Blowgun still relevant
Blowgun was and remains one of the most affordable means of destruction at short distances. Simple to manufacture and completely silent, it allows you to send small darts-shells to a distance of 30 meters. The design of an airgun is elementary - a hollow tube and a charge margin. Brass weapon it has been used by man since ancient times, it was used almost everywhere where people lived and plants grew that made it possible to make a hollow, strong, flat and long tube, for example bamboo. Often, they were shot with poisoned arrows, since the power of the lungs of even the most trained person was not enough to destroy a large animal or person. The poisoned arrow makes it easy to hit the target, then poison will do its job.
Wind guns were brought to Europe at the beginning of the Great Geographical Discoveries era, and almost immediately became a favorite “toy” of various social strata. They could be used for fun, for processing the skills of aiming, or even as a means of covert communication (secret notes with the help of a blowgun could be silently conveyed directly to the addressee or into his window). As an entertaining and gaming projectile, a blowgun is still used by adolescents in many countries.
Of course, in those places where it was invented, a bog gun was not used at all for fun. On the islands of Indonesia, in South America and some other places where remnants of tribes that lead a primitive lifestyle are still preserved, the bastard still plays the role of an indispensable weapon that can silently and covertly kill the enemy from a distance.
At the same time, it is unlikely that it will be possible to hit a person with a miniature boom up to 30 in length, even with the most trained lungs. It is because of this that small cuts are most often made on the tip of such arrows, after which the arrow will plunge into poison (usually of plant origin). For maximum effect, the arrowhead is trimmed so that when the target is hit, the arrow breaks off and remains in the wound. Such arrows are made primarily of wood using the most primitive tools. In the case of more "tech" metal arrows, a slightly different method is used. A tight, short rope is made of a fibrous material impregnated with poison, and a needle blade sticking out of it, made in the form of a mini-Ostrog.
In Europe, the design of the blowgun was finalized, having received a rather important addition - a bootleg. This made it possible to increase not only the ease of use, but also the range and power of the shot. The shot from the blowgun is made with the help of a strong and sharp exhalation, while exhaling a diaphragm is used. Without a paddle, the shot is made a little differently. First, the tube is tightly pressed by the lips, its opening is blocked by the tongue, and then with a powerful but smooth exhalation (the diaphragm is also used) the cheeks are inflated until refusal - the instant that the opening of the opening is removed.
Combat guns had a fairly solid size - up to 2,5 meters in length. Sometimes they were supplied with a kind of front sight, a sight, or even a light fodder. In special cases, a living person could play the role of an aspatcher, in modern terminology it would be called the second number of calculation. When firing with the “armor-bearer", the bastard was placed on his back or shoulder. The shot from a sufficiently long blowgun was no longer silent and was accompanied by a distinct bang. The maximum range of such tubes is known only approximately, but it is certain that at a distance of 10-15 meters a light sharp arrow could penetrate the human chest, which in the jungle could lead to death without the use of poison. It is known that at a distance in 10-15 meters an experienced shooter could hit a target the size of a modern pushpin.
The main types of military weapons used by the natives
1. Pukuna - is a solid and light construction of a thin reed stem “Urah”, which is inserted into the shell of 2 halves of the palm tree “Zamora”, which are fastened with a sheath of animal intestines or dense winding of rattan fibers. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the main drawback of wind tubes from reed - their low strength. Also, for the first time, the principle of barrel lining was implemented, which is widespread in modern linear weapons.
2. Tomeang - in the manufacture of this weapon, bamboo stalks with previously broken-out partitions were used as starting materials for the inner bore of the barrel and the outer strengthening shell. At the same time, the internal channel of the bamboo liner was subjected to a thorough processing procedure (polishing and scraping).
3. Sarbakan - this kind of airgun was made from 2-x halves of the palm tree, which were connected by performing a spiral winding from plant fibers "jakitara". After assembly and final processing, the semicircular grooves on the inner surface form a regular cylinder that is suitable for firing.
