't get he point of it but they were normans landing on a beach to invade england with troop barges like they used in world war 2 and they were getting shot at by archers and slingers as they landed.)

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Jaegoor on Jun 25th, 2010 at 7:20am
the film was a big fun

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Sep 12th, 2010 at 6:12am
This is the trailer for the (not bad at all) movie "Capitaine Conan", set in 1918-1919, about a co. of special assault troops in the French army on the eastern front (Bulgaria, then anti-Bolshevik operations after WWI). It's from a novel. At 0:20, NB grenades thrown with crossbows and slings.

http://www.cinemovies.fr/bande-annonce-5164-28013.html

No idea if this is in the novel, or indeed historical-- slings used in WWI to throw grenades ?

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Sep 12th, 2010 at 9:14am
http://www.toutlecine.com/images/tag/0005/00054857-arbalete.html

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Sep 12th, 2010 at 9:19am
The next one not bad either, but not relevant

http://www.toutlecine.com/images/tag/0005/00054857-arbalete.html

(click on "suivante" for the next one of David Niven acting as a giant slingshot)

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Fundibularius on Sep 13th, 2010 at 5:57am

Thearos wrote on Sep 12th, 2010 at 9:14am:
http://www.toutlecine.com/images/tag/0005/00054857-arbalete.html



Good find. Looks a bit like Uncle Joe Stalin slinging.  :-?

The cords of his sling are about to twist a bit. Slinging grenades like this might be extremely dangerous for the slinger himself imo. He won't get a clean release and might hammer the projectile down in front of his own feet. :o

Then again, if he were Stalin, better so.  ;)

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Fundibularius on Sep 13th, 2010 at 6:04am

Thearos wrote on Sep 12th, 2010 at 6:12am:
This is the trailer for the (not bad at all) movie "Capitaine Conan", set in 1918-1919, about a co. of special assault troops in the French army on the eastern front (Bulgaria, then anti-Bolshevik operations after WWI). It's from a novel. At 0:20, NB grenades thrown with crossbows and slings.

http://www.cinemovies.fr/bande-annonce-5164-28013.html

No idea if this is in the novel, or indeed historical-- slings used in WWI to throw grenades ?


Can't remember the source, but I saw pictures somewhere of French soldiers on the Western Front between 1914 and 1918 building a variety of improvised catapults for hurling grenades over the top and eastward. Why not slings or staff slings?

I did not know that they fought in Bulgaria at the end and after the War.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Sep 13th, 2010 at 6:08am
It's the "Armee d'Orient"-- the remainders of the Gallipolli adventure, and reinforced. The issue was whether to use these forces to reinforce the W. front, or to let them fight locally. They fought locally-- to very little result.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Knaight on Sep 15th, 2010 at 9:47am

Thearos wrote on Sep 13th, 2010 at 6:08am:
It's the "Armee d'Orient"-- the remainders of the Gallipolli adventure, and reinforced. The issue was whether to use these forces to reinforce the W. front, or to let them fight locally. They fought locally-- to very little result.

Attrition warfare tends to have fairly minimal result, other than loss of life, and WWI was largely attrition warfare, past the initial stages of the Schniefen plan, following the german army stopping outside Paris so as to let supplies catch up.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 10th, 2010 at 9:06am
In the Disney cartoon "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", Esmeralda uses her scarf as a sling to throw a stone (underhand)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMvUIh1DV8I&feature=related

at 1.45


EsmeraldaSling.jpg (40 KB | )

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 10th, 2010 at 9:15am
Windup
Esmeralda1.jpg (38 KB | )

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 10th, 2010 at 9:16am
Rotation
Esmeralda2jpg.jpg (37 KB | )

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 10th, 2010 at 9:17am
Aiming (the raised left foot perhaps a bit extreme)
Esmeralda3.jpg (41 KB | )

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 10th, 2010 at 9:18am
Underarm release with body twist (right hip towards target0
Esmeralda5.jpg (42 KB | )

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 10th, 2010 at 9:19am
Timed release and follow-through towards target. Perhaps not quite as good techically as Jaegoor, but nice to look at anyways
EsmeraldaSling_001.jpg (40 KB | )

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Fundibularius on Oct 10th, 2010 at 10:42am
Very nice, indeed.

