Welcome, Guest. Please Login
SLINGING.ORG
 
Home Help Search Login


Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print
Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand (Read 9320 times)
David Morningstar
Slinging.org Moderator
*****
Offline


Slinging Rocks!

Posts: 3419
UK
Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand
Oct 17th, 2008 at 8:37am
 
http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-Bes02Maor-t1-body-d3-d1.html

...

Quote:
The whip-thrown spear (tarerarera and whiuwhiu) was not only a missile weapon employed in fighting, but it also provided recreation for youths. The so-called spears were simply unworked rods of manuka, pointed at one end when used as weapons. The butt end was thrust into the ground in a slanting position. The kotaha or whip consisted of a straight rod about four feet in length having a cord attached to it. An old specimen in the British Museum is adorned with a carved design. The free end of the cord was hitched round the spear shaft in a certain manner. The operator, grasping the rod with both hands, now swung it forward with much force, so as to pluck the spear from the earth and propel it forward through the air. As it shot forward the hitched cord was released and the untrammelled spear continued its flight.


Like a Swiss arrow on steroids. I like it!
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
kuggur slingdog
Ex Member


Re: Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand
Reply #1 - Oct 17th, 2008 at 9:41am
 
The answer to "what do you get when you mate an atlatl with a staff sling" Grin
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
peacefuljeffrey
Interfector Viris Spurii
*****
Offline


Peace through superior
slinging power!

Posts: 2700
West Palm Beach
Gender: male
Re: Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand
Reply #2 - Oct 17th, 2008 at 7:58pm
 
I guess you can't use it on any ground into which the butt end of the spear can't be stuck?  Undecided
That's a pretty severe limitation, yes?

You might as well try to use a sling in deep woods!
Back to top
 

Cradled rock is slung&&Once around the back and gone&&Flying far and true
 
IP Logged
 
Curious Aardvark
Forum Moderation
*****
Offline


Taller than the average
Dwarf

Posts: 13965
Midlands England
Gender: male
Re: Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand
Reply #3 - Oct 19th, 2008 at 11:31am
 
Nothing to stop you making a simple a frame to lean the spear against if thje ground's too hard Smiley

Back to top
 

Do All things with Honour and Generosity: Regret Nothing, Envy None, Apologise Seldom and Bow your head to No One  - works for me Smiley
 
IP Logged
 
Steven
Interfector Viris Spurii
*****
Offline


RaptorIsAsRaptorDoes

Posts: 2101
Austin, Tx.
Gender: male
Re: Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand
Reply #4 - Oct 19th, 2008 at 11:54pm
 
In "The Lance Thrower" by Jack Whyte lances were described which are similar to the one depicted here. Thrown by hand (one handed) using a thong wrapped around the shaft to propel it when thrown. Like a Swiss Arrow (AKA Dutch arrow, Yorkshire arrow, or a Gypsy arrow) on steroids.
Back to top
 

A Curmudgeon@Large Civilly Fomenting Anarchy one post at a time...I don't like it is not a valid reason and Everyone knows is not a valid rule...Hi Ho, Hi Ho Its Off To Work I Go; As Ci-vi-lly As I Can Be Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Hi Ho...
THIS ADVICE IS WORTH WHAT YOU PAID FOR IT.
 
IP Logged
 
Curious Aardvark
Forum Moderation
*****
Offline


Taller than the average
Dwarf

Posts: 13965
Midlands England
Gender: male
Re: Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand
Reply #5 - Oct 20th, 2008 at 7:48am
 
yeah we made hand thrown with cords spears when i was a kid.
Like the idea of the two handed thrower though - you could get some real distance with one of those babies.
Back to top
 

Do All things with Honour and Generosity: Regret Nothing, Envy None, Apologise Seldom and Bow your head to No One  - works for me Smiley
 
IP Logged
 
peacefuljeffrey
Interfector Viris Spurii
*****
Offline


Peace through superior
slinging power!

Posts: 2700
West Palm Beach
Gender: male
Re: Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand
Reply #6 - Oct 20th, 2008 at 10:31pm
 
Curious Aardvark wrote on Oct 19th, 2008 at 11:31am:
Nothing to stop you making a simple a frame to lean the spear against if thje ground's too hard Smiley



Suddenly it's not such an easily portable/deployed weapon, though, right?
Back to top
 

Cradled rock is slung&&Once around the back and gone&&Flying far and true
 
IP Logged
 
Dave M
Descens
***
Offline


Slinging Rocks at seagulls

Posts: 239
Littlehampton West Sussex Eng
Gender: male
Re: Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand
Reply #7 - Oct 23rd, 2008 at 8:12am
 
I will ask my Daughter about this when I visit her at Christmas as she live near Wellington NZ and has many Mauori Friends
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
spchtr
Tiro
**
Offline


Slinging Rocks!

