I’ve all the time discovered primitive weapons to be fascinating. Partly, as a result of they’re part of our historical past but additionally so simple as they seem, they’re much more practical than they’re given credit score for.
In my expertise, most individuals don’t appear too fascinated with them. I feel as a result of the phrase primitive is hooked up to them and that by some means makes them ineffective or inferior by as we speak’s requirements.
Most of the primitive weapons on the listing beneath have been used for a lot of human historical past and a few nonetheless are as we speak, in a single variation or one other. And for all these years, these weapons, primitive weapons they might be, have been used with nice talent for protection, assault, and looking for meals.
As soon as primitive weapons have been developed, the information to make them was handed down from one era to the following. Sadly, in fashionable instances, this follow grew to become much less and fewer as extra superior instruments have been created.
We frequently have a look at fashionable instruments as being superior in each approach attainable however imagine it or not, that isn’t all the time the case.
Okay, so that you might not be fascinated with primitive weapons in any respect, however you might be on this website which is about prepping and survival conditions, and in a survival scenario, your solely possibility for weapons or instruments, could also be ones of a primitive nature.
Lastly, these instruments or weapons could also be thought of “primitive” weapons however in the fitting palms, they have been, and nonetheless are, efficient weapons.
The primitive weapons lined on this article can actually be thought of survival weapons and have been a few of the first weapons utilized in cultures around the globe. Most of those primitive weapons have been utilized in close-quarters fight, looking massive sport and small sport, and defending in opposition to harmful animals.
Some are nonetheless used as we speak a lot as they have been way back whereas others have developed from utilizing pure supplies to newer supplies and designs into the trendy variations we see as we speak.
13 Primitive Weapons
The primitive weapons within the following listing are not at all an accounting of all primitive weapons. There are actually different weapons that may very well be added however the listing would then be a lot, longer.
I made a decision to speak about the commonest and well-known in order that when you ever wanted a primitive weapon for a survival scenario, you’ll have already got a well-recognized baseline to attract from.
Rocks and a Stick
Primitive weapons don’t get a lot easier than rocks and a stick. These in all probability took place as survival weapons when folks realized they have been more practical than hand-to-hand fight.
These instruments in all probability began small, a single rock within the hand that was used as an affect device or thrown at small sport. The identical could be mentioned for a easy stick that was picked up off the bottom and swung round.
These selection of weapons have been the best for people to make use of as a result of they require nearly no talent and they are often discovered nearly in every single place.
From these humble beginnings, a easy rock and stick have been used all through the evolution of survival weapons.
Membership
The membership is a logical step up from a easy stick. Whereas a stick would possibly simply be a unfastened department discovered on the bottom, a membership has just a little extra thought into it. Its design entails a baseball bat-like look.
The deal with finish is considerably small in diameter so it’s extra comfy to carry, grasp, and use. From the deal with, the membership regularly turns into bigger in diameter and due to this fact heavier. This further weight helps to generate extra power when the weapon is used. Very similar to what most individuals consider as a “caveman membership.”
One other variation of the membership is one by which the deal with and the general size of the shaft are smaller and it ends with a extra strong, thicker finish.
Throwing Stick
A throwing stick, typically referred to as a rabbit stick, has an identical look to a boomerang. Nevertheless, the throwing stick is extra strong and never symmetrical. It’s extra like a mini membership, with one facet of the stick being thicker than the opposite.
This can be a short-range weapon because it depends on human energy to be propelled and the stick shouldn’t be meant to be aerodynamic.
In reality, it’s design is supposed to be a slightly blunt object. Whereas the throwing stick may very well be used in opposition to a harmful animal, it’s more practical at knocking birds and animals from timber and in opposition to small sport on the bottom.
In a survival state of affairs the place wooden is on the market, a throwing stick is without doubt one of the best weapons for an individual to give you when looking for meals.
Spear
Nothing screams primitive weapon like a great old school spear. A spear is a size of fabric, the pole, with a sharpened finish. The pole was typically made out of wooden with one finish became a slim level.
This was accomplished by both carving away the wooden with a reducing device or by rubbing the top in opposition to a tough floor reminiscent of a rock. An individual could make a spear on this vogue in a short time. Technically talking, spears are nothing greater than a pointed stick, however don’t let that idiot you.
In contrast to different weapons, spears can really be utilized in a few alternative ways.
The primary is that it may be used as an affect device, very like a membership, by swinging it or utilizing the nonsharpened finish.
Switching over to the sharpened finish, there are two primary ways in which the spear is often used. When it’s saved within the hand a spear helps to create distance between the person and a risk. The pointed finish is utilized in a thrusting movement when preventing in shut quarters.
A spear may also be thrown overhand at an incoming goal or one operating away. Whereas a thrown spear is efficient, the largest downfall of doing so is that it leaves you with out a weapon.
Spears are good looking instruments when held or thrown however do require a degree of talent when throwing them. They might be one of many best weapons to create in a survival scenario as a result of the supplies wanted for one are often plentiful.
Spears can range in size and completely different types of suggestions used. A spear can have a single level or a number of factors made out of wooden or steel. Very similar to a few of the first knives, a pointy rock makes for an efficient spear level.
Wooden suggestions would typically be fireplace hardened which may deliver a degree of sturdiness but additionally brittleness.
One other kind of level consists of barbed suggestions, which might be used once you wished to trigger extra injury or not permit the tip to be simply faraway from the goal.
Atlatl
In case you are within the concept of throwing a spear, I’d recommend checking into the atlatl. The atlatl consists of a persist with a curved notch or level on one finish and a projectile resembling a big arrow/spear is positioned within the notch. An individual then makes a movement similar to throwing a spear to launch the arrow.
This gadget permits completely different sized projectiles to be thrown similar to spears, making it an acceptable weapon or looking device. It should take some follow getting used to an atlatl however as soon as you discover your groove they’re very efficient.
Sling
The sling is a widely known weapon partly because of the story of David and Goliath, by which David takes down Goliath with this easy weapon.
A sling is the following step up from merely throwing a rock. It’s composed of two strands of cordage hooked up to a small or massive pouch, the scale of the pouch relies on the scale of rock getting used.
A rock is positioned into the pouch and the sling is quickly swung over the pinnacle or to the facet of the physique. When the shooter is able to fireplace they let go of one of many stands and the rock is launched from the pouch. The sling can enhance the space {that a} rock is “thrown,” however it positively will increase its velocity.
Some attribute the origins of the slingshot as an evolution of the sling though it could be extra much like the bow and arrow. Maybe it’s a hybrid of the sling and bow?
Because the slingshot got here to be across the 1900’s, it isn’t actually what I’d take into account a primitive weapon, however I assumed it might be value mentioning.
Slingshots can shoot an array of ammunition that embrace rocks, marbles, clay shot, metal shot and with the fitting attachments, it could possibly even shoot arrows. Slingshots are simple to hold and are a fast approach of acquiring meals from small sport.
Bow and Arrows
The bow and arrow might be the very first thing that involves thoughts when pondering of primitive weapons. Most probably as a result of it has been round so lengthy and utilized in one kind or one other all around the globe.
The bow is a curved piece of wooden with a string hooked up from one finish to the opposite. When the string is pulled again, the limbs of the bow are compressed, very like a spring, and rigidity is created.
When the string is launched, the limbs spring ahead to their authentic place which pulls the string ahead and launches the arrow that’s hooked up to the string.
The bow has undergone many various designs included together with the lengthy bows, recurve bows, cross bows and compound bows.
Arrows or bolts, have additionally modified over time, particularly the information. Some are single tipped and sharp, others blunt, some pronged, and a few with increasing blades. The bow is such an efficient and favored weapon that even as we speak it’s nonetheless extensively utilized by hunters for small sport and huge sport reminiscent of deer.
Knife
In my thoughts, the knife is a shining instance of a primitive weapon that has stood the check of time. One of many oldest recognized knives is considered over one million years outdated and whereas the supplies used to create them have modified and many various types exist, the knife continues to be extensively used as we speak.
The pimitive knife is one made out of a pointy stone, presumably with the deal with of the rock wrapped in a pure materials.
Extra ornamental and ergonomic handles may very well be made out of wooden, bone, or antler and the blade may very well be made out of the identical kind of supplies or any materials that’s suffeicnetly sturdy and could be sharpend.
Blowgun
My first expertise with a blowgun kind of weapon landed me within the principal’s workplace. That’s as a result of I had lined the instructor’s chalkboard with a superb grouping of mushy spitballs.
In fact, a spitball shooter shouldn’t be the identical as a blowgun and darts. Lethatlity not withstanding, their design and use are fairly simliar.
A blowgun consists of an extended hole tube and a mouthpiece that’s bigger in diameter than the tube. After darts are positioned inside the tube, the shooter breathes in a lungful of air and blows via the mouthpiece, launching the darts out of the alternative finish of the tube.
Though blowgun darts could not look all that threatening, don’t be so fast to dimiss the blowgun as it’s a silent and lethal weapon.
Typically, the information of the darts could be dipped right into a substance that might both act as a sedative or a poison. This permits the blowgun for use in opposition to smaller animals in addition to bigger ones.
Tomahawk
The tomahawk is primarily attributed to the Native People of North America.
Early tomahawks had stone chopping heads that have been lashed to brief wooden handles. Later, the stones have been changed by steel heads, making the tomahawk much more environment friendly and lethal.
One defining function of the tomahawk is that the chopping head could be simply eliminated. As soon as eliminated, the pinnacle can be utilized extra readily as a handtool for smashing or scraping.
Like a spear, a tomahawk can be utilized within the hand or thrown, though throwing it successfully takes fairly a little bit of follow.
Bola
The bola is an fascinating trying weapon and was used extra as a way of entrapment than it was for lethality, though stones flying via the air can actually be deadly.
The bola is made up of two or extra weights, often stones, and every was hooked up to a strand of cordage. The person stands the place then all secured collectively on the different finish.
The bola is used much like the sling the place the person holds the top of the cordage and swings the weights over their head or to the facet of the physique in a round vogue. Once they have constructed up sufficient momentum, the strands are launched.
Because the bola flys via the air, the weights unfold out. The weights then spin across the goal, ensnaring it within the cordage.
Attention-grabbing Information About Primitve Weapons
What’s the world’s longest javelin throw?
The javelin is a kind of spear utilized in protection, and the file was set in 1996 by Jan Zelezny who threw a javelin 98.48 m (323.09 ft.)
What’s the sharpest knife on this planet?
The sharpest blades on this planet will not be made out of metal or different fashionable supplies which were developed, however these made out of obsidian, which is a kind of volcanic glass. In reality, obsidian knives are sharper than surgical metal scapels.
Wrap Up
Whether or not you have an interest in primitive weapons from a historic or reenactment standpoint, they’re nonetheless efficient instruments with some nonetheless getting used as we speak. From a survival standpoint, they’re positively value having information about and practising with as a result of they’re comparatively simple to make.
Thanks for studying and keep ready!
