[Adam Simmonds]

hi there,
have recently been experimenting with throwing spears of my own manufacture.

has anyone else had much experience with using and or making throwing spears?

i have been using bamboo, as it is readily available and requires little wood working - using
approx. 2 metre length with weighted tip to bring the centre of gravity about one third of the length away from the tip (where it is thrown)/. i have found, with practise, that i am able to throw it a good 30-40 metres and it enters the ground with considerably more force then what i can generate by thrusting it in. a surprisingly simple and effective weapon

any advice on possible techniques, materials for use and/ or manufacture would be appreciated.

was reading thourgh the thread on the formidable aztec macahuitl - some beautiful pics of these exotic weapons - apparently, another aztec weapon was a flail of leather thongs with shards of obsidian sewn into the thongs.
this could also be seeped in poisons too further improve efficacy, a very nasty and easily concealable weapon.

the favourite food for the aztec gods was, apparently, human hearts - prisoners of war were made a meal of in this way, the priests operating with obsidian knives atop their temple structures beneath a watchful sun. after the victim's heart was removed and held up for the sun's approval, the head was lopped off and sent rolling down the hundreds of steps to the crowd below.

adam

[George Hill]

[Adam Simmonds]

hi george,
so far i've just been inserting heavy nails into the bamboo head, not so the steel protrudes but just too give it weight -the spearhead is externally just the thick end of the bamboo shaft.

originally i was throwing sort of across the body, twisting my torso through the throw like tossing a ball, flicking the spear forwards from behind and too the right. however, with practise i have found that some of my best - straightest, quickest and most powerfull - throws are made by stepping forwards and throwing the spear quite straight over the shoulder with minimal twisting of my body. this stance often feels awkward (as i say i am relatively new to this), but when it does work it feels very smooth.

also, seems that a good throw happens when all the factors - chest, legs, shoulders, elbow, wrist, spear etc work harmoniously and smoothly together and this is more important then mere force. ie when my elbow tries too hard and outpaces my shoulder or body i get a weak and twisting throw.
- strangely enough - i have found this overall harmony easiest too attain when i don't think about my body but only the spear, and concentrate on hurling it into that spot over there - in such cases the body seems to take care of itself

cheers, adam