But why wood? I understand the old books say to but whay not feather?

Concerning measurements, I copied this from my notes:

So, the length of the dart or Kestros is, according to:

Polybius: 2 palms (~6") + 1 span (~9") = ~15"
Livy: 2 palms (~6") + ½ cubit (~9") = ~15"
Hawkins: ½ elle = 15"

Hondero, I added the point dimensions under the photo. The longest one is 15 cm as Polybius says. Then again, maybe his 'palm' was smaller?  

Johnny, Sorry, I don't want to take on another project!

Gun, Livy said the fins were made from firwood.

Crossbow bolts of the era were also about 15" in length.  It is likely, I think, that the Kestros is derived from the bolts used for the gastraphetes (belly bow). Slingers would have had access to bowmen.

Have you got those pics ready!!!!
Let us know how it performs.
Johnny

bump

I don't see the thongs of unequal length. Hmmm... It's an interesting concept. How does it work? I think Hondero's version is closer to Livy's description. I think your darts are the best. We need to conduct many tests with all the designs.
Johnny

Humm... that´s a peculiar interpretation of the sling, with a big splited pouch to hold the dart, quite similar to the Yurek´s first one. I remember I said then that being  the cords so separate they could be tangled when hurling. Lastly Yurek changed to other interesting designe that hold the dart by its gravity center, like the solution used by David Engeval. But I think all these designes don´t match the Livius descriptions, that in other hand is not evident, with even that word "scutalia" that some authors translate like "leather pouch"  and others like "leather strap", being in both cases a thong, short or longer.

But apart from the historical reconstruction, an efficient designe has to be tested exhaustively. I´ve thrown the cestro maybe a thousand times before arriving to my last sling designe, improving many details, though the basic designe has ever been the same, based on two diferents pouches for holding the point and the tail of the dart. Finally I´m fully satisfied with the results, but don´t exclude others solutions, though my experience tell me that one must follow the ancients and theirs well tested designes on the battlefields.

O. k what hurling styles are the other "cestrosphendoners" using I am at the moment using an under hand and am not very impressed with my distance not that I have much control yet. Yesterday morning was the first time I got to open up and see any
distance. I took my "toys" out to the beach bright and early but to my surprise was only achieving 60- 70 yards
distance granted at 40-50 yards the darts really slam into my target  using over hand or under hand. now with the under hand I had way to much height every time. so that could be lowered and probably gain me some distance