I was driving up to the store with my dad earlier and just happened to look over at a creek that ran under the overpass and saw a bunch of huge stands of rivercane, me and the pops are gonna go harvest as much as we can tomarrow and probably spend all day making Atlatl darts, I can't wait. It's amazing since getting into all the "primitive" technologies and weapons how something so simple can please you so much, but I'm not complaining  :D

sweet, dude! do you know what kind it is? most stands of river cane these days aren't actually 'cane' at all, but Arundo Donax which is actually an invasive grass from the mediterranien (?). fortunately, it also makes excellent darts, albeit a little light. a few tips to harvesting. try and get to the middle of the stand. this is where the cane will be the highest and straightest as shoots fight for sunlight. look for shoots that are already a golden tan in color or just slightly green. it's much easier to make darts from shafts that are already partialy seasoned. look for shafts around 1/2'' to 5/8'' at the base with as little taper going up as possible. take a VERY sharp knife and slash the bases at an angle rather than sawing or using cutters. this will prevent splitting and save you as much of the shoot as possible. harvest three times what you actually want as you're bound to ruin some when you straighten as well as finding hidden defects. heap your harvest into a bundle and tie, then trim the thinner tops to around 9' (no less than 8'). you can always cut down later. happy gathering! ;)

Chris

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz119/paleoarts/darts/100_1595640x480-1.jpg http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz119/paleoarts/darts/100_1593640x480-1.jpg http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz119/paleoarts/darts/100_1594640x480-1.jpg http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz119/paleoarts/darts/100_1598640x480-1.jpg

not sure if it is actually cane or Arundo Donax but it is definatly one of the 2, and thank you very much for the tips on harvesting it, alot of that I didnt know at all, so it will help alot in getting the most out of the shoots, I can't wait gonna be a good day tomarrow  ;D

I use them for making the pipe for my Iron Age bellow. I have a lot of them because, with time and usage, they slowly burn out!
Never thougth to make atlatl darts, but they work very fine as arrows, with bone inserts at the edges and a flint arrowhead  :D
Yes, only thinking in primitive way gives you that particular feeling!!
Greetings,
Mauro.

I´ve seen those plants before. They grow next to sources of water. If I ever see one, I´ll try to get it.

on a side note, arundo donax is the premier cane used in many different instrument reeds.

Have fun, I agre with you in that I would rather have a truck heaping egg sized river rocks (maybe some flint as well) than an I phone, I pod, etc. and would have much more joy in such a simple thing.

Would love to see some pics of your finished work. Cane is so good for so many things.

Cool, I have to buy that stuff pretty expensive at the garden centre....