Experimentation, Learning, Sharing All Parts of Traditional Learning Classrooms

The Great Lakes Traditional Arts Gathering on Drummond Island in Michigan proved to be a fascinating and great learning experience for those attending.

We were privileged to be part of this interesting gathering this past weekend. One of the highlights of the weekend was constructing and completing a spruce bark canoe. The canoe took its maiden voyage on Sunday. It was an amazing process.

Thunderbird Atlatl shared our stone tool making knowledge, our popular hafting resin and topped the weekend with an excursion out into the water with an atlatl fishing expedition!

With much help, we put together two sets of canoes to set up fishing vessels with platforms. The project is to tie two canoes together and set up a platform for a person to stand on to harpoon fish from the end of the canoe. On the more traditional of the two setups, we used birch bark torches. We didn’t see any fish on this trip out but learned a lot and had a great experience. Pictures are below. Our next trip out will be to the Pennsic War! We are looking forward to playing Aztec Atlatl Battle.

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Making Your Own Atlatl or Spearthower and Darts

Thunderbird Atlatl offers a variety of atlatl kits based on our popular atlatl models. Making your own atlatl or separthrower gives you a chance to personalize your atlatl and also save some money.

You can also make your own darts from our dart kits. The kits are easy to put together and require a little sanding and finishing with glue and Linseed or Tung oil or paint.

Kits come with instructions. Our kits were featured in Make Magazine a few years ago. You can check the article out online.

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If you have a group of 10 or more, we offer special bulk pricing so you can work together to make your own atlatl team! Give us a call at 800-836-4520 or email us at contact@thunderbirdatlatl.com.

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Good Customer Service Important for Thunderbird Atlatl!

One thing we pride ourselves on here at Thunderbird Atlatl is our superior customer service. We are extremely receptive to our customers and make ourselves available almost 24/7!

We appreciate our customers’ feedback. If there is a problem, we try to correct it instantly. We are proud of our ability to get orders out as quickly as possible even rush orders. If it means a few late nights at the shop, our staff is willing and able to do that. Give us a call at 800-836-4520 or a cell at 607-743-4379 and we would be glad to help you figure out the best atlatl equipment for you.

We sometimes get calls from people who have ordered from other atlatl manufacturers and were unable to get their items. Please know we have 20 years of exemplary customer service backing our products. Check out some of the comments we have received recently!

“I just wanted to give thanks and props to Bob and Cheryl for great customer service. The USPS managed to bend a tube hard enough to splinter a pack of 6 darts. They promptly and cheerfully reshipped my order and I had them 2 days later. Plus, I like a business where the boss answers the phone. It was an added bonus talking to the legendary Bob Berg.”

Regarding a Kanakadea we sold on Amazon:
“I got these to get started in atlatl. They are great! They are accurate and they fly far and hit hard. I can’t say enough good things about this. The ground where I live is frozen and the darts hit the ground so hard they actually went in a coupel of inches! this is Awesome!”

Regarding a Catatonk we sold on Amazon:
“This design is perfect. I don’t have long fingers and adequately grasping the dart has always been a problem. This Catatonk design fits perfectly. It provides a solid foundation for your hand, allows your index finger to just have to lightly hold in place the dart because its seated on a support trough ahead of your finger. Very stable. You can walk around with a dart in place its so stable. Great atlatl.”

“Love your products! We have had HUNDREDS of youth and adults using your atlatls as part of our programs. By the way, here is a link to a recent TV interview.”

New Zealand Visitors Stop By

We had a group from New Zealand stop by a couple days ago. They were visiting our area of New York State as part of the international Friendship Force program. Members of the group got to try the atlatl and learn a little about it.

Thunderbird Atlatl’s Bob Berg gave a short flintknapping demonstration. If you are in the area of our shop in upstate New York, please stop by sometime! Please call ahead as we are sometimes on the road or not at the shop. We look forward to meeting you.

Below: New Zealand visitors try the atlatl and learn about flintknapping from Bob Berg who is “hiding” in the center of the group!

The world's foremost atlatl and dart outfitter