Though I must admit I would have preferred to see pictures of Gina Lollobrigida slinging... (sigh)


Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Jaegoor on Oct 10th, 2010 at 12:09pm
Particularly the last picture is nearly perfect in the technology.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 10th, 2010 at 2:31pm
So, for technique, you can watch David Morningstar, Aussie, Jaegoor-- or an animated version of Gina Lollobrigida. Pick your choice !


Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Fundibularius on Oct 10th, 2010 at 4:28pm
Definitely Lollo. Sorry, guys!

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 10th, 2010 at 7:14pm
The movie dates to 1996. Did they do motion capture then, or is it the old Disney technique of sketching from life (or copying from still-motion photographs) ?

incidentally, have you ever tried slinging with a scarf ? Surprisingly difficult not to foul the shot.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Conor147 on Oct 11th, 2010 at 8:30am
id imagine the loose, wide end of the scarf would get in the way of the projectile. it could only work in animated films.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Rockman on Oct 13th, 2010 at 3:22pm
Lol, I watched the Hunchback video. When the hero makes his escape on horseback, about a million arrows miss their mark.He finally gets one in the shoulder.  Worst French soldiers ever.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 14th, 2010 at 3:34pm
Still, not every day you get slingers in cartoons. Did anyone here get into slinging because of that cartoon

-- isn't there a disney cartoon movie about Incas ? Any slings there ?

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by maad erllin on Oct 15th, 2010 at 3:39pm

Thearos wrote on Sep 12th, 2010 at 6:12am:
This is the trailer for the (not bad at all) movie "Capitaine Conan", set in 1918-1919, about a co. of special assault troops in the French army on the eastern front (Bulgaria, then anti-Bolshevik operations after WWI). It's from a novel. At 0:20, NB grenades thrown with crossbows and slings.

http://www.cinemovies.fr/bande-annonce-5164-28013.html

No idea if this is in the novel, or indeed historical-- slings used in WWI to throw grenades ?



Don't know for WWII, but I saw a documentary where they displayed images shot during the Spanish Civil War of 1936, and there was a soldier on a roof throwing a grenade with a sling

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Oct 16th, 2010 at 6:51pm
Just watched the (in my view excellent) first episode of "Pillars of the Earth", UK TV series re. C12th England. One of the main characters, Jack, the half-mute bastard son of a disgraced former nun (phew) has a sling, which he uses at various moments. Quite good sling too: long straps, sewn leather pouch. He hits an armoured knight in the chest with a panicked shot-- which stuns the knight but does no great harm.


Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by nemo on Oct 16th, 2010 at 7:32pm
Yup saw that programme too, he seemed to use it quite well. He threw twice with it I saw, once in the forest where he did what looked like a helicopter throw with about 3 revolutions (a fair few, but not quite Hollywood) and then the shot you are on about which looked like greek style.
Lol personally I didnt like the look of his sling. it may have been accurate, but looked very thick and rough, like something you would just throw together. Ofcourse this was probably what they where looking for, but it wasnt the prettiest looking ;)

Loving that programme aswell, really looking forward to next weeks!

Nemo

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Knaight on Oct 21st, 2010 at 10:36am

maad erllin wrote on Oct 15th, 2010 at 3:39pm:

Thearos wrote on Sep 12th, 2010 at 6:12am:
This is the trailer for the (not bad at all) movie "Capitaine Conan", set in 1918-1919, about a co. of special assault troops in the French army on the eastern front (Bulgaria, then anti-Bolshevik operations after WWI). It's from a novel. At 0:20, NB grenades thrown with crossbows and slings.

http://www.cinemovies.fr/bande-annonce-5164-28013.html

No idea if this is in the novel, or indeed historical-- slings used in WWI to throw grenades ?



Don't know for WWII, but I saw a documentary where they displayed images shot during the Spanish Civil War of 1936, and there was a soldier on a roof throwing a grenade with a sling


It said WWI, which makes it more likely, particularly for the Russians, who had some minor supply issues with guns. Not every front line solder got one, so if slings were used, it would be there. Still, it wasn't widespread if it happened at all.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Lycurgus on Nov 23rd, 2010 at 5:29am
Watched the BBC Series "Pillars of the Earth" based on the book of the same name this weekend.

Early 12th Century commoners defending their town from knights with slings - excellent.

