Machetes and slingshots have been recognized as important survival tools from time out of mind. Now, you can have both in one package...

Machete Crossbow

If we hold a hunt there is going to be some variation in reaction, depending on what one brings to hunt with. The guys who bring a gun are going to get nods for their practicality. The guys who bring crossbows are going to get credit for their stealth. The guys who bring a machete are going to get raised eyebrows. They are all welcome to join in with their preferred tool.

Anyone who shows up with a machete crossbow is getting wrapped in duct tape and left in camp for the duration.

Heed the words of maker of this contraption: "What is it good for? Nothing, except attracting peoples attention on youtube". Sums it up pretty well.

But that thing IS still kind of awesome.

Joerg (the maker) is a regular poster over on Zombie Squad. He made this contraption because someone on his YouTube channel posed the challenge and the idea amused him.

I don't think it's practical for much more than shooting cardboard, but it's so _cool_

Thought ETS could use a chuckle.

Ha!!!
A machete-shooting crossbow.
That should be all the rage at drunken parties happening in certain countries of Central America.

Got tequila?
Ha! Ha!!

Pete #2

P.S. You might want to volunteer and see if they can shoot an apple off your head. It always pays to establish accuracy :-)

Looked like a nice Martindale machete. At least he's not just sitting around watching paint dry. It made me remember the "survival" lockback that Paragon Knives sold a few years ago that came with surgical tubing and a couple of very short bolts/arrows with hooks just behind the heads. That was in the early, mid 1990s.

I would be a little worried about the short arms on his regular slingshots/wrist rockets.

Now all we need is a Splitting Axe Trebuchet.

His forks are large compared to what many like to shoot. Joerg seems to prefer the hammer-grip hold with a larger frame, compared to smaller slingshots with a high grip.

Here's an example of a grip higher up the forks (from the Dankung website):

Okay, that's totally bonkers, and good fun besides. This is what happens when you say "I dare you." Problem is, it's a single shot. And a quiver of machetes is kind of awkward to schlep around.

Haertig ... OK I'll pick up - on that photo you posted. Where did you get the nice-looking slingshot? Is it professional, or did you fabricate it? I don't recognize the word "Dankung". I'll look it up if I get time.

cheers,
Pete #2

That's not my picture. It's from http://www.dankung.com (I tried to give them credit in my posting).

"Dankung" is a generic name for "Chinese slingshot" (I think). It's also a company name for a slingshot manufacturer in China. They make several different slingshots. I've bought many, and like them all. They are pretty inexpensive, and if you dig down past their "$16 for three items" shipping charges you'll see they also offer "per item" shipping charges of $2.92 per item as an alternate. That's very cheap shipping, considering it comes from China. It takes about 3 weeks to get to the US.

If you buy from China, make sure you buy from a reputable manufacturer. www.dankung.com is very reputable. There are other not-so-upright dealers that pawn off zinc alloy slingshots and lie and call them stainless steel. You'll find the same junk on eBay. Don't get a zinc slingshot - they break and are dangerous. But don't hesitate to deal with www.dankung.com - they are good guys and very responsive.

I recommend the Dankung "Jungle Hunter II" slingshot.

You can also buy a few of the Dankung slingshots from a vendor in the US. They charge more, but have free shipping anddelivery is faster too. But you pay a few extra dollars for that (a $10 - $15 premium over direct from China prices). http://www.trulytexas.com/extreme-slingshots.html They are a Dankung distributer (but they only have a small selection). TrulyTexas are good guys to deal with also. Courteous and fast shipping. TrulyTexas is a good place to buy your steel bal bearing ammo for the slingshot. Their prices on that ammo are very cheap and they ship it for free. Buy 3/8" or 1/2" ammo. 3/8" for target work and light hunting, 1/2" for more serious hunting.

For more info than you'd ever want to know about slingshots, visit http://www.slingshotforum.com