The Dankung "Panther" - plus 52 slingshot drawings, one every week!

Dankung just released the second "Jörg Sprave" model - the "Panther".

Here is a video about it:

Watch it on youtube

The "Panther" is aimed at the experienced shooter, with a low fork for maximum power. It accomodates both the "hammer grip" and the "finger support" shooting style, plus the unique fork design can accomodate both "looped" Chinese tubular bands and western style flat bands,

Made from 7 mm stainless steel, the frame is also an ideal "blank" for customizing. Four very spectacular modifications are shown in this video. Olive wood, caucasian walnut and baltic birch multiplex is used as material for fancy, confortable scales.

You can win 52 slingshots! All you have to do is to leave a comment on a recent blog entry here, and you automatically participate in a weekly drawing. You can win a fully wrapped and banded "Cougar" or "Panther" slingshot, including free global shipping.

The weekly winner will be named here as well.

Bye bye, slingshot forums

That's right, it is time for me to focus.

I have more than 160 youtube comment pages and this blog to update. Plus all the PM's from my 21k + yt subscribers...

The slingshot forum was one of my favourite places for a long time, and I was a moderator there. But the endless and often personal discussions with the "paper punchers" simply cost too much time. I got to focus on those that appreciate my work, really. Plus, my critics are probably right, my inventions often aren't slingshots anymore - they are serious weapons, just powered by rubber.

You will still find me on weapon forums where there is no such "elite" nonsense, like my favorite Zombie Squad forum.

Take a peak

I will also set up a nice facebook page, but this will take some time.

That does not mean that the slingshot forums are bad places. You can actually learn a lot of basics there, just not from me anymore. But there are lots of other great guys.

Last not least, I want to encourage people using this blog to discuss my slingshots. I will do a nice promotion, check out the upcoming videos for details! As always, you can win free slingshots.

Using the Financial Times as Slingshot Ammo

Certainly not a Zed killer, but usefull "less lethal" ammo.

Watch it on youtube

The Financial Times Germany brought almost a full page about me, very positive coverage in the prestigeous weekend issue.

Read a teaser (free) online, German language

I am on (cable) TV!

I always wanted to say these Dire-Straits-Money-For-Nothing words... now the time has come.

My videos have been mentioned on TV before, but the slingshots have been in the focus.

G4 brought out a piece about me... in the "Who is who on youtube" special!

I love it, very fast editing and nothing but the truth. Except the Berlin part, I was born in Dortmund, 500 km west of Berlin.

See it on the G4 website!

Knowing its a natural

Sometimes I like to carve.

I had to cut down this tree/scrub in my garden as it was almost dead. Turns out it is Common Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), a dense wood that is ideally suited to make bows and spears from. It is so heavy it sinks in water.

I cut a big fork from it, mouldy and mossy. After debarking, I found the wood to be perfectly OK.

So I used the templates of a design I gave to John "Gamekeeper" Webb a while ago, the "Lead Launcher". The design is supposed to be cut from two pieces of 18 mm plywood, then epoxied together. But I carved it in one piece out of the big frame.

The wood does not take well to staining, and the grain is boring. So I coated it with black paint and poly, then polished the entire thing until it shone like Japanese laquered bowls.

Feels great in the hand!

Portable slingshot guillotine

Well, some may hunt "big game" (such as a poor skinny 15 lb deer) or even bears with the slingshot - but The Slingshot Channel takes this one step farther by using slingshots against the much feared undead Zombie monsters.

As you may know, decapitating them helps a lot. They still bite, but they can't move around and the danger is much reduced.

It was an indirect challenge from http://www.zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=81487 that lead to this scary slingshot... can you slice the head of a zombie of its shoulders with a slingshot?

Sure! Watch the world's first handheld guillotine in action. In spite of the heavy rain, The Slingshot Channel shows how the machine operates by slicing a water melon, simply on the pull of a trigger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-2FVTya6nw

Again, I know full well that there aren't any real Zombies, and I accept the fact that I just spent a

Done it! 200 lbs draw.

I think I found the limit of a slingshot crossbow that can be cocked without mechanical aids like winches.

I put the beastly 20mm speargun rubber on the medieval style crossbow. 200 lbs draw weight! It takes all of my considerable strength to load this weapon. It is insanely powerful.

Bought the rubber here, just as a reference:

http://www.spearfishing.de/product_info.php?info=p163_Gummizuege-Imersion---16-18-20-mm---Meterware.html

I shot a 22 mm lead ball against a rock, it flattened it very much. The new diameter was 26 mm!

The pic shows the 20mm speargun rubber, the 16mm type, Thera Tube Silver and Thera Tube Black in comparison.

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

Oh, and as a bonus, I show four of my latest conventional frames too.

Six circles

I have been making this style a lot lately, it simply works great and looks good, too.

I realized the beauty lies in the simple radius combination. So I limited the design down to those.

All I needed to create this wonderfully symmetrical design is six circles. Of course this should be sawed out of multiplex or other high quality plywood, 15 to 22 mm, and then some scales (palm swell) should be added, from any kind of material.

Fork height is adjustable to one's needs.

