Slinging.org Forum - Sharp atlatl weights?

ninja-slinger Descens Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 113	Sharp atlatl weights? Jan 28^th, 2015 at 2:19pm I have seen pictures of stone weoghts attached to atlatls for more power. This gave me the idea of moving the weight up to the end farthest from the handle, and using, say, a tomahawk blade instead of stone. Now the user is left with a backup should he run out of darts. Has anyone done/heard of this?
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Oxnate Senior Member Webmaster Offline Crus de agnus Dei con quilon menthae. Posts: 331 Minnesota Gender:	Re: Sharp atlatl weights? Reply #1 - Jan 28^th, 2015 at 7:50pm That would take A LOT more effort to throw.
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Arcane Tinker Funditor Offline Slinging everything 'cept b.s. Posts: 738 Western Wisconsin Gender:	Re: Sharp atlatl weights? Reply #2 - Jan 29^th, 2015 at 7:24pm You are talking about banner stones yes? I am no authority on atlatls, but I think Bill Skinner said that they are used as a sort of weight compensator to balance a "loaded" thrower, not to add power. But I see no reason why you couldn't add more deadly melee features into the atlatl.
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Bill Skinner

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Re: Sharp atlatl weights?
Reply #3 - Feb 1^st, 2015 at 3:03pm

It is a counter balance weight. If you move the weight too far towards the tip, you overpower the dart when you throw and cause the dart to porpoise very badly. It does not go as far or penetrate as well.

You might could put a blade or spike down by the handle and hold the hook end, however, an atlatl is pretty whippy and flexible, I don't know if you could get much power behind a blow that wouldn't break the atlatl. It might work with a throwing board but they aren't very thick, either.

And your blade would probably have to be at a 90 degree angle to the hook, or you would cut yourself when you threw.

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Rat Man Slinging.org Administrator Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 13680 New Jersey, USA Gender:	Re: Sharp atlatl weights? Reply #4 - Feb 3^rd, 2015 at 4:12am I agree with Bill. Of course that doesn't mean that you shouldn't experiment and try to find a way to make it work.
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Kjev

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Re: Sharp atlatl weights?
Reply #5 - Apr 19^th, 2015 at 8:47am

I use bannerstones on my basketmaker-style atlatls. Here is my Dad's:

My little Brother's:

Both are about 2 inches long.

Other styles of atlatls may hold up better to being used as melee weapons, but some are just too fragile. Also, the weight--as I've used it, and seen it used--is fastened securely near the handle end. Even a small weight like these, when it comes loose and slides to the top as you throw, will just about jerk the atlatl out of your hand.

Now this is my opinion, and as such should be considered the Doctrine of K'Jev and taken as such (as an opinion), but the idea of a large weight on the end of your atlatl would make it much harder to throw, and much harder on your arm.

On the other hand, try it, film it, and post it, and see what happens.

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Morphy

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Re: Sharp atlatl weights?
Reply #6 - Apr 22^nd, 2015 at 1:23pm

The doctrine of Morphy agrees with you.

Similarly when I see people using their bows as melee weapons in movies I cringe. A small knick in the back of a bow is all it takes for a catastrophic failure. Granted, the fact that it's an elf swinging a bow at an orc doesn't phase me. Just the part about it being a melee weapon. Wink

Personally I am skeptical that atlatls were ever used that way except as maybe an experiment that would not of caught on.

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Kjev

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Re: Sharp atlatl weights?
Reply #7 - Apr 29^th, 2015 at 11:37pm

Morphy wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2015 at 1:23pm:

Similarly when I see people using their bows as melee weapons in movies I cringe. A small knick in the back of a bow is all it takes for a catastrophic failure.

So you're probably not a huge fan of "Arrow?" where the entire city is infested with Robin Hood/Ninja super heroes who shoot like Lars Anderson, then proceed to bash and whack each other with their bows? Shocked

Its...interesting. Personally, I put so much work into building my bow, I get ticked off if I even drop it. Deliberately smacking something with it is unthinkable.

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Morphy

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Re: Sharp atlatl weights?
Reply #8 - Apr 30^th, 2015 at 2:41am

Haven't seen it but it sounds very "interesting". As you put it. Actually, can I just put aside the political correctness for a moment and say it sounds like it blows. No offense. I just need to say it.

Not against the whole comic book fad we are currently in. I can't wait to see the new Avengers but I think I will pass on
Arrow. Cheesy

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Curious Aardvark

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Re: Sharp atlatl weights?
Reply #9 - May 12^th, 2015 at 12:19pm

Arrow is a brilliant program.
Just waiting for series three to come out on box set.

Who gves acrap about the archery, it's got more and better plots than lost and a way more weird island as well

Not to mention every actor and actress is glamour model capable.

Yeah it's pure escapism - but it's still a great tv series.
And most of the bad guys have guns.

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Bill Skinner Forum Moderation Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 3292	Re: Sharp atlatl weights? Reply #10 - May 12^th, 2015 at 4:06pm If the bad guys have guns, then the bad guys would win in real life. As it is fantasy, Go Archers! Do they have anybody throwing darts with an atlatl or using a sling?
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Kjev

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Re: Sharp atlatl weights?
Reply #11 - May 17^th, 2015 at 9:00am

Morphy wrote on Apr 30^th, 2015 at 2:41am:

Haven't seen it but it sounds very "interesting". As you put it. Actually, can I just put aside the political correctness for a moment and say it sounds like it blows. No offense. I just need to say it.

Not against the whole comic book fad we are currently in. I can't wait to see the new Avengers but I think I will pass on
Arrow. Cheesy

As escapism, or a live-action comic, it's great.

As serious martial arts.... HAHAHAHAHAHA!

It's on Hulu, so at least it's free. And sometimes I get ideas from it.

But it's fun to watch.

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Re: Sharp atlatl weights?
Reply #12 - Jun 5^th, 2015 at 2:28pm

I have a small, 2.5 inch atlatl weight fairly far back towards the spur, and it does have a bit of an edge with it, and I have thought multiple times on how it would be very effective as a melee weapon, or even as a light axe to cut through small branches. My atlatl is quite sturdy and rugged and could take the force, I'm sure of it.

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