How to Make and Use an Atlatl

Scott J Murray

Dedicated to Eleanor Van Winkle, without whom I would have never

discovered the joys of eating raw food.

Copyright ©2013 Scott J Murray

All rights reserved. No part of this booklet shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechan-ical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permis-sion from the publisher. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and authors assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of information contained herein. For information, address No One, 10241 SE Green St., Portland OR, 97201.

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Published by No One.

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Note: This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its authors. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the authors and publisher are not engaged in ren-dering professional services in the book. If the reader requires personal assistance or advice, a competent profiessional should be consulted.

The authors and publishers pecifi-cally disclaim any responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book.

Contents

What is an Atlatl? 1

Atlatl Construction 2

Dart Construction 6

The Arrowhead 10

Using the Atlatl 12

1

An atlatl is a simple tool used to throw a spear, dart or an arrow. It predates the bow and arrow by sev-eral thousand years with the earliest archeological evidence of its use placed at around 25,000 years ago. Surprisingly powerful, the atlatl was used to hunt game as large as wooly mammoth and rhinoceros. Until the 1980’s it was believed that the atlatl was an fairly inefficient weapon, but once it was tested with flexible darts it became apparent just how power-ful it could be.

The atlatl is one of the first exam-ples of a compound weapon, defined as a tool to enhance human power. It doubles the length of the thrower’s arm, increasing its range by a factor of 6 and its power by a factor of 200. An atlatl-thrown dart can have as much impact as an arrow fired from a 60 lb bow, out-powering almost

any thrown spear. The Aztecs even ended up re-adopting the atlatl in the 16th century to fight the Spanish Conquistadors because of the power it generates.

A few cultures still use an atlatl today, including the aborigines of Australia and the Native Alaskans. It has also seen a resurgence as a sport-hunting and recreational weapon across the globe.

An atlatl can be constructed entirely with things found in nature. Two branches, a small rock, feath-ers and a binding material are all that’s required. Ancient peoples used animal sinew or reeds to bind their atlatls and darts, but for our purposes waxed dental floss or string will work just fine. The rest of the materials can be found in a local park or forest, or purchased for a small price.

What is an Atlatl?

An Ancient Weapon

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A. Forked branch of approximately ⅟₂″ to 1 ⅟₂″ in diameter

B. Small rock, ideally with natural notches for securing it to the branch

C. Electric grinder (optional)

D. Knife

E. File (optional)

F. Saw

Making the Atlatl

You’ll Need

G. Waxed dental floss (or another type of binding string)

H. Respirator (if you choose to use the mechanical grinder for shaping)

I. Safety glasses (if you choose to use the mechanical grinder for shaping)

A lighter or other fire source can also be used to heat the bind.

3

An atlatl can be made from any-thing, really, but for the purposes of this book we will be constructing one from a tree branch. If it was good enough for primitive man it shall be good enough for us. The only thing that matters is whether or not the branch you select is able to comfortably hold your dart, which will have a notch cut into its base.

A branch of suitable thickness must be selected to ensure that your atlatl will not break or bend when in use, but not so thick that it becomes cumbersome or you are unable to bind your weight to it (which will be a small stone). As a rule of thumb, for beginners, the length of the atlatl

Selecting and Shaping the Branch

should be approximately the length of the user’s forearm. The branch should be straight or relatively so, but may be carved or straightened over a fire if it is not.

Removing the branch from the tree can be done with a saw, knife or hatchet.

Once removed the top branch can be sawn, leaving a nub large enough to fit into the base of the dart. The tip of the nub may be hardened with fire to provide for a longer life of your atlatl.

Excess bark can be removed with a knife. At this point the atlatl is ready to throw a dart, but we’re go-ing to add a weight to the shaft.

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The stone will be tied to the balance point of the atlatl. This is a good starting point for stone placement. Your preference may change as you experiment with placing the stone up or down on the atlatl.

The purpose of the stone is a subject of debate amongst atlatlists, some claim that it increases the forcefulness of the throw while oth-ers maintain that it only adds weight (resulting in greater accuracy). It can

be avoided altogether or various siz-es and shapes can be experimented with. A typical weight is less than 2 ounces, but this may vary as well.

A suitable stone will be one that is not too difficult to attach to the atlatl itself. Notches can be carved into the stone along the base and its topside to make binding easier. Cutting these notches can be performed with a mechanical grinder or a file, the former being the least strenuous.

About the Stone

5

Binding the Stone

Finishing a Bind

Ancient peoples used animal sinew and other naturally-found products to bind things together but for our purposes we can use twine, string or the author’s choice—waxed dental floss. Dental floss is strong when bound multiple times and the wax can be heated slightly to fix it in place. It will be easier to bind the stone if it is grooved along the bottom, as this will prevent it from slipping off of the atlatl during the binding process.

Bind tightly along the notches that you made in the stone, being careful not to break the string.

Heat lightly along the points where the bind makes contact with a surface. Be careful not to burn or apply too much heat. Avoid heating your bind of the material will burn instead of melt.

Finishing a bind with dental floss is very easy to do. Cut a smaller length of dental floss and hold it so it forms a loop. When near the last 10 or so wraps place the loop over the path that the bind will follow and continue. This will bind the loop to

the surface. When you reach the end of the floss, place the last bit through the loop and pull the loop out so that the end of the floss secures itself under the original bind. This method may be more difficult with other materials.