Here you see both the blueprints with the radius's.

I love this style as it is elegant and REALLY comfortable. You have to add scales, though, to give some depth to the handle.

I decided to attach antler scales, simply because I like the contrast between the very geometrical shape and the irregularities of the antler.

I lightly sanded the surface of the antler to break the sharper spots, and polycoated the entire frame. Came out great!

Skeletor

In the past, I often designed the handles of my hammergrip frames like knife handles.

Thing is you don't hold a drawn out slingshot like a knife. The pressure is all in the webbing between thumb and index finger, and on the middle joint of the pinkie.

So I decided to test a frame that leaves everything else away! A welded frame from 12 mm stainless steel, with Thuja burlwood applications. It shoots great. And look at the balance!

On antler.

Made an antler frame yesterday, with a one inch steel ball as the heart of the design.

Drilled three holes into the steel ball, then threaded them and put in 8mm threaded rods. Attached the antler parts, as always this survived the vise test even without glue. Epoxy made it rock solid. I also soaked the spongy marrow with epoxy. Then I polycoated the frame, this will take care of the rust as well (the steel ball isn't hardened stainless, otherwise I couldn't have drilled the holes in).

Lost against Venus Williams...

...but came close!

Fired tennis balls yesterday, with the "hand Howitzer" and triple TB gold bands, full butterfly. Clocked the shots at 129 mph (207 km/h)! That is just one mile per hour slower than Venus Williams record serve.

Tennis balls are quite heavy, 58 gramm (928 gr).

95 Joule, 71 ft-lb!

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

Jörg

Slingshot vs. iPhone!

"Will it shoot?" The Slingshot Channel tests if it possible to use an iPhone as slingshot ammo, and also what happens when a big steel ball, shot from a powerful slingshot, hits an iphone full on the touchpad.

A specifically designed slingshot crossbow is employed to launch what many regard as the best cell phone in the world.

You can see iPhones beeing shot at ballistic gelatin, "Mythbusters style", and also a "long range" shot, demonstrating the accuracy. No iPhone survived the tests, in the end, a "3G" model is fired flat against a house wall. This opened up the device in record time.

A little bonus in the end takes care of several requests for specific gelatin tests...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgzwas0GmaY

Enjoy!

Jörg

Medieval Style Crossbow: Assault rifle scope added

I wanted to add a sighting system to the medieval style crossbow, which right now is my favorite plinker.

Not so easy, the rubber swings forward and does not allow the medieval "fork" sights at the front of the weapon. Everything has to be behind the lock.

I bought a few Hensoldt scopes, made for the German Army standard isse H+K G36 assault rifle. Surplus, fine condition, 5 Euros a pop. These are made to be installed INSIDE of the plastic G36 stock, so there is no adjustment of any kind. But just the right factor (3x) and nice crosshairs.

http://www.co2air.de/wbb2/attachment.php?attachmentid=15377

I made a mount system from wood, nothing that a medieval weaponmaker couldn't have done (minus the modern screws).

It is amazing how accurate this is, and how easy the cocking is. I am plinking with TB black, a preteen boy can draw this out with both hands and a foot in the stirrup.

These inexpensive scopes are ideal for slingshot crossbows. A lot of fun!

Jörg

Jörg "Machete" Sprave (TV Trailer)

A few weeks ago, a German TV team (www.tapefilm.com) made a piece about me. The challenge: To build a plunger shooting slingshot! It will be aired next month, in a German science magazine called "Galileo". They will do a whole episode about plungers, and I am a part of that one.

The guys are great, we had a good time to say the least. They wanted to do a fun trailer, much like Robert Rodriguez's "Machete" with the gresat Danny Trejo as the protagonist. It came out great. Best is: They allowed me to upload the trailer to my channel, even put in English subtitles for me!

Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nur78KfJdSM

My wife says my bearing is more upright and I drive faster ever since I saw the piece... :)

Jörg

"Night Hunter": Win it!

Attaching a flashlight to a slingshot is not new, see Trumark's "Bat" model. But these days, a whole new kind of flashlights is available! The video shows a Fenix TK35, which throws a powerful 820 lumen beam with just eight ounces of weight. This video shows a specifically designed slingshot with a hand made mount for the TK35.

The video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC9GeVmCnO4

It is easy to light up your target. This video shows the destruction of yet another sparkling wine bottle in total darkness.

You can win this "one of a kind" combo! Simply go to http://www.flashlightflux.com and check out the official giveaway details.

You can read more about the Fenix TK35 here:

http://www.fenixlight.com/viewnproduct.asp?id=86

Jörg

Speargun rubber!

Ordered some speargun rubber.

Got 16, 18 and 20 mm thickness, a meter each.

The stuff is beastly! I decided to test the "weakest" one first. 6,5mm walls, compared to 3mm walls on the already tough Thera Tube silver. Here you see TB black, silver and the 16mm speargun rubber in comparison.

Did a bandset for the medieval crossbow. The center hole is too small and the rubber is too tough for the knot in hole method, so I attached the rubber to the outside. Works fine.

