Aussieslinger
There is no mention that grandfather was saying that the "Apache Style"Was used to kill deer.
"To the best of his knowledge, his Mescalaro tribe had been using slings for centuries for hunting or combat and could kill a deer or warrior with equal ease"
Using slings does not mean that they were only using the "Apache Style" In thier efforts .
Although I can see a stone cast in this manner (Apache Style) killing a human. I am basing this claim strictly on the state of late 19th century early 20th century medicine. I never sid it would instantly kill just that it would eventually kill.
Again we have no evidence that the native american slingers used the "Figure-8".In a similar vein we have no evidence either that they didn't use it. I think you are going in the right direction on your belief that figure-8 is an American Style based on the evidence out there of family members teaching it to thier young.
Unfortunately unless we can document with no ( Or Almost no) uncertainity that this training took place before before 5/1/ 1985 then we have no way of knowing for sure if the technique in question was influenced by Lynn Ballards Article in the Mother Earth News. This Article as Far as I know is the earliest one in which the Figure 8 is described. Korfmann in his seminal 1973 article ( for example) only illustrated the underhand throw
After seeing both videos. I would agree that his primary intrest is in the Atlatl. I am not buying the "combined-arms concept" of slingers protecting spearmen during a large animal hunt. My understanding is that the atlatl has a greater range than he is showing in his little demonstration os slinging against a rock face.
I have got to get to bed, we will continue this later
Marc Adkins
Aussie wrote on Oct 7
th, 2008 at 4:59am:
Hi David,
. However I just can't imagine being able to sling hard enough to kill a deer or a human being using that style and Foryth claims that Grandfather was able to and presumably had done both. Perhaps, just perhaps, our understanding of Forsyth is in error.
Whatever the case this gentleman is a living treasure and I am just itching to hear all he has to say on the subject, though I think his primary interest is the atlatl. As far a naming rights for the style, I certainly think that honour should go to him.
Regards,
Aussie