David used a staff sling to take down Goliath. Skull crushing, brain smashing power. And ammunition is just lying around on the ground, free for the taking.
It seems to me that this weapon was used to hurl missiles into the main body of enemy soldiers. Accuracy was not important if missiles were slung into troops standing shoulder to shoulder , their injuries must have been horrific.
Thanks for watching! I also believe that this weapon must have been designed as a military weapon. It has many of the qualities of a good military weapon (low cost, reliability, low training requirements...etc).
Perfectly true, shepherds are believed to have used hand slings and stout staffs to deter the predators during late stone age and early farming era, hypothetical a lynx goes for a sheep/goat to stupid to remain in the flock, you cast a stone and wound it, better to end its misery with a strong hit from a staff or club at a safe distance instead of risking getting torn open by cat claws.
@@fbiagent9666 😆😆😆 I believe putting anything sharp on the end of a staff makes it a spear, I've seen spears made by part splitting the end of bamboo garden cane and sharpening the split pieces using whatever was available, just to hunt small game and fish.
New? We are relearning ancient technology. Or, were you referring to the evolution from throwing rocks to ICBMs? Yes, amazing the ingenuity, energy and resources through history to empower one group of people to dominate another or defend against agressors.
@@joewoodchuck3824 indeed, biology in general is constantly evolving offensive and defensive strategy’s to give them the upper hand. from corals evolving chemical attacks to destroy surrounding biology to dolphin males killing younger dolphin males out of fear of loosing mating rights, to chimps preemptively attacking other chimp tribes out of fear of the other tribe doing the same. I don’t know why people get so fixated on humans doing the same, if anything we are the only species That can manipulate our society and the game theory and our biology to create relatively peaceful society’s .
Great to see more on staff slings! I would say there are a few things you could try. Making the release cord a little longer allows the staff to be held slightly more upright without the stone becoming unstable in the pouch. Also, I've actually found I'm more accurate with the staff sling than the hand sling :D Because the release is consistent and doesn't rely on your hand releasing at the same time, I've found I get far closer to the target and get far more direct hits. Maybe this is just me though :D Also, I usually come down at closer to 60-70 degrees than 90. That slightly diagonal throw I've found to be better for flatter trajectories and helps with accuracy. Great video!
Thanks for the tips! I'm going to give the longer sling and that diagonal throw a try! I'm surprised that you find the staff sling to be more accurate. I find the staff sling to be far easier to learn than the hand sling , but I can't get consistent hits on small targets with it at 60 feet like I can with the short hand sling. I had thought it was because I can put a bullet spin on the stone with the hand sling but can't do so with the staff sling.
@@WannabeBushcrafter I've heard it's possible to get spin using a forked staff sling. It's often called a hoopak staffsling. I've never tried it out but maybe I should make one. Certainly seems interesting.
I'm going to make a hoopak staff sling but it be guess work, so little information about them. The staff sling I have made is 45 inch in length, hooked tip an rounded off to aid release. In your video how long did you do the cast lines from pouch to stick? I found longer lines means a lower angle of fire at 20 inch. I looked at some videos an shorter seem better for distance an accuracy. Cool video
@christopher snedeker I have a theory that in the middle ages they might have deployed staff slingers as 2 man teams. A loader and a thrower. Such a combination can saturate an area with huge stones all day long.
interesting video, have you seen David morningstar's video? he has some construction refinement tips. his launch technique is more vertical (and stable) as well. another thought to swinging the staff, is to try mimicking a swing of racquet/paddle/club/bat sports; I observe more power when anchoring rear leg until impact, or release. this has just gotten me interested in constructing and playing around with a staff sling now, thank you!
Staff slings are beastly! My observation with the staff sling -and granted, i haven't used one that much, but compared to the hand sling, it is much easier to obtain lateral accuracy. But yes, i encounter the same problems you mentioned keeping it on its vertical window -which by contrast, is much easier to do with the hand sling.
@@danielreardon6453 I have this pet theory that there is a logical progression from the 1 to 2 man staff sling to the 4-8 man operated mangonel, and then finally to the counterweight trebuchet requiring a team 10-15 people to run.
@@WannabeBushcrafter I hadn't considered this as a crewed weapon. Maybe you could do a follow up with 2 people operating the sling: one guy loads, the other guy fires. You may be able to more than double the rate of fire.
Man, if you needed to raise a peasant militia in just a matter of hours, this would be the way to do it. Show them a little fundamental staff fighting while you're at it.
At 4:47 the guy in the drawing on the right has a staff sling with a very distinct, curved tip on it. Do you think that might be a key to better aiming or maybe controlled release?
Thanks for watching! Yeah it's an interesting curved release hook. I'm not sure if it has any accuracy advantages, but it's worth giving it a try to find out. :)
Have a look at fishing casting techniques, I suspect that the foot placement, arm movements and the way of engaging the torqueing of the core/body would translate well to using a staff sling. When I get the chance to be somewhere with suitable rocks, room, and lack of people I'll test that theory. Thankyou for the content! Subscribed :-)
The only reason we struggle with targets is we don’t practice enough . Staff slings and hand slings were used to perfection when used as weapons in war .
Thanks a lot ! First topic i see that compare accuracy between this and classic sling ! Wich is obviously the first question that come in mind. Didn't really understand : is it more powerful or pretty similar on this point ? Can throw bigger stone, but closer, so not necessary more powerful overall (but great to throw grenades for sure !)
