Bison Rib Atlatl
This is an atlatl made from a bison rib.
I've never heard of any like this, but while looking at rib bones one day, I noticed that the curve and the grip were almost perfect for an atlatl as is, and I can't think of a single reason why they wouldn't have made something like this.
Material:
Bison or cow rib, about 18" long (straight line, end to end)
Leather
Construction:
- Find a good rib bone, about the right length, that fits comfortably in your hand.
- With a good abrading stone (I used a broken grinding wheel), carve a wide notch in the flat end of the bone for a dart rest.
- On the other end, shape out a peg.
- Starting about 1" from the dart rest, wrap the handle with leather, going up the shaft about 5".
The proper grip for this atlatl is similar to the grip below. You wrap all your fingers around the leather handle except for your index finger, which curls over the top to hold the dart in place. When your arm comes forward in the throwing motion, you lift your finger off the shaft.
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