The Dutch Arrow is a weapon I learned to make at scout camp last year. It was a war weapon, but it became a hunting tool and at scouts it is regarded as “ruddy good fun”. As the title suggests it is stabilised by centrifugal force, by its spinning. This is similar to the gyro spinning top toys. Usually you would be able to throw a stick around 5-8 meters, a javelin 10-18 meters but on my first throw I threw it around 30 meters and got it to hit and stick into the ground.
DISCLAIMER:
This is a weapon and so is capable of lethality and that is for all people within range. This includes the launcher. Don’t throw when there is wind, rain, or so on that can affect trajectory. If you screw up the throw people may be at risk and it may swing back and stab you. You make this at your own risk. This may be illegal in your area, so check. Don’t blame me.
Now that is out of the way, let’s get started!
By the way you can mix the steps up into what you want to do ( within reason ) this is just the order i did it in.
DISCLAIMER:
This is a weapon and so is capable of lethality and that is for all people within range. This includes the launcher. Don’t throw when there is wind, rain, or so on that can affect trajectory. If you screw up the throw people may be at risk and it may swing back and stab you. You make this at your own risk. This may be illegal in your area, so check. Don’t blame me.
Now that is out of the way, let’s get started!
By the way you can mix the steps up into what you want to do ( within reason ) this is just the order i did it in.
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Signing UpStep 1: Collect Materials
There are fairly few materials needed for this but the most important is hardest to obtain. most of these are inter-changeable so I’ll say what i used and it’s purpose:
• A 4 foot broom handle, but for some reason it was spiked. It had a end cap that I could use to keep the tail fins together. (you can use anything, really, as long as it has a 1’’ radius and is strait and is around 3-4 foot long – that depends on your height oh and wood is usually best).
• A reel of string.(length can vary but it is usually best to go for some heavier duty stuff – so it’ll last)
• An ice cream tub and it’s lid (this is for the flights, so there are loads of possibilities as to what you can use but I chose this because it’ll last, it’s thin and most of all it was to hand)
• Red Spray paint (just to make it look a bit cooler than a stick with an ice cream tub tied on the back, but the paint peals so any cooler ideas are welcome, just post below.)
The tools are fairly simple:
• A work bench (with a vice to hold the project when sawing)
• A hack saw (or other type of saw, depending on the width of your flights)
• A knife (to sharpen and cut the notch)
• A craft knife - there is a difference craft knifes are sharper and when blunted you snap the section off. (this is for cutting the ice cream tub and tidying things up)
• A bit of sand paper (to smooth down the wood and to tidy up working marks.)
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We didn't used to make them spin, though - and we used to get around 100m throws with them.
Please excuse an old fart jumping on your instructable - it's a good one and you've brought back many happy memories - thanks.
Try these ideas....
1. Use a lighter stick than a broom handle, and make it about as long as your arm - perhaps a little longer, but not much. 1/2 inch wooden dowel works well.
2. Add a small weight to the front end to bring the centre of balance forward, a few bolt washers or a nut normally does it.
3. When you make the notch for the string, don't put it at the centre of balance, as the longer the string, the more leverage is applied to the throw. Experiment with distances for throws, and put the notch over 3/4 of the way back from the point of the arrow.
4. Don't angle the flights to induce spin, keep them straight with the shaft and trim the leading corners at an angle leading to the shaft (like a swept airplane wing). Playing cards work well as flights with 1/2 inch dowel.
5. Don't coil the throwing string many times around the shaft. Tie a knot right at the end of the string and wrap the string around the notch in the shaft 1 time, then KEEPING THE STRING VERY TIGHT, pass it over the knot and stretch it to the throwing hand, twist the string around your first 2 fingers and throw the arrow from your first 2 fingers - following through to pull the string with the throw. Experiment with throwing technique.
PLEASE be very careful, these things are lethal.
Enjoy, and don't kill anyone, please.