That is supercool Tech!
As you know, I make wooden bows and arrows. Keep me informed on your archery stuff!
Johnny

English,  your lack of understanding is....well, understandable.  So,  you are saying I am a bit 'shortshafted'?   I accept your comment for what it is.....this condition is preferable to  being a bit 'shortsighted', no?    The 'wave' you see passing through your flexing shaft is nothing less than a waste of energy.  The effect is referred to in the archery community as "archer's paradox".   It is no secret that modern archery setups that make use of very stiff carbon or aluminum shafts flex very little and produce higher velocities. The energy/velocity losses in such a system are quite adequately verified by serious researchers.  You too, will see higher velocities with a stiffer shaft because...as you may come to realize someday, (if you get lucky ) it is not the size of the shaft that matters.........floppy is sloppy and the stiffer the better.   But hey, that's just me (and a bit of high school level physics).   To each his own.


Oh, and to answer your question......the spear pictured is 5'2" in total length and weighs 2.8lbs.  Believe it or not I can get a small metal dart 8" in total length, weighing in at a paltry 7.5oz. to fly even faster and farther!  Go figure!  Seriously.......Go figure.   8)

Quote:
  Ok, basically, have you researched atlatls?  The famous atlatl man, known commonly as "atlatl Bob", who studied engineering at university and did a course on replicative studies (which is about rediscovering primitive skills) says that, and I think he might know, the wave passing through the shaft is merely the building up of energy, which is consequently released by the reactionary wave.  The "archer's paradox" is, in fact, when the arrow has to pass around the bow, and at various ranges, the arrow has to do different things.  It is all about correctly spining arrows; the right arrow for the right bow is important, lest the arrow not "round" the bow in the right way, throwing off accuracy massively, at all ranges.  Also, in an atlatl shaft, the flights are there to prevent the kickback inherent in atlatling, whereby the atlatl pushes the dart down at the back, and so the flights act as a neutrlaliser.  They are not simply there to act as stabilisers.
I recall some archaeologists trying to replicate, in the 1950s, the atlatls used by the aztecs against cortez and his conquistadors when they invaded in the fifteenth century, saying that when they tried it out, using short, heavy spears, that they could just about hit a bison at 30 paces once in every ten shots.  They said it felt like they were trying to throw broom handles with a piece of two by four.  Atlatl Bob, aforementioned, revolutionised atlatl technology; he looked at his replicative studies project with his engineering eye, and saw that a flexible shaft would work better.  There are numerous sites across America where atlatls have been found, with six foot long, beflighted reed shafts have been found also.  In Australasia, the aborigines use the woomera, a device which is basically an atlatl (all but in shape) and they use spears which are about six to nine feet long and incredibly flexible.  These two continents are the primary places where atlatls were used to bring home the bacon, and they both use flexible shafts.  Might tell you something.  Another fact; the atlatl as it is with flexible darts can shoot up to around 200 metres, and with accuracy at 100 metres in the right hands.  In Aztec Mexico, they used the atlatl, as I said, to kill conquistadors.  These men were armoured with the most extreme armour in the world; Spain was at the height of it's power, and it was known for it's fine steel.  The armour was cutting edge.  The aztecs used obsidian points on their spears.  The spears, which had flights and were flexible, penetrated the armour with ease.  It is said that the correctly tuned atlatl has at least the same power as a modern compound bow of sixty pound draw weight.  So, as you see, the atlatl is a seriously high power weapon, when used with a flexible dart.  But in America, the atlatls themselves were also flexible.  This added even more power, as modern tests and research shows.  Some archaeologists believe that the atlatl is one of the reasons for the extinction of most of the world's superbeasts, by which I mean, giant sloths, giant bison, mammoths, etc.  I believe nearly all the above information is on a number of websites, notably, www.atlatl.com and www.atlatl.net. ; Find out a little about it.  You might be surprised.  The atlatl rocks.

That Bushman blade is a real bargain.....that's for sure.  That handle does get a bit cold in the winter, that paracord sure is handy stuff!  I keep several for knockaround blades and you can't find tougher for the price!  The 'Assegai' from Cold Steel is a winner as well!  Good luck on the composite Atlatl,  I have found that attatching the Atlatl to the spear's balance point resolves several inherent difficulties with such a system.  It instantly became easier for me with only minor adjustments.  I know what you mean about 'betraying' one's connection with that which is primitive.   Any Native American can deeply relate to this concept.   It helps for me to realize that it is inborn in humans to be innovators to one degree or another....It is our ancesstors who did much with little and in so doing advanced their respective cultures as far as they were able....to the limits of their technical capabilities.    I truly respect the primitive lifestyle.....as it can readily be seen that technology can swiftly become an 'evil sideshow'.    I remember watching a public access show a while back and puzzling at the strange juxtaposition of a Native American community in which lived certain individuals in TeePees.....with T.V.s inside.  It seemed very odd to me then.  That is the crux of the issue it seems.  The primitive lifestyle got old after awhile.........Heck,  it still does.  


P.S.  The innate need for family to sit around the open campfire and tell their tales is just as strong today....only it has been replaced with an 'electronic campfire' with no true warmth to provide.....and the tales are shallow indeed!    I have no cable T.V. in my home.......guess I'll always be an old primitive at heart!

Okey doke.  If you want low power, little accuracy and a less range that is up to you.

I hope that wasn't the last word!

I have some 32" arrows, heavy longbow war arrows, and I've just toyed with the idea of an atlatl for it. So I carved up an old arrow shaft to use and did some short flights in the garden. With just gentle casts the arrow flew far faster and further than I could get by throwing conventionally. I'm impressed - and think I may have just been sucked into the tiny atlatl community ... 

My question is ... are there any 'arrow atlatls' out there, either historically, anthropologically or just back-garden engineering?

It seems like a very useful weapon to me, especially if your bow breaks.

Chris is right.  And the similarities conspire to produce all manner of orphan inspirations.....I remember once when I was 14, still jazzed about having 'discovered' the sling.  Way back then those metal tipped lawn darts were still enjoying their pre-litigious honeymoon with the public at large......being the sling crazed kid I was,  I met the opportunity head on.   After long and intense logistical machinations,  I simply tied a piece of yarn to a lawn dart and swiftly proceeded to perforate the neighbors roof several houses down.  It stuck in there but good!  And speaking of 'stuck' I won't bore you with the details of how a man sized work boot came to be 'stuck' somewhere's else.