Three unique slingshots: Beauty, Powerhouse, Micro

I wanted to further enhance my "Cutlass" design, with a solid plate against hand slaps. I also looked at the way Bill Hays stabilized the grip with a backwards directed "hook", and liked that idea a lot.

The result is a slingshot that is basically a "Phoenix", but with a front and back part laminated to it. The front part holds the shield, the back part the hook. Both parts thicken the handle and give it the "Cutlass" palm swell.

I also added a "Baumstamm" style lanyard.

This is a great shooter.

Here is the video:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46RAL9iazdw

Jörg

Band heater

As announced, I have made a slingshot that heats its bands. I want to be able to break records even when it is NOT humid and hot outside! So there was no alternative.

I used water filled copper tubes, as water and copper have the highest available heat capacity.

The bands are put over the copper pipes that are filled with hot water, then the insulation is closed over the bands. They heat up in no time, about ten seconds from room temp to over 50 centigrade. I filled the tubes with hot, but not boiling water as I am not sure how much heat they tolerate.

The slingshot is ugly as heck, but not a bad shooter, it is a "W" after all. And the copper pipes work like a stabilizer.

Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7ZO2-Rc_Hk

New Multiplex Phoenix Design

I wanted to combine the efficiency of my wooden Phoenix model with the ergonomical grip of The Cutlass.

So I changed the grip of the original Phoenix and laminated more multiplex to my 19 mm board. Then rounding and sanding.

I am really pleased with the outcome, one of my smallest, most simple slingshots - but also one of my best models so far.

Hammergrip style of course.

Two shots at last: Over/Under Slingshot Crossbow

I have invested about 8 hours of work to make my first two-shot slingshot crossbow.

I still don't have access to my welding gear, lathe and mill, so I had to do it in wood.

I wanted it to be as strong as my most powerful onces - but per "barrel". So it had to be really sturdy, bulky and a bit bizarre. But it works like a charm.

The trigger mechanism allows me to shoot one barrel after the other or two at the same time. A really, really simple lever serves as thr trigger.

Due to the necessary thickness of the rubber involved, I had to make the fork really high. But that is not so bad as this weapon has to be cocked like a crossbow, with your foot stomping down on the rear stock and both hands pulling up the fork. Also the "barrel" had to be aluminum, thin wood is not strong enough for this DOUBLE HUNTER BAND shooting device.

The concept works, and once done in steel, it won't be bulky at all.

Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHj3iicXcQs

Review: Blade Systems "SYRVIVAL"

The Slingshot Channel reviews the only knife that is also a slingshot: The "SYRVIVAL" by the German knife maker company "Blade Systems".

The knife is a tactical beauty in itself, made from high tech "Chipper Steel" and with an splash etched finish. It is super sharp and the canvas micarta handle is really perfect for a strong grip.

The sheath and belt system is up to top military standards with the Tek Lok belt clip and the Blackhawk Serpa QDS adaptor.

The Kydex sheath contains a whetstone to sharpen the edge should it ever become dull.

A fire starter kit can create enough sparks to start a fire at any time. (People pointed out to me that I am using the starter kit wrong in the video, have to slide the steel along the rod.)

The highlight and specialty of the "SYRVIVAL" is the slingshot attachment. It can be mounted to the grip of the knife in a few seconds, and then it turns the knife into a very effective hunting cattie. The original "Fish Hunter" bands that come with the product are amongst the most praised bands available today. They can deliver 27 Joules of energy, more than most air guns and in the same league as hunting bows.

The starting price for the knife is 305 Euros, the complete package with all the bells and whistles cost 508 Euros. Not cheap, but well worth it - a handmade beauty that is as efficient as it looks.

Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8m2G_AcZwc

The (German) website of Blade Systems can be found at:

http://www.blade-systems.de/index.html

The direct product link for the SYRVIVAL:

http://www.blade-systems.de/html/syrvival.html

Jörg

"The Cutlass" - new design with handslap protection

Hello,

I wanted to do design a frame that works well for the butterfly style.

Goals:

- Low, wide fork for little wrist strain and fork hit prevention
- Mid-size (not as huge as the Monster)
- A big palm swell (found out I like palm swells)
- Protection against hand slaps (seems those always happen on OTP butterfly shooters).

I figured that the "W" would make the frame too big. So I used a length of flat steel I salvaged from the scrap heap and attached a wooden grip and wooden fork arms, all with solid metal screws. I hammered nuts into the fork arms, and sealed the holes with epoxy putty later.