Thanks for watching! To clarify, the staff sling is significantly less accurate than the hand sling if you can spend the long practice time to fully train with both weapons. But there is a minimum level of accuracy (e.g hitting man sized targets at 20 yards) that takes much less practice time to achieve with the staff sling than with the hand sling.
Thanks for watching! I tried longer and shorter staffs, for me anything longer than 50 inches did not seem to extend the range. Shorter sticks did however reduce maximum ranges. I haven't tried a side arm throw, that might be something I'll look into.
I've actually never heard of the staff sling until I saw your video. First I ever saw of a regular sling was " clan of the cave bear," after I saw that movie a made one out of string and an old shirt. I was in Michigan for the summer so perfect sized apples were everywhere. I could never get the over head rotation release, but under hand I was amazed at how far I could throw an apple. Really cool stuff and fun. I recently got a boomerang which I love!!!! By far my favorite new toy. Amazing what people b4 us created. I'm definitely all about the pvc sling you had. Think I'll try that and also make or buy a nice hand sling. Any idea how much a good one cost?
I've seen some of these where the pouch is woven from paracord, and seems like it would hold a projectile better. In fact I was looking for the video that shows how to make the pouch.
The end of your staff needs to be smooth. After you cut it like you have round over all edges. This will make it release the same every time thus increasing your accuracy.
Thanks for watching, I thought about why Lacross sticks weren't used as throwing weapons, I suppose it could be that the staff sling design was already there?
One of the most fascinating questions to me is, why did bows eventually fully replace slings in allot of places? They seem to have allot of advantages.
Thanks for watching! I had this question as well. My current theory is that the bow became more affordable when compared to the sling over time. The bow and the sling are both expensive weapons but they are expensive in different ways. The bow is expensive in terms of its construction, maintenance, and the production of consistent arrows. The sling is expensive in terms of the long training time required for accuracy. For thousands of years these 2 range weapons coexisted(along with the Javelin) in Eurasia. But once the cost of producing bows and crossbows and arrows became cheap enough it readily replaced the sling. This started happening on mass in Eurasia from the 12th century onwards. In most locations the bow's dominance really did not last very long either since the bow itself started getting heavily displaced by firearms from the 14th century onwards.
lengths of staff very depending on a person's hight, armpit is a good standard. notch for loop from what I've researched should be angled slightly and the sides tapered toward the tip to reduce surface area for the loop to drag across. with the string length that needs to be adjusted for the individual also, to short and your rocks will fly low and short, to long and you won't get the proper release, just right for your hight and staff length and the stones will fly at a beautiful trajectory with good distance and if thrown right great accuracy. like anything it takes practice and time finding your proper setup then gaining accuracy.
@@WannabeBushcrafter we're all learning, the best part is just going out and doing. I love learning old methods and need lots of practice, for myself I find assurance in learning methods our ancestors relied on to survive. Good video btw, thank you for taking the time to put it out
Volley fire with 10oz. stones would have been pretty damn effective even against armored troops. Would still have enough momentum to dent plate armour which while not killing the knight would still stun him. Or against cavalry ...horses would panic or even go down if they started taking hits to the head. And against unarmored opponents they would be devastating especially with a higher arc to drop them down on the poor buggers.
Yes I agree. The staff sling, if used effectively, is an absolutely devastating weapon. And the main advantage, imho, is just how quickly and cost-effectively you can train someone to use it to an acceptable level of range and accuracy. We're talking about weeks of training time, so you could conceivably train huge numbers of drafted peasants to use this weapon effectively.
While I'm not saying it is entirely accurate (imo) I do believe that if you look at the bible as a somewhat accurate historical text rather than a theological text (in that it describes things possible within any specific era or time period it is written about) you can date the staff sling as far back as pre 1000 b.c. with the fable of David and Goliath. Illustrated portrayels always have David using a hand sling but if you read the text it actually alludes to the fact that it was a staff sling. When he went to fight Goliath, it says he "took his staff" when he went to pick up smooth stones for the battle. Goliath also is quoted as mocking David before the combat by saying: "What am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?" It wouldn't make sense to bring his staff if he wasn't using it as part of the sling as it would just tie a hand up and he'd have to put it down anyway to load if he were using a hand sling. It also never says he sets his staff down. If Goliath was unfamiliar with the weapon, it would certainly pack an element of surprise as you don't need to spin it to prime it. It's just one quick, sudden, fluid motion. And his mocking him would elude to the fact that the warrior class of that region was unfamiliar with the weapon as David used it to protect sheep while herding them. And Goliath's ignorance of the instrument caught him off guard. Christians never seem to want to portray it that way as if that was the case, it wasn't very 'miraculous' and anyone with David's experience with the weapon(along with Goliath's ignorance) could easily pull off the same feat. With all that said, I wouldn't be surprised that David himself learned it from eastern travelers along the likes of the trade routes of the time. And, seeing as how even the Aztecs figured out that leverage can greatly increase the velocity of projectile weapons with the Atlatl to throw spears, I don't see how they wouldn't have applied those same physics to the likes of a sling. Also, North American Native Americans were very well enamored in La Crosse long before the white man ever showed up, so there's that too as the La Crosse stick is along the same principle so I bet its much, much older than we think. With all that said, I may experiment with the construction of the pocket and also urge you to also. Because if we examine another detail in David's story, it says he picked up "smooth" stones. This to me, infers they were flat and round like a disc. And if we think about the construction of the La Crosse stick and how the bottom of the net is narrow, yet the top is wide where it is released, then there may be a sling pocket design that incorporates these properties and allows you to launch frisbee like stones which would greatly increase velocity and accuracy as launching something that is using aerodynamics, is much more effective than launching a simple round stone. I wonder if the pocket of the sling was sewn closed on the side of the sling that ties securely to the stick, while the other side of the pocket is much more open and maybe only sewn up slightly so a disc could slide out that side easily when the string is released in the throw. One last thing, but it wouldn't surprise if very strong, yet very flexible wood was used in the best staff slings as this would add even much more velocity if the stick bent and snapped forward on release giving it a bow-like or whip-like effect and therefore, they were probably also much longer than we think to properly utilize this whip effect. This would also afford you the ability to be able to launch it in a side-arm motion, thus making closer targets very viable to hit but with absolutely vicious force.