4. Sampitana - this brass weapon is made from a whole piece of iron wood. It is the favorite weapon of the Dayak tribes of Kenya-Kayan and Punan in Borneo, as well as the natives of the Philippine and Molluksky islands.
Charges for brass guns could serve not only arrows. True, in the famous monograph by N. G. Shprincin (Collection of the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, L. 1929, No. 8), the blunt-gun is called nothing other than a “shooting tube”. At the same time, in the same monograph it is indicated that 4 of the type of ammunition could be used in a blowgun: arrows, bullets, incendiary compositions, and even a shot. Of course, if you try, you can shoot and shot, but the meaning of such shooting is very vague, since even a very sharp exhalation will not be able to throw the fraction far away, and the energy of each individual pellet will be very small. In this regard, the arrow is the best option.
The use of bullet in blowguns is found in the texts of the Spanish historian Antonio Herrer, who described the Aztec blowguns. Aztec brass guns are decorated with figures of animals and birds, their mouthpiece is made of gold and can be up to 6 inches long. The central part is inlaid with gold, a special bag of gold mesh is attached to each rifle for carrying ball bullets made of hardened clay. These bullets are able to kill the beast and man in the middle distance. This description of the Spanish historian dates back to 1622. He described the use of round bullets when shooting with a blowgun and Leonardo da Vinci.
Prospects for the creation of new brass rifles and their use as silent hunting means still excite the minds of inventors, facilitating the issuance of new patent applications in different countries. Modern industry offers many advanced designs of brass guns, which are made using the most modern and lightweight durable materials. Their length today can reach 4 meters, mouthpieces can be made using silver nanoparticles, and sights mounted on such tubes can be optical. To such an airgun and a set of arrows to them would envy any Aboriginal. Studies show that the fashion for sports shooting from a wind weapon is just beginning, which proves that this rather ancient type of weapon still has a future.
It seduces the military as well, the special forces of many countries are more or less familiar with such a weapon, which has the simplest design and is silent when used. In addition, it can be useful for survival in the jungle or deserted desert, where birds, lizards or rodents simply will not let a person within arm's reach. In the event that even a primitive slingshot and suitable stones are not at hand, and a pistol or rifle cannot be fired, since there is a danger of being detected, an improvised brass gun can come to the rescue. If you have bamboo or cane stalks at hand, you can try to make such weapons and shoot something for lunch without attracting unwanted attention.
Wind guns were brought to Europe at the beginning of the Great Geographical Discoveries era, and almost immediately became a favorite “toy” of various social strata. They could be used for fun, for processing the skills of aiming, or even as a means of covert communication (secret notes with the help of a blowgun could be silently conveyed directly to the addressee or into his window). As an entertaining and gaming projectile, a blowgun is still used by adolescents in many countries.
Of course, in those places where it was invented, a bog gun was not used at all for fun. On the islands of Indonesia, in South America and some other places where remnants of tribes that lead a primitive lifestyle are still preserved, the bastard still plays the role of an indispensable weapon that can silently and covertly kill the enemy from a distance.
At the same time, it is unlikely that it will be possible to hit a person with a miniature boom up to 30 in length, even with the most trained lungs. It is because of this that small cuts are most often made on the tip of such arrows, after which the arrow will plunge into poison (usually of plant origin). For maximum effect, the arrowhead is trimmed so that when the target is hit, the arrow breaks off and remains in the wound. Such arrows are made primarily of wood using the most primitive tools. In the case of more "tech" metal arrows, a slightly different method is used. A tight, short rope is made of a fibrous material impregnated with poison, and a needle blade sticking out of it, made in the form of a mini-Ostrog.
In Europe, the design of the blowgun was finalized, having received a rather important addition - a bootleg. This made it possible to increase not only the ease of use, but also the range and power of the shot. The shot from the blowgun is made with the help of a strong and sharp exhalation, while exhaling a diaphragm is used. Without a paddle, the shot is made a little differently. First, the tube is tightly pressed by the lips, its opening is blocked by the tongue, and then with a powerful but smooth exhalation (the diaphragm is also used) the cheeks are inflated until refusal - the instant that the opening of the opening is removed.