Then I cut a piece of leather and clamped it between the handle and the screw.

It looks like a cutlass handle now - so I had a name for the design.

This is as basic as it gets, a full blown hammergrip style frame. The last picture shows it rigged up with really thin butterfly bands, superfast for lighter ammo. Without the leather protection, handslaps gallore.

It is a superb shooter, probably no beauty queen but the king of functionality.

Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8TdO3-Y-eM


Jörg

Can a slingshot break bricks?

If it's the right one, yes it can! This video compares a store bought Trumark slingshot with the original bands against a genuine Jörg Sprave "W" slingshot, rigged up with dual Thera Band Gold bands. Both slingshots are tested against a melon, a small pumpkin, wooden planks and then against a modern brick. The hits are recorded both in real time and in super slow motion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdvLxkH0ioc

Of course the homemade slingshot, used in Butterfly style, outperforms the Trumark by far - and yet the Trumark did a good job shooting the heavy 20mm steel balls.

Jörg

What "The Monster" does to 16 mm lead balls

I must say that this slingshot is pretty darn effective. I think I found the ideal band dimension for the 16 mm lead balls I made with the Bellsofhythe 12 shot mould.

I tested it extensively today, in butterfly of course. I leaned a wooden plank into a corner of my stone wall in the garden. The ball flew right through the plank, hit one stone corner, ricochetted and hit the other side. The pics show what it looks like now (compared to the original condition).

Note that I am using lead from car wheel weights, picked them up for free. This material is much harder than the lead used for muzzle loaders, in fact if you use it in a muzzle loader it will damage the rifling in the barrel.

"The Monster" - Ergo shooter, clamp-on attachment

My metal working tools haven't arrived yet, so I made a wooden slingshot today.

It is the first boardcut "W" design, and it's an ergo shooter! I used the clamp-on method so I can rearrange the bands quickly for butterfly or normal shooting (pics show butterfly length).

I carved the finger grooves first, then I cut of a slice and laminated it to the handle of the boardcut. This way I was not hindered by the fork arms when I took the rasp.

I used the clamp-on method also because it gives no handslap and I like the clean band attachment.

No varnish, just wood stain.

It is a very good shooter, and perfectly safe due to the width of the fork arms. It's not exactly beautiful, but heavy duty!

Impact of 16 mm lead onto coconuts and supermarket duck

Here is the first video from the new garden!

I tested the impact of 16 mm lead (made with the Bellsofhythe 12 shot mould) against the ubiquitous coconut and then on to a supermarket duck, still in the plastic coat.

The ammo went through the duck, even lengthwise, breaking bones and shattering through tissue. The duck had all of the innards still inside, in another plastic bag, which got penetrated as well.

I used my strongest handheld frame (the "W) in butterfly (albatross) style, and also the Novitzkenegger 3 meter sling-crossbow.

Sorry for the wind, we are having a very cold and windy August, feels like the fall is here already.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgNcZXSm84I

The "Novitzkenegger" Slingshot Challenge

The "Butterfly" shooting style brings the power of slingshots into new dimensions.

With a "wingspan" of about 1,60 meters, Jörg Sprave can break the 60 ft/lbs (80 Joule) projectile energy that the US military considers as lethal for humans.

So what would happen if a guy with the arm span of Dirk Novitzki (2,30 meters) and the power of Arnold Schwarzenegger (in his days) could achieve with a forward extended slingshot, giving him a 3 meter draw?

To find that out, a new slingshot crossbow has been designed, with a total draw length of said 3 meters. A trigger based locking mechanism allows a normal person to cock and shoot like Novitzkenegger!

The results are quite impressive. 75 m/s with a 36 gramm, 19 mm lead ball (576 gr, .75"). 102 Joules, over 80 ft/lbs!

Here is the video (the last one from the old house, my wife packs the boxes right now):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUvm6az46bg

Mechanical Slingshot Release

I have designed and made a new slingshot invention: A mechanical release that will revolutionize the butterfly shooting style but also be useful for any other style.

The device has a 360 degree rotating, self centering lock head that allows you to draw out as far as you like without twisting your wrist.

This way the biggest drawback of the butterfly shooting is eliminated, the cumbersome pouch gripping that limits you in terms of band strength.

Thorsten, a German butterfly shooter, showed us what a 5 kg (11 lbs) draw can do in a butterfly setup (30 Joules!), now imagine what a 15 kg draw will achieve...

