CustomAtlatlsAndDarts.com :: Custom Atlatls and Darts

River Cane Atlatl Darts; I think river cane is the best natural material available that we can make atlatl darts from. The variables from shaft to shaft differ considerably but when picking from a well established patch as I do, you can without much difficulty succeed in making a matching set of darts. River Cane atlatl darts are durable and hold up well to all kinds of abuse. I've thrown them into door cars, trees, ice, and one time through a galvanized steel wall. That dart was thrown inside a horse barn. The copper tipped dart went through a ISAC target, two bales of hay, the galvanized steel wall and still traveled 30 or more feet. No damage to the dart at all. Cane darts are easy to repair and re-straighten when needed. SEE Atlatl and Dart tips below With proper care these darts can be used for years. Darts are matched as close as possible for length, weight, forward of center and spine. The differences between darts will be slight. I can make sets of darts (3) to meet your needs. 5, 6 and 7 footers. Copper tipped or field points.

Here are a few things you should know about darts before purchase. How long should your dart be? It's hard to tell unless you have thrown different lengths of darts. A good rule of thumb is use a dart longer than you are tall. I'm 6 foot, my darts are 7 1/2 footers. Longer dart are better for accuracy. 6 to 7 1/2 footers are average. A set of three darts may vary by as much as an inch. This is to obtain the proper weight forward. Smaller light darts 5 to 6 foot are also accurate. Many people are using these smaller darts with a flexible Basket Maker (BM) type atlatl with great success. These short darts thrown with BM atlatls are FAST.

Hunting darts made from River cane can be made to your order. Darts can be light (4oz. or less) or heavy (above 4oz.) with detachable foreshafts or permanent foreshafts. I can add steel, copper, bone or stone tips or leave them blunt for small game. Extra foreshafts are available for darts with removable foreshafts. I can leave the tip off so you can add your own.

How do you tell what the spine (flex) should be on the darts you're getting? How hard do you throw? The harder the throw the more spine your dart is going to need. My darts spine at 6#. I throw pretty hard. I use a fishing weight scale or a bathroom scale to fine the weight of the spine. On a bathroom scale simply place the dart on the scale and push down. With a fish weight scale place the dart on the floor, put the hook in the nock of the dart and pull down till there is a good bend in the dart. The number you see is the spine weight. 4 to 8 pounds is probably average. A good site to learn the dart tuning and flex is here

Tips on throwing darts. Good form and a consistent routine is essential when throwing darts. As in archery set a standard anchor point. Make reference points when setting up your throw and use them each time you throw. Visualize the path your dart will take in flight. Fine what works for you and stay with it. Some of the best atlatlist start their throw by "sneaking up on the dart". They start slow and end fast, all the while keeping the tip of the dart on line with the target. Use your peripheral vision to help guide your dart to the target.