My 1st sling

[Wes]

Each strand is roughly 1/8 inch diameter, I'll double check the roll if the tag is still there. By braiding it flat, I feel I get better finger control, less of a tendency for it to "roll" in my fingers on a spin.

[Decimus Apollonius]

ok..thank you for looking... the flat braid does seem like a good idea

[Pekka]

Not sure, how authentic it is to swing your sling above your head as seen in the old movies. I mean if you gonna hunt some wild game with your sling,you just scare them away with all that waving. If you guys wanna look cool, just use your sling like throwing javelin and bring some food stuff back home.

Pekka

[Wes]

I have just started experimenting with the over hand toss, if I get a bit of a run and use a full arm swing, my power/distance goes way up. Its going to take a bit of practice though!!

[Decimus Apollonius]

Overhand toss like as if you were throwing a baseball?

I found some 1/8th in Hemp cord

[Primvs Pavlvs]

Not sure, how authentic it is to swing your sling above your head as seen in the old movies.Pekka

Do you think there is an authenic way? Or do you think it might be a personal choice on how to use the sling?

[Pekka]

Yes, overhand toss.

Primvs Pavlvs, just think about battlefield; lots of buddies swinging slings next to each others...how long will it take to have a nice mess with sling cords
It is just my personal belief that the oh so usual image of David swinging his sling above his head in the old biblical movies is rooted a bit too deeply in almost everybodys minds and still affects the modern day slingers.
At least if you try to hunt with an sling, it's an smooth motion to 'draw' the sling from the side of your leg and over your shoulder and let it loose.
One just has this opinion that in the close formation this may have been the most probable option during the 'action', you may disagree as much as you want. 8)
I started to play with slings when I was twelve ( and broke a window behind me with my first toss, just believe it, after swinging the sling above my head) and after all these years I'm positive that the overhand toss is more accurate than the 'good ole swing'an'go'. It's a bit different thing to try to hit a target with an lighter stone than try to throw a pound stone as far as you can, no matter where it lands.

[Wes]

Here is a site that has some videos and other info:

http://www.slinging.org/

Some good information......

[Primvs Pavlvs]

I would tend to believe that its a personal choice more than a universal method. With my limited experience at slinging I have found that your overhand method works best for me. However one of my friends has found the over the head method works best for him.

[Decimus Apollonius]

Thats an awesome link Wes...Thanks for sharing it!

[Decimus Apollonius]

Got my sling done tonight I will post pics in the AM.

[Decimus Apollonius]

The sling is made from 6 strands of Hemp. Veg tanned leather was used for the pocket sewn to the main part of the sling with black dyed hemp. Sling was finished off with a Turks knot. Its a very nice knot when done in leather but a bit crude looking here due to the hemp. The pic will give you the idea though. I am unsure as to if this knot would fit the period or not. It is a knot used in Falconry and has been used on Falcon hoods for a LLLLOOOOONNNNNGGGGGGG time, but agian im not sure how old.

[Martin Wallgren]

Coooooool, Man... I will make one as fast as possible...