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.

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.   

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

jeff <><

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

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!

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.  )

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.

Quote:



*laugh* That´s fun. I didn´t know that. Well, then the Idea was not so bad after all

Ulrica

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!