Woomera N.Territory?

VANDOO · 23rd November 2008, 04:01 PM

CONGRADULATIONS THATS A VERY NICE ONE AND YOU MUST HAVE USED THE OLD TIME MACHINE TO GO BACK 100 YEARS TO GET IT AT THAT PRICE.

THE DAMAGE APEARS TO BE RECENT SO REPARING IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE AS IT PROBABLY OCCURED IN ITS RECENT HANDELING NOT IN ACTUAL USE. IF YOU HAVE SPINIFEX RESIN AVAILABLE YOU COULD DO A VERY GOOD REPAIR. IF NOT THE TWO PART RESIN THAT COMES IN A LARGE DOUBLE SYRENGE COULD SERVE AS WELL. YOU WOULD JUST HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING TO ADD TO ACHEIVE THE PROPER COLOR OR CLOSE TO IT. EXPERIMENT ON A PIECE OF BOARD OR SOMETHING BEFORE APPLYING TO YOUR SPEAR THROWER UNTIL YOU SEE HOW IT LOOKS DRY AND IS FINISHED SATISFACTORLY. YOU WILL HAVE TO FROST THE SURFACE OF ANY NEW RESIN TO MAKE IT BLEND IN, FOR THAT TRY SANDPAPER OR IF YOU HAVE A SMALL SANDBLASTER THAT MIGHT WORK BUT PROTECT ANY AREAS WITH PATINA YOU DON'T WANT TO BLAST. A COATING OF SOME SORT CAN ALSO BE USED TO MAKE IT BLEND IN BETTER.
I SAW ONE JUST LIKE YOURS IN 1970 AT A GUN SHOW IT WAS DESCRIBED AS A VERY RARE POLYNESIAN UNDERWATER FIGHTING KNIFE. THE TOTALLY CRAZY DESCRIPTION MADE YOU LAUGH UNTILL YOU SAW THE EVEN CRAZYIER PRICE. I TOLD THE SELLER WHAT IT REALLY WAS BUT , IT WAS HIS STORY AND HE STUCK TO IT.

Tim Simmons · 23rd November 2008, 05:22 PM

Thanks Barry. It is an old piece. A lot of time was spent making it. I have some pine resin comming and we show the results. I have checked that there are Australian gum/resin producing pines and other plants.

The hard wood this is made from could make a handy sword club if you needed.

kronckew · 23rd November 2008, 05:22 PM

similar to an atlatl? how does the dart fit on the pivot?

Tim Simmons · 23rd November 2008, 05:27 PM

The spear end would most likely have a small notch and rests against the peg, I will try to illustrate this.

Something like this. Only I am new to this and try to launch an S.African staff. I do not know if the spear would rest on the shell part but it works for me.

inveterate · 23rd November 2008, 06:33 PM

Tim, This Spear Thrower is from Northern Queensland. Rod

Tim Simmons · 24th November 2008, 08:31 AM

Torres Straits islanders 1891 from the Smithsonian Institute. In the thread about a stone club there is information on Cape York being a great centre of import and export. A big centre for the export of weapons. This is the same form as mine.

kronckew · 24th November 2008, 10:26 AM

interesting weapon, atlatl have stone weights that can be moved to adjust the throw to the dart (spear), and sometimes finger loops, the spear bends as force is applied to the spear end, depending on the length to diameter ratio of the spear and there is a point where the counterbalance weight tunes out some of the vibration, increasing distance and accuracy. a modern atlatl threw a spear 'dart' almost 800 yards, so they are not something to be trifled with. atlatl usually have a 'hook' pivot that engages a cone shaped depression in the end of the 5-7 ft. long dart. no./central/so. american style darts are normally fletched.

i'd imaging a forked 'knock' on the end similar to a big arrow would work for yours, the atlatl sites show very similar throwers to yours.

here's a video showing how they are used.

http://www.arthurhaines.com/primitiv...onstration.wmv

more links for anyone who might want to practice this most ancient art. a very easy to make weapons system....

http://www.thunderbirdatlatl.com/?page_id=78

Tim Simmons · 24th November 2008, 06:21 PM

Yes a deadly weapon but just a few sticks really. I have this picture from the British Museum Publications "The Torres Strait Collection of A.C.Haddon" 1984. I did actually work in the then Museum of Mankind at this time. This is very similar to the last picture I post. There seems to be a degree of varriation perhaps that also occurs with stone clubs.