Very good response.✌️ There is no doubt that David used a staff/sling to defeat Goliath. And you're correct: It should NOT have surprised anyone on that battlefield. An accurately placed 10-18 ounce stone would hit like Thor's Hammer.
To break the new world record in distance, you need a staff sling and heavy metal projectiles. Heavy metal is more dense than stone. More density, less air resistance.
Couple of suggestions. The release portion of the staff shouldn't be a straight cut notch. Rather it should be a shallow polished hook. More consistent release than a straight cut notch. Also, the sling straps need to be closer together - about an inch or a bit more. Need to be a similar distance to a hand sling. When everything is correct, a staff sling is as accurate, or more so, as a hand sling.
Thanks for watching! I haven't see comparable levels of accuracy between the staff and the hand sling. They seem like tools meant for different jobs to me.
If you were to make your own shot from hardened clay, you would have a consistent shape, size, weight and texture. I imagine this is where the majority of its accuracy comes from. When on campaign, I can see how easily and quickly baked clay shot would become spent.
Thanks for watching! I've actually created clay sling bullets before for the hand sling but never for the staff sling. It definitely improves accuracy but it is a hassle to make and in my experience it breaks way too easily.
@@WannabeBushcrafter Thanks for the response, Since watching this video a few weeks back, I have kept referencing it whilst I make my own, I've made my own now, customised it by placing a copper tube on one end, drilling into the shaft, and pouring molten lead into it, thus making one end more weighty and allowing it to double as a quarterstaff in desperate situations, or just when being used as a walking stick.
Thanks for watching! Hit rate on man size targets is very high at 20 yards. I would say as much as 2 out of 3 shots after just weeks of daily practice.
The staff sling is meant to be used at distance against an enemy front; not against an individual target. Though if one could master it against one target he or she would be a force to be reckoned with.
Yeah that's a good idea. At the end of this weapon's operational life it was used to launch explosive grenades, so likely the manufacturing consistency of the grenades might have improved the staff sling's accuracy a little bit.
Nah. The only reason to think that is because the account says he had a staff. However, staffs were very common in that time and region. Shepherds had crooks to aid in sheep herding. Shepherds use hand slings, not staff slings.
Thanks for watching! It's definitely been debated historically if David used a staff sling. I for one think it would have been more likely to be a hand sling.
Thanks for watching! I see some advantages of the staff sling over the hand sling in terms of ergonomics and greatly reduced training time. But the hand sling really does win over the staff sling in terms of precision and speed of fire.
@@WannabeBushcrafter I see your point, getting him between the eyes would be a precision shot so a hand sling would make sense, however a staff sling is good for hitting targets higher then you, and you can hurl much bigger stones that would be lethal.to a giant wearing a helmet .
In the days of opposing belligerents lining up side by side while wearing leather/wicker armor... This would be a devastatingly effective weapon when fired in synchronized volleys.
With the staff sling, I've never had the stone flight in a side ways or reverse direction (like I did when learning the hand sling). However I have had the stone fly almost straight up and land like 5 feet in front of me a few times.
@@WannabeBushcrafter ok I think I will make one cuz ya the regular one I got thumped in the head with a rock and it made me not want to go use it ever again
Thx for watching. This happened to me initially as well. I would suggest checking 2 things. 1. Is there an acute angle on your release hook, that would sometimes make the release happen too late causing the stone to shoot down. 2. Are you getting to release speed too late? That would also make it shoot straight down.
Sad slings didn't see more use back then. Imagine being able to round up 5000 men and random men on the way, each with a stick in the woods and a sling you can make from branches and trees with ammo from the ground. Bow takes trained strength, crossbows the same. Guns could be trained in 2 days but before then this would've been devastating on campaigns when recruiting. Blunt force against armor and mass numbers against armies with constant fire.
it is easy to hit targets close to the thrower.. just lengthen te rope.. and round of the release hook, make it smooth.. it will not wear ot the rope and probably act more consistant..
Thanks for the comment, I like to see an example of hitting close targets within 15 feet with a staff sling. I find the angle far too high to make close in shots with any of the sling lengths I've tried.
@@WannabeBushcrafter i just handed you knowledge from another guy specialising in this technique.. the stated that the length of the chord determines the angle of release.. so thats all i know..