Big bad guy gets knocked down by a stone to the noggin - even better. Although it only stunned him when it should have smashed his unarmoured head in.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by slingergillies on Oct 7th, 2012 at 2:50am
The first time I got into slinging was when I was 9 years old and watched an Australian kids afternoon show called "The Girl from Tommorow". Dodgy now but great Aussie kids sci fi back in 1991. Anyway tracked down the youtube scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDvNA8fe-JI&list=UUTy3eR9rHK-5n04ALYV3nWA&index=8&feature=plcp

At 17.25 the boy actually launches a bolas like weapon but because I was 9 years old (1991) I interpretted it as a sling and went into the backyard with a strip of narrow cloth.

I know its not even a sling but its funny with no instruction and a completely misinterpreted source I started slinging rocks. Must be in the genes. Wonder if my ancestors did it much.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by timu on Oct 8th, 2012 at 8:43am

Rockman wrote on Oct 13th, 2010 at 3:22pm:
Lol, I watched the Hunchback video. When the hero makes his escape on horseback, about a million arrows miss their mark.He finally gets one in the shoulder.  Worst French soldiers ever.


The french have always been terrible soldiers lol

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Caldou on Oct 8th, 2012 at 1:10pm

Tomas wrote on Oct 8th, 2012 at 8:43am:
The french have always been terrible soldiers lol


and even moreso when we conquered more than half of Europe.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Pikaru on Oct 8th, 2012 at 2:36pm
Yeah but what have you done for me lately?
Seriously though. The truth is different from the hype as with most things.

http://www.militaryfactory.com/battles/french_military_victories.asp

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by timu on Oct 9th, 2012 at 6:43pm
Aw crap, so sorry... That was pure stupidity! To be perfectly honest, I wasn't being serious or factual or anything, the French have a lot of military history. I speak French myself and am proud to say so.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by _kava_ on Jan 22nd, 2013 at 7:31pm
Not exactly historical, but even Macgyver has a go at slinging:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3Ah0mq3pkw

slinging at 1:32


_K_

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Aussie on Jan 29th, 2013 at 5:57am
Some pretty good slinging in the Pillars of the Earth series. Both Fig.8 and helicopter styles. Slinging starts about 1:50 but at 3:30 is the best shot. You can see the entire shot and even see the projectile fly towards the enemy. The guy reacts as if he's been hit in the chest but is later shown with a head wound. Not perfect but still very good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBSm3FPbozM

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by GeneralMushroom on Jan 29th, 2013 at 7:13pm

Aussie wrote on Jan 29th, 2013 at 5:57am:
Some pretty good slinging in the Pillars of the Earth series. Both Fig.8 and helicopter styles. Slinging starts about 1:50 but at 3:30 is the best shot. You can see the entire shot and even see the projectile fly towards the enemy. The guy reacts as if he's been hit in the chest but is later shown with a head wound. Not perfect but still very good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBSm3FPbozM


Hit in the head with a large stone at close range, hard enough to cause a nice bleeding wound, and he's not even knocked out lol. Got to love plot armour :P

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by SchlrFtrRkMystc on Apr 30th, 2013 at 4:35am
I'm sure it's been mentioned elsewhere... but very notable appearance is in Game of Thrones Season 1 Episode 5 I believe... Catlyn Stark and Tyrion's party is attacked by Hilltribes on the road to the Eyrie. Two slingers on an elevated position sling down on the fight. Killing one man with a head shot, Tyrion blocks another shot or two. They use overhead twirl, though not in stereotypical helicopter fashion, then sidearm release.

Also in Year One, at the end Michael Cera's character used some cloth as an impromptu sling. He does use hollywood helicopter with a sidearm release... accidentally hits hit friend in the head... dazing but not killing him :/

In Druids with Christopher Lambert a sling is featured once... rather inappropriately... as a sniper weapon (?) Used to assassinate someone with a headshot. He uses an underarm windup with a sidearm release.

In Clash of the Titans one of the monster hunters can be seen with a loaded sling, he never shoots it.

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by hassan on Jun 2nd, 2013 at 6:29pm
Am I wrong to say that trebuchets are massive mounted staff slings? Are trebuchets not the greatest triumph of a sling, apart from David's defeat of Goliath?

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by David Morningstar on Jun 5th, 2013 at 6:12am

Absolutely they are. We take down castles!  ;D

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by thabaill on Mar 7th, 2015 at 11:57am
At the begining of the Spanish movie based on a real acount "Entrelobos".

http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/version-espanola/entrelobos-pelicula-060315-2332-169/3030838/

Title: Re: Where are the slings in Historical movies?
Post by Thearos on Mar 7th, 2015 at 1:26pm
In the Pillars of the Earth, isn't the slinger Eddie Redmaine, of Oscar fame ?

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