23rd November 2008, 05:27 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	The spear end would most likely have a small notch and rests against the peg, I will try to illustrate this. Something like this. Only I am new to this and try to launch an S.African staff. I do not know if the spear would rest on the shell part but it works for me. Attached Images

24th November 2008, 08:31 AM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Torres Straits islanders 1891 from the Smithsonian Institute. In the thread about a stone club there is information on Cape York being a great centre of import and export. A big centre for the export of weapons. This is the same form as mine. Attached Images

24th November 2008, 06:21 PM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Yes a deadly weapon but just a few sticks really. I have this picture from the British Museum Publications "The Torres Strait Collection of A.C.Haddon" 1984. I did actually work in the then Museum of Mankind at this time. This is very similar to the last picture I post. There seems to be a degree of varriation perhaps that also occurs with stone clubs. Attached Images

23rd November 2008, 04:01 PM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	CONGRADULATIONS THATS A VERY NICE ONE AND YOU MUST HAVE USED THE OLD TIME MACHINE TO GO BACK 100 YEARS TO GET IT AT THAT PRICE. THE DAMAGE APEARS TO BE RECENT SO REPARING IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE AS IT PROBABLY OCCURED IN ITS RECENT HANDELING NOT IN ACTUAL USE. IF YOU HAVE SPINIFEX RESIN AVAILABLE YOU COULD DO A VERY GOOD REPAIR. IF NOT THE TWO PART RESIN THAT COMES IN A LARGE DOUBLE SYRENGE COULD SERVE AS WELL. YOU WOULD JUST HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING TO ADD TO ACHEIVE THE PROPER COLOR OR CLOSE TO IT. EXPERIMENT ON A PIECE OF BOARD OR SOMETHING BEFORE APPLYING TO YOUR SPEAR THROWER UNTIL YOU SEE HOW IT LOOKS DRY AND IS FINISHED SATISFACTORLY. YOU WILL HAVE TO FROST THE SURFACE OF ANY NEW RESIN TO MAKE IT BLEND IN, FOR THAT TRY SANDPAPER OR IF YOU HAVE A SMALL SANDBLASTER THAT MIGHT WORK BUT PROTECT ANY AREAS WITH PATINA YOU DON'T WANT TO BLAST. A COATING OF SOME SORT CAN ALSO BE USED TO MAKE IT BLEND IN BETTER. I SAW ONE JUST LIKE YOURS IN 1970 AT A GUN SHOW IT WAS DESCRIBED AS A VERY RARE POLYNESIAN UNDERWATER FIGHTING KNIFE. THE TOTALLY CRAZY DESCRIPTION MADE YOU LAUGH UNTILL YOU SAW THE EVEN CRAZYIER PRICE. I TOLD THE SELLER WHAT IT REALLY WAS BUT , IT WAS HIS STORY AND HE STUCK TO IT.

23rd November 2008, 05:22 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Thanks Barry. It is an old piece. A lot of time was spent making it. I have some pine resin comming and we show the results. I have checked that there are Australian gum/resin producing pines and other plants. The hard wood this is made from could make a handy sword club if you needed.

23rd November 2008, 05:22 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	similar to an atlatl? how does the dart fit on the pivot?

23rd November 2008, 06:33 PM	#5
inveterate Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 58	Tim, This Spear Thrower is from Northern Queensland. Rod

24th November 2008, 10:26 AM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	interesting weapon, atlatl have stone weights that can be moved to adjust the throw to the dart (spear), and sometimes finger loops, the spear bends as force is applied to the spear end, depending on the length to diameter ratio of the spear and there is a point where the counterbalance weight tunes out some of the vibration, increasing distance and accuracy. a modern atlatl threw a spear 'dart' almost 800 yards, so they are not something to be trifled with. atlatl usually have a 'hook' pivot that engages a cone shaped depression in the end of the 5-7 ft. long dart. no./central/so. american style darts are normally fletched. i'd imaging a forked 'knock' on the end similar to a big arrow would work for yours, the atlatl sites show very similar throwers to yours. here's a video showing how they are used. http://www.arthurhaines.com/primitiv...onstration.wmv more links for anyone who might want to practice this most ancient art. a very easy to make weapons system.... http://www.thunderbirdatlatl.com/?page_id=78