@@WannabeBushcrafter extremely surprised by the way, that it took this technique that long to come to my attention.. can't remember stumbling across it anywhere..thats 40 years of nosing around and stuff.. ofcourse we all know Goliath and..David.. no mentioning about a stick anywhere though.. and it just puts stone throwing in a complete different league.. in the serious warfare leaque imo..
@@WannabeBushcrafter it could be usefull for knocking out the pillar from some partially demolished Grain-Silo from a distance.. :) though again the incomming angle would .. sort of.. ruin the potential.. i think you get the best of both worlds if you use staffsling upside down.. yet.. that would mean a serious undertaking so to say..
Thanks for watching! I always wondered the same thing, why did the staff sling become so popular over an alternative design like a Lacross stick. I had been toying around with the idea that perhaps this has something to do with ergonomics in that with a staff sling, you can disassemble the sling and easily carry it on you and find a stick where you need it, with any other design that incorporates the stick you have to lug a big stick around.
Thanks for watching! I find that a diagonal throw seems to be better for closer ranges, it results in a somewhat flatter trajectory than the pure vertical throw.
I've just seem another guys videos who shoots it with a reverse instance, he seems to have an easier time aiming (maybe it's the better polished release hook) and he definitely has a much better reload technique. th-cam.com/video/zSHD8RG_mSo/w-d-xo.html
![PASULOL รามเกียรติ์ ตอนที่ 4 นนทกพบรัก [Ramakien Ep.4: Nonthok in love]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tMUQgmZzf_A/mqdefault.jpg)
David used a staff sling to take down Goliath. Skull crushing, brain smashing power. And ammunition is just lying around on the ground, free for the taking.
The staff sling is a deadly weapon.
Thank you Dragonlance for inspiring me to build on of these when I was 12.
It seems to me that this weapon was used to hurl missiles into the main body of enemy soldiers. Accuracy was not important if missiles were slung into troops standing shoulder to shoulder , their injuries must have been horrific.
Thanks for watching! I also believe that this weapon must have been designed as a military weapon. It has many of the qualities of a good military weapon (low cost, reliability, low training requirements...etc).
I heard something about Aztec fighters using staff slings with bullets so large they could kill horses with on shot.
I figured a staff sling, at melee range, would simply be....a staff.
Now who says missile units can't brawl, eh?
Thanks for watching! I think the staff itself makes a good self defense weapon in a last ditch situation.
Perfectly true, shepherds are believed to have used hand slings and stout staffs to deter the predators during late stone age and early farming era, hypothetical a lynx goes for a sheep/goat to stupid to remain in the flock, you cast a stone and wound it, better to end its misery with a strong hit from a staff or club at a safe distance instead of risking getting torn open by cat claws.
Put a spearhead on the end of the staff and you'll get an improvised spear
@@fbiagent9666 😆😆😆 I believe putting anything sharp on the end of a staff makes it a spear, I've seen spears made by part splitting the end of bamboo garden cane and sharpening the split pieces using whatever was available, just to hunt small game and fish.
@@davidgraemesmith1980 I mean a spear that can be used against dudes in low-tier armor
We humans are so full of ingenuity and tenacity trying to invent new and more effective ways to hurt each other.
Thanks for watching!
New? We are relearning ancient technology. Or, were you referring to the evolution from throwing rocks to ICBMs? Yes, amazing the ingenuity, energy and resources through history to empower one group of people to dominate another or defend against agressors.
Humanity is full of ingenuity and tenacity in all its pursuits, violent or otherwise.
Weapons are also about eating. No need to focus so sharply on human conflict.
@@joewoodchuck3824 indeed, biology in general is constantly evolving offensive and defensive strategy’s to give them the upper hand. from corals evolving chemical attacks to destroy surrounding biology to dolphin males killing younger dolphin males out of fear of loosing mating rights, to chimps preemptively attacking other chimp tribes out of fear of the other tribe doing the same.
I don’t know why people get so fixated on humans doing the same, if anything we are the only species That can manipulate our society and the game theory and our biology to create relatively peaceful society’s .
Great to see more on staff slings! I would say there are a few things you could try. Making the release cord a little longer allows the staff to be held slightly more upright without the stone becoming unstable in the pouch. Also, I've actually found I'm more accurate with the staff sling than the hand sling :D Because the release is consistent and doesn't rely on your hand releasing at the same time, I've found I get far closer to the target and get far more direct hits. Maybe this is just me though :D Also, I usually come down at closer to 60-70 degrees than 90. That slightly diagonal throw I've found to be better for flatter trajectories and helps with accuracy. Great video!
Thanks for the tips! I'm going to give the longer sling and that diagonal throw a try! I'm surprised that you find the staff sling to be more accurate. I find the staff sling to be far easier to learn than the hand sling , but I can't get consistent hits on small targets with it at 60 feet like I can with the short hand sling. I had thought it was because I can put a bullet spin on the stone with the hand sling but can't do so with the staff sling.
@@WannabeBushcrafter I've heard it's possible to get spin using a forked staff sling. It's often called a hoopak staffsling. I've never tried it out but maybe I should make one. Certainly seems interesting.
I'm going to make a hoopak staff sling but it be guess work, so little information about them. The staff sling I have made is 45 inch in length, hooked tip an rounded off to aid release. In your video how long did you do the cast lines from pouch to stick? I found longer lines means a lower angle of fire at 20 inch. I looked at some videos an shorter seem better for distance an accuracy. Cool video
@@andylongmore6697 Thanks for watching!
