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Spring Into Action At Atlatl Events!

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There are a variety of atlatl events planned throughout the United States and Europe in the next few months. Check out the World Atlatl Association’s Event page at http://www.atlatl.bravehost.com/

Thunderbird Atlatl will be at a local program in our home base of Candor, NY this weekend from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Candor Firehouse on Route 96B in Candor.
The Candor Chamber of Commerce will be presenting a Candor Business Affair with a variety of area businesses featured. Stop by if you are in the area.
The picture below shows some of the many different types of wood Thunderbird Atlatl uses in atlatl production.
Wyalusing Atlatls

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Check Out Our New Catalog Online!

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A PDF version of our recently published catalog is now available online! To look at the catalog and to see a wider variety of our products, just click PDF under the menu to the left of this article.

It takes a little time to download but is well worth looking at. We are in the process of updating our online catalog too! Keep watching for more changes.

If you have any questions, just give us a call at 1-800-836-4520 or 607-659-3854 (outside the United States). You can also reach us on a cell phone: 607-743-4379. We can be emailed at contact@thunderbirdatlatl.com If you would like us to mail you a hard copy of the catalog, just send us your address!

You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter, just search under Thunderbird Atlatl. See you in Cyberspace!

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To Weight or Not! Should You Use an Atlatl Weight?

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We are often asked if someone needs an atlatl weight on their newly purchased atlatl. We usually suggest is that you try the atlatl first without the weight and see how it works for you. Wondering if you need a weight? Try attaching a small stone on the atlatl shaft and see if it makes a difference for you!

Weights add balance and stability to an atlatl system. They improve accuracy for many atlatlists and make it easier to hold the atlatl steady while aiming at the target. One reason it helps is to steady the atlatl is that it balances the weight of the dart. It also adds inertia to the system, which tends to minimize shaking and wiggling caused by the atlatlist’s body functions such as heartbeat and respiration etc. Depending on the placement of the weight on the shaft of the atlatl, there is also more or less of a “pendulum effect” which helps to stabilize the swinging atlatl during the shot. Placing the weight closer to the hook end of the atlatl produces more of the effect at the expense of some of the speed or energy of the shot.

Placing the weight closer to the handle is a good compromise between not having a weight and having it out at the distal end. Besides that, atlatl weights look really great on your atlatl! (not to mention the Oooga Booga affect, which if you belong to the Secret Ear-o-Corn you understand without further explanation.)

We have a nice selection of atlatl weights in stock. If you think you would like to try a weight, we have a variety of weights available ranging from $5 to $20 on up to semi precious polished stones. Others can be custom-made for you. Prices for atlatl weights are made of so many different materials, from common to precious, that prices vary greatly. If you would like more information about atlatl weights, give us a call at 800-836-4520 or 607-743-4379.

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The Science of Dart Production

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Dart production is a science at the Thunderbird Atlatl shop. In our nearly 20 years of making quality darts, we have learned a lot about atlatl darts and continue to learn more.

Our customers benefit from our many experiments and ongoing learning. Over the years, we have produced and experimented with darts made of many different materials resulting in the high quality wooden Ash darts and copper tipped cane darts we produce today.

Our dart research continues almost daily and soon we will be offering even more dart options to our customers. If you have a question about darts, give us a call at 800-836-4520. You can also reach us at 607-659-3854 or on our cell: 607-743-4379. You can email us at: contact@thunderbirdatlatl.com with your questions.

In this post are pictures of our wooden Ash darts and points on some of our more traditional darts. Our standard darts come with steel field points for practice.

ashdartsbacktraditional

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Thunderbird Atlatl Provides Props for Neanderthal Show!

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What’s can one do with a stick? Find out by watching the Science Channel production of Sci-Trek – Neanderthals airing Monday, April 5, at 9 p.m.

You can watch the entire show but pay close attention to the digging sticks and spears used by the Neanderthals – they were produced in the Thunderbird Atlatl shop!

About a year or so ago we were called and asked if we could help provide spears and digging sticks for a television production on Neanderthals and thus the starring role of Thunderbird Atlatl props! Providing services for custom order requests from production companies, museums and individuals is one the services we enjoy providing at our shop.

We make all sorts of custom atlatls and darts, special spears, harpoons, knapped points and more. Many of the requests involve historical research-another part of this job we enjoy. If you are looking for a specialty item, before to give us a call at 800-836-4520 and we’ll be happy to work with you.

Don’t forget to check out those spears in the Neanderthal production! If you don’t catch it Monday night, it is repeated a couple of times more on April 6.

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