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Making the Dart

You’ll Need

A. All the tools and supplies from making the atlatl

B. Flexible branches from 4′ to 13′

C. Feathers

D. Shapeable metal, bone, rock, etc. for arrowhead creation

7

Although the atlatl is a precursor to the bow its projectiles are common-ly thought of as darts rather than arrows. This means that the feathers on its rear are used to keep the dart from diving during flight rather than to fly a straight path.

Like the atlatl itself, the dart can be constructed from a wide variety of materials. What’s most important for an atlatl dart is length and flex-

A good dart has most of its flexibil-ity nearer to the contact point with the atlatl. This ensures a maximum of kinetic energy transferred to the dart prior to its flight. Although

It’s important to note that wood that looks perfectly straight in the forest, when stripped of its bark and left to dry for a few days will often present with bends and cracks. For our purposes we will be leaving most of the bark on so that the dart retains its moisture and flexibility.

Find a straight branch of at least 4′. Test the branch for flexibility and remember that it will become more rigid as it dries. Thickness should be about the circumference of your index finger.

About the Dart

Selecting a Branch

Flexibility is Key

ibility. A dart with a lot of flex will readily store energy from the throw whereas a rigid dart will likely be impossible to aim correctly. Darts vary in length, but the typical range is 4′ –13′.

Bamboo or river cane is a materi-al of choice for atlatlists, although any flexible material or branch of a suitable length can be used.

counterintuitive, the dart will fly with more force and accuracy if the thinner end is used as the base and the thicker to fix the arrowhead.

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The dart connects to the nub in the atlatl when thrown, so a hole needs to be bored in its base. With your knife, trim your branch to a suitable length. Take the thinner end and bore into it. This can be done by inserting the knife in the middle of the branch and twisting it back and forth until a hole is formed. The depth of the hole will be sufficient when the dart can be held in place in the atlatl, attached at the nub.

Boring the Dart

9

Attaching the Feathers

Although a dart only needs the feathers to prevent a dip in flight, we will be adhering them in the manner usually found on an arrow. Cut three feathers of approximately the same size along the quill so they are a length of 4″–10″. Place these feathers on the base of the dart in

a triangle along its circumference and bind them with your material of choice. Bind all the way past the end of the quill on either side. The middle of the feather need not be bound. Heat slightly if the material allows to fix the bind in place.

10

Making an Arrowhead

About the Head

The best head will work for what-ever you intend the dart to do. If you need a tip that will hold up to a great degree of punishment, metal may be the best choice. If you want to create an authentic atlatl dart, bone or stone may be used. To pierce

deep into your target, a large nail can be a suitable replacement. For the scope of this booklet, the head presented is designed for repeated use and to hold up over time. It is best carved from a piece of hard metal such as iron or steel.

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Attaching the Head

The Design

This is the shape of the arrowhead we will be carving. The point on its base will be inserted into the shaft of the dart and the notches along the blade will be used to in its binding.

This arrowhead can be carved from a variety of materials. A mechanical grinder can make quick work of bone and metal, but may have a difficult time carving stone. If you don’t have access to a mechani-cal grinder, carving this shape out of bone with a knife may be your best option. A sharp metal arrowhead will likely outlast other materials for repeated use.

The arrowhead we’ve designed can be fixed to the dart by working the pointed base into the tip of the shaft. Some splitting might occur, but this will be taken care of when it is bound with dental floss. Bind the head in an “X” along the grooves in its blade as well as down the shaft of

the dart to cover any splitting that occurred. This binding method will keep the head attached to the shaft even after repeated impacts. The fur-ther and tighter you make the bind the longer it will hold. Heat the bind slightly if the material allows.

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Using the Atlatl

You’ll Need

Grip

A. Dart

B. Atlatl

C. Target of your choosing

With the dart inserted into the nub of the atlatl, grip the dart with your index finger and thumb and use the remaining fingers to hold on to the atlatl itself. Hold the dart in place by gripping its sides. Avoid placing your fingers over the top of the dart, as this will prevent it from releasing when it needs to.

13

Sighting

Throwing

Sighting an atlatl is more intuitive than sighting another weapon like a bow or a rifle. Bringing your grip hand up near your ear so you can sight along the shaft of the dart will be your best bet at making sure it lines up with the target.

Throwing an atlatl is very similar to throwing a baseball. In order to get the maximum amount of speed and power with your throw you need to use your entire body. Lean back, bal-ancing on your back foot. Step for-ward and shift your weight to your front foot while sliding your arm forward, keeping the dart pointed at the target. Snap your wrist when your arm is completely extended,

downward and hard. Don’t worry about releasing the dart. It will come free on its own at the proper moment. Experiment with different throwing styles until you find one that works right for you. Don’t focus too much on how hard your throw is at first. Speed and power will devel-op on their own while you work on developing a smooth, consistent and accurate throw.

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Scott J Murray is a designer and illustrator based out of Portland, Oregon. His interest in primal weaponry began when he began eating a diet of exclusively raw foods in 2012. Able to eat almost anything wild in its raw state, he became interested in how ancient man went about procuring animal meats. This led to a series of experiments with slingshots, bows, and other ancient hunting methods.

About the Author

Further Reading

Copyright ©2013 Scott J Murray, all rights reserved.

The New Atlatl And Dart Workbook

By Wyatt R. Knapp. Paperback book containing all the information one might need to build an atlatl for different purposes—hunting, fun or com-petition. Includes diagrams and illustrations and advanced topics like how to use sinew as a binding agent.

Primitive Technology: A Book of Earth Skills

Information on not only construction and use of the atlatl but various other primitive weapons. Also has fun information on music and art.

waa.basketmakeratlatl.com

Official homepage of the World Atlatl Association. Lots of articles and links to atlatl information and an active forum for discussion.

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