Posts: 18
Re: Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand
Reply #8 - Oct 24th, 2008 at 7:59pm
 
peacefuljeffrey wrote on Oct 20th, 2008 at 10:31pm:
Suddenly it's not such an easily portable/deployed weapon, though, right?


Oh, I dunno, how hard is it to find a small rock.
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
David Morningstar
Slinging.org Moderator
*****
Offline


Slinging Rocks!

Posts: 3419
UK
Re: Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand
Reply #9 - Nov 15th, 2008 at 2:03pm
 
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
David Morningstar
Slinging.org Moderator
*****
Offline


Slinging Rocks!

Posts: 3419
UK
Re: Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand
Reply #10 - Nov 18th, 2008 at 5:05pm
 
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
David Morningstar
Slinging.org Moderator
*****
Offline


Slinging Rocks!

Posts: 3419
UK
Re: Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand
Reply #11 - Dec 7th, 2008 at 3:09pm
 
A kids video about making and throwing a 'French arrow'  http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=M3WjS3hzXY4
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
ChuckRocks
Senior Member
****
Offline


Leverage Artillery Design
Engineer

Posts: 292
The Florida Outback, USA
Gender: male
Re: Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand
Reply #12 - Dec 12th, 2012 at 4:28am
 
peacefuljeffrey wrote on Oct 17th, 2008 at 7:58pm:
I guess you can't use it on any ground into which the butt end of the spear can't be stuck?  Undecided
That's a pretty severe limitation, yes?

You might as well try to use a sling in deep woods!


Just going on sheer intuition, it seems to me that the purpose of planting the butt end in the ground is to make it easier to use quickly.
I've seen English Long-Bow demos where the archers stuck their arrows in the dirt prior to shooting. It wasn't required as part of the shooting process, it was just a developed habbit of ease.

In the case of the two handed stick slingythingy, a bunch of planted spears could be launched very quickly.
Not as quickly thrown on hard ground but still throwable, simply trailed behind the thrower.
Hmmm, I would bet that a spear chucker could chuck as many spears or more than an archer in the same amount of time.
Back to top
 

(AKA Walker / Visit my Facebook page: at http://www.facebook.com/pages/SiegeMasters/168138883205859 )
WWW  
IP Logged
 
slingbadger
Interfector Viris Spurii
*****
Offline


Don't Badger a Badger

Posts: 3220
Akron NY
Gender: male
Re: Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand
Reply #13 - Dec 12th, 2012 at 6:31am
 
Steven wrote on Oct 19th, 2008 at 11:54pm:
In "The Lance Thrower" by Jack Whyte lances were described which are similar to the one depicted here. Thrown by hand (one handed) using a thong wrapped around the shaft to propel it when thrown. Like a Swiss Arrow (AKA Dutch arrow, Yorkshire arrow, or a Gypsy arrow) on steroids.


The Romans had similar weapons called amentums. They were javelins with cords wrapped around them. You put your finger in a loop and launched them. They would self rifle as they left your hand. Great for accuracy
Back to top
 

The greatest of all the accomplishments of 20th cent. science has been the discovery of human ignorance  The main difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits.-Einstein   I'm getting psychic as I get older. Or is that psychotic?
 
IP Logged
 
ChuckRocks
Senior Member
****
Offline


Leverage Artillery Design
Engineer

Posts: 292
The Florida Outback, USA
Gender: male
Re: Two handed sling-spear, New Zealand
Reply #14 - Dec 12th, 2012 at 3:20pm
 
slingbadger wrote on Dec 12th, 2012 at 6:31am:
Steven wrote on Oct 19th, 2008 at 11:54pm:
In "The Lance Thrower" by Jack Whyte lances were described which are similar to the one depicted here. Thrown by hand (one handed) using a thong wrapped around the shaft to propel it when thrown. Like a Swiss Arrow (AKA Dutch arrow, Yorkshire arrow, or a Gypsy arrow) on steroids.


The Romans had similar weapons called amentums. They were javelins with cords wrapped around them. You put your finger in a loop and launched them. They would self rifle as they left your hand. Great for accuracy


Now that's information I can use here in Florida.
Thanks Mucho!
Back to top
 

(AKA Walker / Visit my Facebook page: at http://www.facebook.com/pages/SiegeMasters/168138883205859 )
WWW  
IP Logged
 
Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print
(Moderators: Chris, Bill Skinner, David Morningstar, Masiakasaurus, Rat Man, Curious Aardvark, Mauro Fiorentini)