Tested it with a super long Thera Gold set (7 kg draw weight at 160 cm draw). Pretty fast shooting!

Unfortunately it is raining very hard today so no chrony tests - will maximize that probably tomorrow. Let us see how much power the butterfly style can deliver!

My design can be made without welding, mostly from wood and a few hardware store items. The video contains a how-to part, so you can make your own one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ics5W9K0YNM

Jörg

Free design for two young craftsmen

Returned yesterday from a great three week vacation on Fuerteventura, and could not wait to hit the workshop...

First, I made the prototype I designed for the boys from USASlingshots. The boys have started a slingshot business at 15, respect! I decided to give them a design for free, so they have a distinctive product. Designed it on Fuerte and made it today.

I must say it took me about two hours, and I guess that even if you make it in batches it can't be made within a few minutes...

But I am TOTALLY PLEASED with the outcome. This is one of the best designs I ever came up with.

It fits the hand ideally, both in hammer grip or with frame support. The fork height is just right, and the clamp on works GREAT. Swift band change, tubes, flats, whatever you like. The screws are flush, no edges that could cut the rubber.

I forgot how nice a trough the fork shooter performs, no handslaps, no pouch entanglements, just perfect.

The grip is really comfortable. I discovered that when I made my Cocobolo shooter.

I stained the frame so the pattern of the multiplex (20mm) comes out nicely. No varnish, though.

This time I won't publish details how to make it, I will tell the boys and noone else. No blueprints, of course. And I do not permit any copies. In fact, I herewith pass all the rights over to the boys and they can decide what they want to do with it. Sell it, use it, publish it, discard it, whatever. It is theirs. They may say that I designed it, though.

I hope that I can teach the boys how to make it, meeting the high standards people expect from a Jörg Sprave design. It may take a few attempts but in the end, if they are committed, we will manage.

Sling-X-Bow tutorial: The video

Here is the video, some shooting and the entire how-to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK2Bcn1ze4c

The blueprints can be downloaded here:

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B2lOiwtIPanYOTVlY2IwMGItNmYyOS00NmFhLWE0YzgtYzYyNTQwNWE0ZGU0&sort=name&layout=list&num=50

At last: Sling-X-Bow out of wood, with common tools

So many people begged me to do a how-to for the Sling-X-Bow.

Of course people don't have welding gear and lathes, so a tutorial can't require such equipment.

I thought about this for a long time, as there were numerous issues to be solved. But then I finalized my blueprints and got to work.

I used wood and off-the-shelf screws only, plus common household tools.

Making it took six hours, because of the constant filming and also because welding stuff together is a lot quicker than drilling holes and fixing screws...

I used Stu's ratchet idea for the cocking, but made my own ratchet out of a length of wood. It is easy, you just push the frame to the front until it hits the stopper, and then it swings into the notch.

I made the frame, the lock base plate, the lock arms and the trigger plate out of multiplex (most of it I found in the trash of my favorite DIY superstore).

This is real solid, shooting hunter bands is not a problem, lots of reserve.

The video will follow tomorrow, here are some pics for now!

The Slingshot News Magazine July 11 is online!

Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlziCb0glhE

Regards


Jörg

Video review: 2 genuine "Baumstamm" slingshots

Baumstamm, a world reknown slingshot maker from Germany, recently sent me 2 of his handmade beauties. Amazing products! I was most excited about his wristbands, woven from colorful paracord. These bands are so sturdy that they actually hold the slingshot for you, you can relax your fingers and there is practically no shaking. I love them!

One is a multiplex boardcut, in black, and the other one is natural fork.

Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnvlNt-LZfg

The Cougar meets Desert Ironwood

I found another small piece of desert ironwood when I cleaned up the shop today.

Could not resist, I had to do something with it!

So I made a grip for the Cougar. Had to change the metal outline a bit, as the wood was not wide enough for the full grip. But it came out really nice!

This is a one-of-three-hundred Limited Edition Cougar now.

Video no. 100: Bullpup-Sling-X-Bow!

Have worked some more on the Sling-X-Bow concept. It worked well, but the original one was very loooong, not exactly compact. So I designed a bullpup version!

The shoulder rest is now very close to the pouch release, and the hand grip/trigger is canted so it does not colide with the sliding fork. Also, I simplified the release, no more rollers and only one moving arm. This works great!

I used a simple iron sighting system for now, which really is good enough for shooting distances up to 20 meters. The BOM (bill of materials) is about 10 Euros (13 dollars) for this thing.

Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l8Ql2r26gE

The Massive

After all these laminates and wood slingshots, I wanted to make another clean, heavy and pure stainless steel slingshot.

It came out nice, the palm swell works!

The Slingshot News Magazine is online!

As announced some time ago, I have added another format to The Slingshot Channel.

From now on, I will pick about ten different, interesting new stories from the forums, and present them in a video.

Every community needs a newspaper, and this is my small contribution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPViGeS2HRc

If you think I have missed anything (I am sure that is the case), let me know. Also, if you feel that you have seen something that MUST BE in the next issue, send me a message.

Best regards from Germany (currently a loud, drunk country, thanks to soccer).

More fun with the Sling-X-Bow

It was such a nice day, I decided to shoot with my crossbow some more.

Drove a 16 mm lead ball through 2 cat food cans and right into a third! All of them filled with water.

Used three Thera Gold strips per side, 50% stronger than hunterbands.

Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOMpQjdsosQ

Video: Fast reloading, no more handslaps

Have found a simple, yet effective way to reduce the dreaded handlslapping. I simply use a really weak, thin rubber strip (single strand of Thera Tube Tan), tied around my wrist, and attached to the pouch.

This means you loose a tiny bit of power, but it is not measurable.

It really works!

Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaHOxcflc7I

Slim Forky: Sunken for 2,000 years

Life is about balance.

After presenting a brutal, ugly, frightening slingshot crossbow today, I needed to make its counterpart.

A humble, basic, pleasing frame.

I chose moor oak for the wooden part, sunken for 2000 years in airless depths. It got resurrected, and then turned into a slingshot!

The wood is very dark, and also very lightweight. I had to strengthen it with stainless steel to give it back the sturdyness it once had. 12 mm!

The wood "skin" has 2 mm walls, that is all.

I left the handle a bit rectangular towards the end (the "butt"). I like it that way! I will shoot it in the index+thumb-on-the-fork style.

The polished steel and the dark wood are very pleasing to my eyes. It is very smooth. Again, the wood is natural, no staining, no coating.

How do you like it?

Sling-X-Bow vs. Ballistic Gelatin

Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOd6r2x-j7I

Unbelievable, the .63" (16 mm) lead ball went through the cat food can filled with water, then on through 40 cm of ballistic gelatine...

As a bonus, I also fired some other crossbows and the boncrushers through the gel.

Enjoy!

Sling-X-Bow now with stock and scope!

Have done it - I converted an old rifle stock for the slingshot crossbow, and I also attached a scope.

I strengthened the barrel by adding to more "rails", as the 3 stripes of Thera Gold per side bent the single steel tube slightly upwards. Now everything is OK!

Used a training band to adjust the scope and to test the accuracy - 10 meters, it shoots hole in hole in hole.

It is really long for a crossbow, but I love it!

Will do a video tomorrow, already prepared the ballistic gelatin...

Here is the video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCqotybf7y8

A slingshot at the golf club

Have been at the Gevelsberg "Gut Berge" golf club today and shot golf balls with my Poseidon slingshot, from their driving range.

I was accompanied by Steffen Bents, the resident golf pro. A great guy!

He was a bit sceptical, but you could see his jaw dropping when I made my first shot. Even though the range is very much uphill, I got to about 190 yards!

With his "longest" club, he did a little more than I could, but he said that he was completely surprised by the power of the slingshot.

Will upload the video soon!

Jörg

Slingshot Beauty Contest - Be a Juror and Win a Cougar!

I made a total of six slingshots in my "Beauty" line.

I want to find out the most popular style, so I am conducting a weeklong inquiry.

If you want to have a chance to win a "Limited Edition Cougar", just leave your vote as a comment to this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TpAeNsTuBU

Thanks!

Jörg

Full power slingshot crossbow

OK, it was time for this.

Took the trigger part from my slingshot pistol and eliminated the two problems I had with it:

1. The low power (I simply gave it 87 cm draw length)

2. The dangerous and awkward loading (I added a sliding fork, so you can load it easily and cock it when you are ready to fire).

This is technically and legally a crossbow now, so you have to be 18 to own it in Germany (no problem here - sigh...).

It is a great shooter! I am amazed by its accuracy. I may add a good sighting system.

Thos would probably be a fairly good Zombie weapon. Silent, accurate, and powerful enough for skull penetration. Add a pointed steel rod or a bayonet to the front of the "barrel" and you have a spear as well.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOduqZyBrhU