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Message started by weaver7 on Jun 12th, 2004 at 5:49pm

Title: Sling as a survival tool
Post by weaver7 on Jun 12th, 2004 at 5:49pm
In a true survival situation a sling may not be as useful for its primary purpose (chunking rocks) as it first appears.  

This is because survival priorities generally have shelter/warmth and water at the head of the list.  (You can live 3 min w/o air, 3 hours w/o shelter, 3 day w/o water, and 3 weeks w/o food).  The sling has potential for use in food gathering but most survival situations don't last that long.  

That said, I thought it would be interesting to brain-storm about other creative ways to use a sling in a survival situation.  This is a productive thing to think about since most slingers are rarely in the outdoors without thier favorite chucker.

Just to get the ball rolling here is one:

I have used the pad of a leather sling for holding the cactus pads of prickly pair while despining so I can eat them.

Title: Re: Sling as a survival tool
Post by Ulrica on Jun 13th, 2004 at 11:10am
True.
If you should use a sling in a survival situtaion, you probably first must have practice a lot before you can hit and kill a small animal with it.

But itīs a nice question though, because I seldom leave my house without my sling. If I take my backback with me, I also have a sling with me.

One Idea is as Mitella. I donīt really know the english word for it. If you hurt you arm you can rest it in a mitella while walking or so.

If you geather woods for the fire you can carry it more easy if you tie the sling around it.. Maybe.. :-/

Thatīs what I can come up with right now

Ulrica


Title: Re: Sling as a survival tool
Post by JeffH on Jun 13th, 2004 at 3:36pm
Ulrica,

What your description of the "mitella" is what we call a "sling".  Yep, that's right.  If I break my arm, I will have to put it in a sling for a while as it heals.  In english (or at least american) we call any device made of flexible material intended to support something a sling.

My wife has a large fabric thingy that she carries our babies in - it is called a sling.

When workmen lift a large piece of material with something wrapped around it (like a cable, nylon rope, etc.) it is called a sling.

As for survival use of the sling:  I am certain it would only be useful as a food gathering device with much practice beforehand.

You could use it as a snare.  Or maybe you could catch a deer and use the sling as reins and ride the deer out of the woods.   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I suppose the possibilities are endless, I just can't think of anything else right now.

jeff <><

Title: Re: Sling as a survival tool
Post by longwinger on Jun 13th, 2004 at 4:34pm
Very good point Weaver, as already mentioned, the snare is a very effective trapping tool, also a bow string, a bow and drill string, fishing line and pole lashing.

Title: Re: Sling as a survival tool
Post by Gun on Jun 13th, 2004 at 10:45pm
I think the sling is a fine addition to your surivial gear. It takes up very little space. I don't think it should be the primary weapon though, but if you decided on it Maybe a over sized stone would work. I mean if you used a very large stone (bigger than you would normaly though for distance) and a slow wind up you could get good accuray. The big rock would have more inpact power than a normal stone, and i think it would be more accurate at close ranges. I like slow wind up. I was always taught that if you try to over power something you would lose accuacy ( like bowling). Also 3 days without water that is crazy. I live in a very hot humid climate. If i were to go 3 days without water here you would die of dihydration in a day or would be able to find water because you would be so weak from exastion, or a heat stroke. Just my opinion

Title: Re: Sling as a survival tool
Post by zeluiz on Jun 14th, 2004 at 1:38am
In a survival situation the sling will be very useful for self-defense, not necessary to chunk rocks, but whit the stone inside the pocket. Not long ago I used it against 3 big dogs :o, and trust me it was very effective. ;D

Title: Re: Sling as a survival tool
Post by TechStuf on Jun 14th, 2004 at 4:13am
I know!   Say your plane goes down over a remote area.....it's just you and your trusty sling.   You have lots of time to practice your aim.  So you practice patiently until that fateful day that a low flying search plane arrives.   Now's your chance....you reach down and grab a handful of small pebbles, not too big, not too small....carefully now you must aim at the windows of the plane.   You will want to be careful and sling with just the right amount of force so as not to break the windows and cause another crash!  Just enough to get their attention for a rescue.  Great idea, huh!  And who said all that practice getting your highschool sweetheart to come to her window at night would never pay off!  

Buddum bum.....thanks I'll be here all week!

Title: Re: Sling as a survival tool
Post by David_T on Jun 14th, 2004 at 6:41am
Heck Tech,

I get so excited slinging at geese, sped eagle, just 9 yards infront of me! I would probably put the stones clean through the pilot's head, and out the tail section! So much for my rescue :o

Title: Re: Sling as a survival tool
Post by weaver7 on Jun 14th, 2004 at 10:58am
I was wondering if someone would think of a way to use a sling as a signal device.  Maybe shooting the search-plane down isn't the best strategy.  (But sounds like fun anyway.  :P)

Seriously, how about using a sling to loft signal flares.  The big danger here would be setting the world on fire and thereby drastically rearranging your survival priorities.  (I know of at least one instance where a lost hiker burned to death in the conflagration started by his signal fire.)  But could be a workable idea in a sea rescue.

I was also wondering in aluminum foil coated rocks might be visible from a long way (on a sunny day.)  Should spin and throw light in all directions.  This would be especially true if the rock had some natural facets.

Title: Re: Sling as a survival tool
Post by Gun on Jun 14th, 2004 at 1:07pm
Maybe if you used the sling to fire up firecharckers into the air. You would have to time it just right so as to not catch everything on fire. It would signal people and not catch you on fire in the prosess

Title: Re: Sling as a survival tool
Post by Ulrica on Jun 14th, 2004 at 1:24pm

wrote on Jun 13th, 2004 at 3:36pm:
Ulrica,

What your description of the "mitella" is what we call a "sling".  Yep, that's right.  


;D
*laugh* Thatīs fun. I didnīt know that. Well, then the Idea was not so bad after all ;-)

Ulrica

Title: Re: Sling as a survival tool
Post by justin Ball on Jun 15th, 2004 at 5:20pm
I use a slip knot for my anchor line. It would also make a very good garrot if need be....perhaps survival is escape!
String is always useful, didn't Otzi have some with him in his bum bag?

Title: Re: Sling as a survival tool
Post by TechStuf on Jun 15th, 2004 at 7:28pm
Rumor has it that Old Otzi was found to have scrawled a hastened message upon his arrow quiver in ancient Celtic which read:

"Remember me as you pass by,
as you are now so once was I,
as I am now soon you will be,
So prepare for death and follow
me!

and further examination of the body revealed that it had been penetrated by a pointed lead glande upon which this message was found inscribed in latin:


"To follow you I am content,
Just wish I knew where you,
I've sent."


Those ancestors of ours....such kidders!  


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