Bristol Bay Throwing-Board


This is an arctic Bristol Bay style throwing-board. The original was collected in Kadiak, Alaska in 1884. The image is from "Throwing-Sticks In The National Museum" by Otis T. Mason, published by the Smithsonian Institute in 1890.

Here is the accompanying text:
Bristol Bay type. In no essential character do these sticks differ from those of Nunivak. The handle is smaller, and they appear to have been made with steel tools.

Material:
Wood, 19" x 2" x 3/4"
(2) 1/4" dowels, 1" long
1/4" dowel, 5/8" long

Construction:

• 3 1/2" from the handle end, taper both sides down to 3/4" wide at the peg end.
  
  
• Shape the handle end.
  
  
  
  
• Thin the bottom of the handle from the thumb and finger grips to the end. The sides should be 1/2" high.
  
  
  
  
• At 1 3/4" and 2 3/4" from the handle, drill a 1/4" hole 3/8" deep.
  
  
• Cut the groove. Starting 1" from the peg end, cut a 3/8" wide groove. At the peg end, it should be 3/8" deep, slanting upwards to flush at 13 1/2" from the peg end.
  
  
• Drill a 1/4" hole in the groove end, as close to level as you can. It's not critical, though.
  
  
• Round off the botton of the peg end.
  
  
• Round off the ends and edges and sand it smooth.
  
  
• Round off one end of the 5/8" peg. Put glue in the hole, insert the flat end, and push it in firmly.
  
  
• Glue in the fingerpegs.
  
  
• Round out between the fingerpegs and sand smooth.
  
  

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