Oddly, I wasn't aware of this weapon. Thanks for the share.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for uploading more sling videos.
You bet!
@christopher snedeker I have a theory that in the middle ages they might have deployed staff slingers as 2 man teams. A loader and a thrower. Such a combination can saturate an area with huge stones all day long.
interesting video, have you seen David morningstar's video? he has some construction refinement tips. his launch technique is more vertical (and stable) as well. another thought to swinging the staff, is to try mimicking a swing of racquet/paddle/club/bat sports; I observe more power when anchoring rear leg until impact, or release. this has just gotten me interested in constructing and playing around with a staff sling now, thank you!
Thanks for sharing!
All facts and information with no babble. Well done, sir!
Glad you liked it!
Staff slings are beastly! My observation with the staff sling -and granted, i haven't used one that much, but compared to the hand sling, it is much easier to obtain lateral accuracy. But yes, i encounter the same problems you mentioned keeping it on its vertical window -which by contrast, is much easier to do with the hand sling.
Thanks for watching!
Man, this is pretty cool! The sling reminds me of a trebuchet or a catapult. Nice work!👍
Thanks man!
I am pretty sure the trebuchet is just a scaled up over sized staff sling
@@danielreardon6453 I have this pet theory that there is a logical progression from the 1 to 2 man staff sling to the 4-8 man operated mangonel, and then finally to the counterweight trebuchet requiring a team 10-15 people to run.
@@WannabeBushcrafter I hadn't considered this as a crewed weapon. Maybe you could do a follow up with 2 people operating the sling: one guy loads, the other guy fires. You may be able to more than double the rate of fire.
Very cool. This is an amazing low tech toy.
Thank you for sharing
Thanks for watching!
SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE OTHER SLING! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!.
Thx!
This is an amazing bushcrafting channel.
Thanks!
I admire your dedication and knowledge also thanks for all your hard work and research
Thanks I appreciate it!
Imagine getting sniped from this by a caveman
Lol thanks for watching!
Very cool! Thank you.
Glad you like it.
Man, if you needed to raise a peasant militia in just a matter of hours, this would be the way to do it. Show them a little fundamental staff fighting while you're at it.
Thanks for watching!
Great video , I think these weapons are just as relevant now as then, ammunition stores will only last so long.
Thanks I appreciate it!
This was a very good and educational video Bushcrafter. Many thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome video! Thanks for making it.
Thx for watching!
At 4:47 the guy in the drawing on the right has a staff sling with a very distinct, curved tip on it. Do you think that might be a key to better aiming or maybe controlled release?
Thanks for watching! Yeah it's an interesting curved release hook. I'm not sure if it has any accuracy advantages, but it's worth giving it a try to find out. :)
Jeez I love these videos your making, Short sharp and covers alot of aspects in a neat package. Well done
Thanks for watching! Glad you like it!
epic running shots
Thanks!
I like the flecktarn jacket! I have one just like it. And thank you for a well made and informative vid.
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome video dude! I gotta make 9ne of those...
Thanks! Yeah staff slings are fun to craft and to shoot.
@@WannabeBushcrafter welcome
Have a look at fishing casting techniques, I suspect that the foot placement, arm movements and the way of engaging the torqueing of the core/body would translate well to using a staff sling. When I get the chance to be somewhere with suitable rocks, room, and lack of people I'll test that theory. Thankyou for the content! Subscribed :-)
Thanks for watching and subbing!
Very interesting , has a lacrosse quality to it.
I think so too!
The only reason we struggle with targets is we don’t practice enough . Staff slings and hand slings were used to perfection when used as weapons in war .
Thanks for watching!
I like silent weapons. The staff sling can be used as... well, a staff.
Thanks for watching!
I love all the effort you put into this video , bravo sir
Thanks for watching!
Good one mate
Glad you enjoyed
Thank you sir!
Thanks for watching!
I've made a staff-sling before, power weapons when used in volley fire formations.
Thx for watching! Yeah I found the staff sling is crazy powerful especially when flinging rocks that are over a pound in weight.
@@WannabeBushcrafter Welcome, bro and so true!
Hope keep making TH-cam videos, over while plants in medical use
Thanks!
Through having a bended end you avoid the sliding of the loop, obviously.
Yes that is correct. Thanks for watching!
Why weren't these used to launch a type of hand grenade? Or maybe they were?
Yes they were used as grenade launchers in western European armies up to the late 1600s.
Thanks a lot !
First topic i see that compare accuracy between this and classic sling ! Wich is obviously the first question that come in mind.
Didn't really understand : is it more powerful or pretty similar on this point ?
Can throw bigger stone, but closer, so not necessary more powerful overall (but great to throw grenades for sure !)
Thanks for watching! To clarify, the staff sling is significantly less accurate than the hand sling if you can spend the long practice time to fully train with both weapons. But there is a minimum level of accuracy (e.g hitting man sized targets at 20 yards) that takes much less practice time to achieve with the staff sling than with the hand sling.
I'm going to have to try this. I biult my first sling shot not long ago.
Thanks for watching!
ok you're actually kind of impressively good with slings
Thanks, I appreciate it!
I wonder if, instead of the little bowline loop, a keychain ring might give a smoother release. I may have to play with this.
Thanks for watching!
Very Cool. Great channel!
Thanks for watching!
What happens if you use a shorter stick and use more of a side arm throw? Or if the stick had a little flex too it?
Thanks for watching! I tried longer and shorter staffs, for me anything longer than 50 inches did not seem to extend the range. Shorter sticks did however reduce maximum ranges. I haven't tried a side arm throw, that might be something I'll look into.
I've actually never heard of the staff sling until I saw your video. First I ever saw of a regular sling was " clan of the cave bear," after I saw that movie a made one out of string and an old shirt. I was in Michigan for the summer so perfect sized apples were everywhere. I could never get the over head rotation release, but under hand I was amazed at how far I could throw an apple. Really cool stuff and fun. I recently got a boomerang which I love!!!! By far my favorite new toy. Amazing what people b4 us created. I'm definitely all about the pvc sling you had. Think I'll try that and also make or buy a nice hand sling. Any idea how much a good one cost?
Nice presentation. I guess you have another subscriber.
Awesome, thank you!
I've seen some of these where the pouch is woven from paracord, and seems like it would hold a projectile better. In fact I was looking for the video that shows how to make the pouch.
Yep, I actually used paracord entirely for the first slings that I built. Those are pretty effective.
The end of your staff needs to be smooth. After you cut it like you have round over all edges. This will make it release the same every time thus increasing your accuracy.
Thanks for watching!
I wonder what a lacross staff would do with a stone?🤔
Thanks for watching, I thought about why Lacross sticks weren't used as throwing weapons, I suppose it could be that the staff sling design was already there?
One of the most fascinating questions to me is, why did bows eventually fully replace slings in allot of places? They seem to have allot of advantages.
Thanks for watching! I had this question as well. My current theory is that the bow became more affordable when compared to the sling over time. The bow and the sling are both expensive weapons but they are expensive in different ways. The bow is expensive in terms of its construction, maintenance, and the production of consistent arrows. The sling is expensive in terms of the long training time required for accuracy. For thousands of years these 2 range weapons coexisted(along with the Javelin) in Eurasia. But once the cost of producing bows and crossbows and arrows became cheap enough it readily replaced the sling. This started happening on mass in Eurasia from the 12th century onwards. In most locations the bow's dominance really did not last very long either since the bow itself started getting heavily displaced by firearms from the 14th century onwards.
DUDE TAKES BEING A STONER TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL
Lol thanks!
Rating enjoyed
lengths of staff very depending on a person's hight, armpit is a good standard. notch for loop from what I've researched should be angled slightly and the sides tapered toward the tip to reduce surface area for the loop to drag across. with the string length that needs to be adjusted for the individual also, to short and your rocks will fly low and short, to long and you won't get the proper release, just right for your hight and staff length and the stones will fly at a beautiful trajectory with good distance and if thrown right great accuracy. like anything it takes practice and time finding your proper setup then gaining accuracy.
Thanks for sharing your tips!
@@WannabeBushcrafter we're all learning, the best part is just going out and doing. I love learning old methods and need lots of practice, for myself I find assurance in learning methods our ancestors relied on to survive. Good video btw, thank you for taking the time to put it out
Now that’s a weapon!
Thanks!
Volley fire with 10oz. stones would have been pretty damn effective even against armored troops. Would still have enough momentum to dent plate armour which while not killing the knight would still stun him. Or against cavalry ...horses would panic or even go down if they started taking hits to the head. And against unarmored opponents they would be devastating especially with a higher arc to drop them down on the poor buggers.
Yes I agree. The staff sling, if used effectively, is an absolutely devastating weapon. And the main advantage, imho, is just how quickly and cost-effectively you can train someone to use it to an acceptable level of range and accuracy. We're talking about weeks of training time, so you could conceivably train huge numbers of drafted peasants to use this weapon effectively.
While I'm not saying it is entirely accurate (imo) I do believe that if you look at the bible as a somewhat accurate historical text rather than a theological text (in that it describes things possible within any specific era or time period it is written about) you can date the staff sling as far back as pre 1000 b.c. with the fable of David and Goliath. Illustrated portrayels always have David using a hand sling but if you read the text it actually alludes to the fact that it was a staff sling. When he went to fight Goliath, it says he "took his staff" when he went to pick up smooth stones for the battle. Goliath also is quoted as mocking David before the combat by saying: "What am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?" It wouldn't make sense to bring his staff if he wasn't using it as part of the sling as it would just tie a hand up and he'd have to put it down anyway to load if he were using a hand sling. It also never says he sets his staff down. If Goliath was unfamiliar with the weapon, it would certainly pack an element of surprise as you don't need to spin it to prime it. It's just one quick, sudden, fluid motion. And his mocking him would elude to the fact that the warrior class of that region was unfamiliar with the weapon as David used it to protect sheep while herding them. And Goliath's ignorance of the instrument caught him off guard. Christians never seem to want to portray it that way as if that was the case, it wasn't very 'miraculous' and anyone with David's experience with the weapon(along with Goliath's ignorance) could easily pull off the same feat. With all that said, I wouldn't be surprised that David himself learned it from eastern travelers along the likes of the trade routes of the time. And, seeing as how even the Aztecs figured out that leverage can greatly increase the velocity of projectile weapons with the Atlatl to throw spears, I don't see how they wouldn't have applied those same physics to the likes of a sling. Also, North American Native Americans were very well enamored in La Crosse long before the white man ever showed up, so there's that too as the La Crosse stick is along the same principle so I bet its much, much older than we think. With all that said, I may experiment with the construction of the pocket and also urge you to also. Because if we examine another detail in David's story, it says he picked up "smooth" stones. This to me, infers they were flat and round like a disc. And if we think about the construction of the La Crosse stick and how the bottom of the net is narrow, yet the top is wide where it is released, then there may be a sling pocket design that incorporates these properties and allows you to launch frisbee like stones which would greatly increase velocity and accuracy as launching something that is using aerodynamics, is much more effective than launching a simple round stone. I wonder if the pocket of the sling was sewn closed on the side of the sling that ties securely to the stick, while the other side of the pocket is much more open and maybe only sewn up slightly so a disc could slide out that side easily when the string is released in the throw. One last thing, but it wouldn't surprise if very strong, yet very flexible wood was used in the best staff slings as this would add even much more velocity if the stick bent and snapped forward on release giving it a bow-like or whip-like effect and therefore, they were probably also much longer than we think to properly utilize this whip effect. This would also afford you the ability to be able to launch it in a side-arm motion, thus making closer targets very viable to hit but with absolutely vicious force.
