On the nose, Squirrel.

12 glandes? you gotta be a crack shot.
wouldn't start my mission as a slinger,assuming it's going to battle,without 30 pieces of uniform ceramic glandes of 120gram each,total 3.6kg. Or if i had the money,or i was given lead shot...at least 50g/piece and at least 50 pieces.
I would carry them with 3-4 slings in a sidebag,of course a knife,a small,light axe, clothes, flint and steel,and 2-3kg of flat bread.

I agree,that in peace time, not many would carry 12 glands.  Sometimes when i'm crossing places with big,mean shepherd dogs, i take 3-4 stones with me for defence. Often find them useful. And dogs get to learn about slings too.

Keep in mind guys that slings were very widespead... while lead glandes were not. The Greeks used them starting some time in the first millenia BCE (anyone got exact number on this?) and the Romans picked up on this afterwards until some time around 300 CE when the lead fell into disuse (for what are still unclear reasons to me). We could probably get decent info on the Roman and Greek slingers... but this is only about 1,000 years of history or so and only two culture families in a world with dozens if not hundreds across some 5,000 years of time when we know slings were used in warfare. And the vast majority of them used stones while some few used clay. In general most armies were indeed quite ragtag and likely carried several slings (I'd bet on at least 3), a knife, a satchel for ammo (most cases stone), clothes, footwear, cloak, and some sort of bag, pack, or other satchel with bedroll, perhaps alternate clothes and footwear, and food... things likely to last like salted meat, dried fruit, nuts, hard cheese, dry bread, raw edible grains, and perhaps oil (like olive oil), butter, and/or honey (if wealthier). Also many historical slingers would carry a light shield as well, and perhaps some melee weapon like a one handed ax.

SchlrFtrRkMystc wrote on Oct 24^th, 2013 at 12:28am:


I am curious as to what historical information is leading you to believe that everyone carried several slings with them? nowhere, have I seen reference to men of this time period carrying extra slings. a good reference to the time period you speak of is the Trajan's Column (113 AD) depicting slingers.    

squirrelslinger wrote on Oct 27^th, 2013 at 12:39pm:


I have only found one reference in the "Iberians and Carthaginians" as to Balearic slingers carrying 3 slings. This is the only reference that I am aware of. All depictions, weather on a column, vase, earn, coin, illuminated manuscript, etc... show only one sling being carried, along with a dagger, and pouch or just part of a tunic to hold projectiles. This leads me to believe that it was simply not the "NORM" for people to carry extra slings. If you know of any historical information to correct me please forward it.

jlasud wrote on Oct 28^th, 2013 at 9:46am:


I agree that depictions are not even close to 100% accurate, but if you reference all depictions you will soon find that the evidence leans heavily to one side.

I also agree that slings are cheap, however I Do not agree that a sling made of natural fiber is prone damage. That is (Damage from using it.) I do not disagree that it may be a wise idea to carry extra slings, but I don't think it is wise with a severely unbalanced sample of information to assume men of "OLD" Carried more than one sling.

Jumping in here after a long hiatus...

In no particular order my 'slinger's survival' kit is:
2 slings
water bladder
scrap leather for slings/footwear
needle/awl and thread
knife
flint or other fire making gear
cord/string
dried meat or pemmican equivalent
Small (6" diam) metal or ceramic cooking pot/bowl
Medical and/or recreational herbs/medicine
blanket/cloak to wrap everything in