What is a atlatl

[Bishopj]

I was invited to Earth day to demo how to use a atlatl and this is the video from that day not on my YouTube channel.

https://youtu.be/mT9jbJ4jfBQ

[Sailorsam]

accessory to help throw a javelin
tricky but gives much more oomph
basically just a stick

[Sinthor]

Ha! Brings back memories. I used to use these all the time out in the desert as a kid. Made my first one (lousy!) in 5th grade but by the time I hit 7th grade I had a good one. These are NO JOKE. You can see people sticking targets in demos like these but as you learn to really throw them and get your body into it, you can see how they could take down Mammoths with these things. I got pretty darn good by the time I was out of high school. Unfortunately...moved to the city and haven't touched one since.

Don't get me wrong, I'd still take my compound bow over this any day. But they are way more formidable as weapons than they look!

[A_SonofLiberty]

I first learned about Atlatls from Mr Spock on a Star Trek episode. After that, I had to learn to make and use them. They are a ton of fun. I need to get back into primitive weapons like them and shepherd slings soon.

[Bishopj]

My avatar picture is of the first deer I took with a atlatl

[dude]

What is a atlatl

Been discussed here many, many times with some great information:

https://www.survivalistboards.com/sh...d.php?t=161909


https://www.survivalistboards.com/sh...d.php?t=427321


https://www.survivalistboards.com/sh...d.php?t=234667

Anyone wanting more information and looking to search SB, click here.

[Sinthor]

Originally Posted by A_SonofLiberty

I first learned about Atlatls from Mr Spock on a Star Trek episode. After that, I had to learn to make and use them. They are a ton of fun. I need to get back into primitive weapons like them and shepherd slings soon.

No way! That's where I first saw them too as a kid! Researched and found out more about them and then started my quest to build the first one. Too funny...imagine a super (at the time) sci-fi type of show that actually started us looking into PRIMITIVE weapons!

[GrizzlyetteAdams]

Many people are surprised how easy it is to learn how to make and use atlatls. When my grandson was around ten years old, he learned how to nail his target with an atlatl after only a few tries.

I don't have the nerve to go after a wild boar with an atlatl like this guy did in the video, but if pressed to hunt in SHTF situations I am certain that could probably take down a variety of animals with one. (I have bowhunted for many years, and practiced throwing atlatls for a few years.)

They are quite effective…

An atlatl dart can be thrown with the same penetrating power as an arrow shot from a 50-pound-draw longbow. Hunting and target range is typically 10 to 30 yards, but the world-record throw is over 848 feet.

https://www.hunter-ed.com/missouri/s...025_700136533/



As of this writing it is illegal to hunt with an atlatl in some places:

http://www.thudscave.com/petroglyphs...lstatelaws.htm But IMO, if you have private hunting land or it is SHTF time...then it's game on!



This video will give you an idea of how an atlatl can be made on the spot, without any pre-made tools...and then used to take down a boar.