Draw weight of this exceeds the 40 kg my scales can measure. I estimate it at 45 kg (about 100 lbs).

I reinforced the nut and tickler with steel because I did not trust the wood on wood method for this off the scale power. It holds fine.

It is surprisingly easy to cock the crossbow, the stirrup method rocks. Ancient weapon makers clearly knew their stuff.

It shoots absolutely frighteningly fast. My most powerful sling-x-bow for sure.

But there is room for improvement - see the 18 and 20 mm beasts in comparison... stay tuned.

Here is the video:

Watch it on youtube

Hammergrip style design for "Gamekeeper" John

I asked John if he wanted a hammergrip design from me, as he doesn't have such a model in his portfolio for now. He said yes!

Now I have to take a few things into consideration.

1. He sells his products at a low price (17 pounds). Therefore, it must be possible to make it in reasonable time.
2. Materials, same thing. He uses 18 mm multiplex. So that is what I must use, too.
3. He has his own style (by now), with medium fork height, width and horizontal fork tips. Deep band grooves. That must prevail.

It ain't easy to make a good hammer grip frame from 18 mm boards, as you need something substantial as a handle. I made very good experiences with narrow, but deep handles - this way there is a lot of control over the frame. No unwanted canting. So two parts are needed, and for stability, the fork part goes all the way down the handle part. A little epoxy and all is solid.

I had to optimize it, as always when I make the first sample from a new design. But now it is a fantastic shooter. Note this is not as well finished as my "beauties", simply because it is a prototype.

Charles Goodyear Memorial Day Giveaway

Folks,

today is the official Charles Goodyear memorial day.

Exactly 167 years ago, Mr. Goodyear filed his famous patent that described the vulcanization process. The rubber bands that we are all using for our slingshots are still, to this day, basically treated the way Mr. Goodyear came up with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Goodyear

In order to honor the great inventor, I am giving away a Cougar "Limited Edition", banded up the way the winner prefers.

All you have to do is to write a comment to this thread:

http://slingshotforum.com/topic/8301-charles-goodyear-memorial-day-giveaway/

honoring Charles Goodyear's invention. Any sensible comment is OK. I will do the drawing at noon Berlin time tomorrow (16th of June 2011).

Good luck!

Jörg

Review: Three "Gamekeeper" Catapults

John "Gamekeeper" Webb has been selling his slingshots for quite some time now, and his designs kept improving. Therefore, it is high time that The Slingshot Channel reviews the products.

The excellent catapults are made from high grade multiplex wood, well polished and sealed with polyurethane. The bands are top notch hunting bands, capable of very hard shots.

The very affordable weapons (20 pounds including shipping) have passed all tests with flying colors.

You can win one of these slingshots! John will directly ship the model of the winner's choice.

Drawing will take place on July 1st, 2011. You have to vote and also leave a comment here:

http://slingshotforum.com/topic/8265-what-is-your-favorite-gamekeeper-catapult/

Thank you, John, for the generosity as I am sure it will bring many new members to the forum.

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

Medieval Style Crossbow shoots balls, is rubber powered

I have made many slingshot crossbows, but all have been long and narrow - more like a modern rifle.

But this time I wanted to make a slingshot crossbow that resembles a medieval style model! Of course with rubber instead of a steel prod, and shooting balls instead of bolts. But regarding the look and lock/trigger mechanics, I wanted to follow the ancient design.

It came out very good!

Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fllqaJax88

It shoots great, and as you can see in the slomos, the bands never touch anything - they will last a long time.

The weapon is really accurate.

Second Natural from Ukraine

Made a slingshot from the second natural I brought from Ukraine. This time, a hazelnut fork, wide but not even.

My idea was to make it even by adding a handle made from some other material.

I rummaged through my exotic wood box and found a piece from a scrap convolute I bought on ebay (like, 10 pieces for 10 Euros). I made the handle from it. I don't know what wood it is, but when I started the rasp and filework, it smelled strongly like lemon, very pleasant.

I sawed out the even part from the hazel fork and prepared it for the "marriage" with the handle.

The vise test failed (I always test before the glueing), so I replaced the wooden "dowel" with steel. This time, rock solid. I love my steel, truly.

The slingshot came out fantastic. The hazelnut looks like polished ivory, and the contrast with the dark, strongly grained handle is quite attractive, I think.

No ink this time, just clear gun stock oil.

Natural From Ukrainian Beech

Made this one today, from the beech fork.

A big fork that turned into a small slingshot... just the way I like it.

Inked and oiled it, now all I have to do is to clean the grooves out and then polycoat the frame.

Foam Handle Shooter

Bought a set of soft foam handles for bikes at the hardware store sale like a year ago, found them while cleaning up the shed.

I decided to make a strong, efficient slingshot with it. Sawed out a wide, low fork from multiplex, with a straight bar instead of the usual handle. Fitted the wood into a piece of copper tube I had left over from the heated band shooter, fixed everything with aluminum pins (detachable). Then I slipped the foam handle over the copper tube.

Inked the wood to match the handle.

A great shooter! Put on a strong three layer TB Gold band, works really good.

Took about 40 minutes total.