Thx for watching and sharing your pov.
Very good response.✌️
There is no doubt that David used a staff/sling to defeat Goliath. And you're correct: It should NOT have surprised anyone on that battlefield. An accurately placed 10-18 ounce stone would hit like Thor's Hammer.
To break the new world record in distance, you need a staff sling and heavy metal projectiles.
Heavy metal is more dense than stone. More density, less air resistance.
Thanks for watching!
Couple of suggestions. The release portion of the staff shouldn't be a straight cut notch. Rather it should be a shallow polished hook. More consistent release than a straight cut notch. Also, the sling straps need to be closer together - about an inch or a bit more. Need to be a similar distance to a hand sling. When everything is correct, a staff sling is as accurate, or more so, as a hand sling.
Thanks for watching! I haven't see comparable levels of accuracy between the staff and the hand sling. They seem like tools meant for different jobs to me.
@@WannabeBushcrafter - True, they are different tools for different jobs. Doesn't mean you can ignore changes to improve performance.
i like to call it the primitive mortar and also its more accurate at a long range for some reason
Thanks for watching!
If you were to make your own shot from hardened clay, you would have a consistent shape, size, weight and texture. I imagine this is where the majority of its accuracy comes from. When on campaign, I can see how easily and quickly baked clay shot would become spent.
Thanks for watching! I've actually created clay sling bullets before for the hand sling but never for the staff sling. It definitely improves accuracy but it is a hassle to make and in my experience it breaks way too easily.
@@WannabeBushcrafter Thanks for the response, Since watching this video a few weeks back, I have kept referencing it whilst I make my own, I've made my own now, customised it by placing a copper tube on one end, drilling into the shaft, and pouring molten lead into it, thus making one end more weighty and allowing it to double as a quarterstaff in desperate situations, or just when being used as a walking stick.
What is the zombie kill per minute rate on these.
Thanks for watching! Hit rate on man size targets is very high at 20 yards. I would say as much as 2 out of 3 shots after just weeks of daily practice.
Looks similar to throwing a LaCross ball
Yes, I always wondered why Lacross sticks weren't used as a primitive weapon. It functions in the same way as a staff sling.
The staff sling is meant to be used at distance against an enemy front; not against an individual target. Though if one could master it against one target he or she would be a force to be reckoned with.
Thanks for watching. I was getting pretty consistent hits against man sized targets at 60-75 feet after a couple of weeks of daily practice.
Idea: manufacturing stones for these weapons. Cheat a little. Combine modern technology with the old.
Yeah that's a good idea. At the end of this weapon's operational life it was used to launch explosive grenades, so likely the manufacturing consistency of the grenades might have improved the staff sling's accuracy a little bit.
David used a staff sling. The text clearly says that "He walked out with his staff and sling".
Thanks for watching!
Wow I am so Making one
Nice! Let me know how it goes for you!
In the story David and Goliath, David probably would have used a staff sling.
Nah. The only reason to think that is because the account says he had a staff. However, staffs were very common in that time and region. Shepherds had crooks to aid in sheep herding. Shepherds use hand slings, not staff slings.
Thanks for watching! It's definitely been debated historically if David used a staff sling. I for one think it would have been more likely to be a hand sling.
Thanks for watching! I see some advantages of the staff sling over the hand sling in terms of ergonomics and greatly reduced training time. But the hand sling really does win over the staff sling in terms of precision and speed of fire.
@@WannabeBushcrafter I see your point, getting him between the eyes would be a precision shot so a hand sling would make sense, however a staff sling is good for hitting targets higher then you, and you can hurl much bigger stones that would be lethal.to a giant wearing a helmet .
👍👍🇧🇷 Parabéns Ótimo
Thx for watching!
it was the original inspiration behind the trebuchet.
Thanks for watching! I see a direct path between the staff sling, the mangonel, and the counter weight trebuchet.
Cool! Do you mess with police using this device?
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In the days of opposing belligerents lining up side by side while wearing leather/wicker armor... This would be a devastatingly effective weapon when fired in synchronized volleys.
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Have you ever had the stone fly out in a odd direction and hit you or the stone stay in and hit you
With the staff sling, I've never had the stone flight in a side ways or reverse direction (like I did when learning the hand sling). However I have had the stone fly almost straight up and land like 5 feet in front of me a few times.
@@WannabeBushcrafter ok I think I will make one cuz ya the regular one I got thumped in the head with a rock and it made me not want to go use it ever again
I can't get this thing to work no matter what I do to the sling length.
The ball just wants to shoot down to ground every time
Thx for watching. This happened to me initially as well. I would suggest checking 2 things. 1. Is there an acute angle on your release hook, that would sometimes make the release happen too late causing the stone to shoot down. 2. Are you getting to release speed too late? That would also make it shoot straight down.
Good against occupying forces. If you need to lob mollies or large rocks, this will be able to be used my anyone in the crowd.
Thanks for watching!
Hopefully you were not trying to hit those posts and whatever is installed on top of them
Thanks for watching! I was actually aiming at a spot of turf on the far side of the field.
try using it with a shield.
LOL
I’m not a slinger but looking at your swing, step through so your right hand stays on your right side
Thanks for watching!
Sad slings didn't see more use back then.
Imagine being able to round up 5000 men and random men on the way, each with a stick in the woods and a sling you can make from branches and trees with ammo from the ground.
Bow takes trained strength, crossbows the same. Guns could be trained in 2 days but before then this would've been devastating on campaigns when recruiting.
Blunt force against armor and mass numbers against armies with constant fire.
Thanks for watching!
Are you on Slinging.org yet?
Thanks for watching! I've been there for 2 years now 😁
Portable trebuchet to dunk on the portable catapult users.
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it is easy to hit targets close to the thrower.. just lengthen te rope.. and round of the release hook, make it smooth.. it will not wear ot the rope and probably act more consistant..
Thanks for the comment, I like to see an example of hitting close targets within 15 feet with a staff sling. I find the angle far too high to make close in shots with any of the sling lengths I've tried.
@@WannabeBushcrafter i just handed you knowledge from another guy specialising in this technique.. the stated that the length of the chord determines the angle of release.. so thats all i know..
@@WannabeBushcrafter extremely surprised by the way, that it took this technique that long to come to my attention.. can't remember stumbling across it anywhere..thats 40 years of nosing around and stuff.. ofcourse we all know Goliath and..David.. no mentioning about a stick anywhere though.. and it just puts stone throwing in a complete different league.. in the serious warfare leaque imo..
@@Roonnam yeah the staff sling seems like a military only weapon to me.
@@WannabeBushcrafter it could be usefull for knocking out the pillar from some partially demolished Grain-Silo from a distance.. :) though again the incomming angle would .. sort of.. ruin the potential.. i think you get the best of both worlds if you use staffsling upside down.. yet.. that would mean a serious undertaking so to say..
Wouldn't a four foot spoon be more accurate ?
Thanks for watching! I always wondered the same thing, why did the staff sling become so popular over an alternative design like a Lacross stick. I had been toying around with the idea that perhaps this has something to do with ergonomics in that with a staff sling, you can disassemble the sling and easily carry it on you and find a stick where you need it, with any other design that incorporates the stick you have to lug a big stick around.
Ngl I find a good old yeet to be pretty trusty and often get the job done on the neighborhood children who step in my garden
LOL thx for watching!
'I found spherical stones to be more accurate than football shaped stones'. Footballs are spherical??
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3:03 Squirrel!
Nice!
Try flicking the staff in closer range
Thanks for watching! I find that a diagonal throw seems to be better for closer ranges, it results in a somewhat flatter trajectory than the pure vertical throw.
@@WannabeBushcrafter no like flicking in the diagonal , the pouch should over shoot
Imagine swinging a grenade sling and the grenade stays in the pouch and just smacks into the he ground
Thanks for watching! I heard that 17th century European grenadiers were select men picked for their physical size and strength.
@@WannabeBushcrafter but what happens if you swing your grenade sling and you smack a flying bird true life questions
@@implausibleimpossiblehypot4006 angry bird?
@@mizorovichprahaschkapalan2144 boom
Ahem***
2 things. use a peg for your release.
Sling length matters. Short slings can throw directly in front of you for close range use.
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Every weapon boils down to a stick or a stone, or both.
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Seems like it would be a great artillery weapon for defense of village palisade walls by largely untrained villagers.
Thanks for watching! Yes I do think that the ability to effectively use this weapon with a minimum training time is a great advantage of the design.
Or to hunt N compete in target tournaments.
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🙀👍🥂🎩
Thanks for watching!
Hunting purposes are kind of limited with this because its seems to cruel to use on anything it dosent turn into hamburger on impact
Thanks for watching! I think this must have been conceived as a military weapon.
I've just seem another guys videos who shoots it with a reverse instance, he seems to have an easier time aiming (maybe it's the better polished release hook) and he definitely has a much better reload technique.
th-cam.com/video/zSHD8RG_mSo/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for watching!
i like your passion. your throw style is bad.
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This is great information! Thanks for sharing. I gave a subscribe as well. I also do bushcraft with my son if you'd like to check us out 👍
Thanks for watching and subbing! It's always fun to go outdoors with one's son, I'll check out your channel!