Combat guns had a fairly solid size - up to 2,5 meters in length. Sometimes they were supplied with a kind of front sight, a sight, or even a light fodder. In special cases, a living person could play the role of an aspatcher, in modern terminology it would be called the second number of calculation. When firing with the “armor-bearer", the bastard was placed on his back or shoulder. The shot from a sufficiently long blowgun was no longer silent and was accompanied by a distinct bang. The maximum range of such tubes is known only approximately, but it is certain that at a distance of 10-15 meters a light sharp arrow could penetrate the human chest, which in the jungle could lead to death without the use of poison. It is known that at a distance in 10-15 meters an experienced shooter could hit a target the size of a modern pushpin.
The main types of military weapons used by the natives
1. Pukuna - is a solid and light construction of a thin reed stem “Urah”, which is inserted into the shell of 2 halves of the palm tree “Zamora”, which are fastened with a sheath of animal intestines or dense winding of rattan fibers. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the main drawback of wind tubes from reed - their low strength. Also, for the first time, the principle of barrel lining was implemented, which is widespread in modern linear weapons.
2. Tomeang - in the manufacture of this weapon, bamboo stalks with previously broken-out partitions were used as starting materials for the inner bore of the barrel and the outer strengthening shell. At the same time, the internal channel of the bamboo liner was subjected to a thorough processing procedure (polishing and scraping).
3. Sarbakan - this kind of airgun was made from 2-x halves of the palm tree, which were connected by performing a spiral winding from plant fibers "jakitara". After assembly and final processing, the semicircular grooves on the inner surface form a regular cylinder that is suitable for firing.
4. Sampitana - this brass weapon is made from a whole piece of iron wood. It is the favorite weapon of the Dayak tribes of Kenya-Kayan and Punan in Borneo, as well as the natives of the Philippine and Molluksky islands.
Charges for brass guns could serve not only arrows. True, in the famous monograph by N. G. Shprincin (Collection of the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, L. 1929, No. 8), the blunt-gun is called nothing other than a “shooting tube”. At the same time, in the same monograph it is indicated that 4 of the type of ammunition could be used in a blowgun: arrows, bullets, incendiary compositions, and even a shot. Of course, if you try, you can shoot and shot, but the meaning of such shooting is very vague, since even a very sharp exhalation will not be able to throw the fraction far away, and the energy of each individual pellet will be very small. In this regard, the arrow is the best option.
Modern Wind Gun
The use of bullet in blowguns is found in the texts of the Spanish historian Antonio Herrer, who described the Aztec blowguns. Aztec brass guns are decorated with figures of animals and birds, their mouthpiece is made of gold and can be up to 6 inches long. The central part is inlaid with gold, a special bag of gold mesh is attached to each rifle for carrying ball bullets made of hardened clay. These bullets are able to kill the beast and man in the middle distance. This description of the Spanish historian dates back to 1622. He described the use of round bullets when shooting with a blowgun and Leonardo da Vinci.
Prospects for the creation of new brass rifles and their use as silent hunting means still excite the minds of inventors, facilitating the issuance of new patent applications in different countries. Modern industry offers many advanced designs of brass guns, which are made using the most modern and lightweight durable materials. Their length today can reach 4 meters, mouthpieces can be made using silver nanoparticles, and sights mounted on such tubes can be optical. To such an airgun and a set of arrows to them would envy any Aboriginal. Studies show that the fashion for sports shooting from a wind weapon is just beginning, which proves that this rather ancient type of weapon still has a future.
It seduces the military as well, the special forces of many countries are more or less familiar with such a weapon, which has the simplest design and is silent when used. In addition, it can be useful for survival in the jungle or deserted desert, where birds, lizards or rodents simply will not let a person within arm's reach. In the event that even a primitive slingshot and suitable stones are not at hand, and a pistol or rifle cannot be fired, since there is a danger of being detected, an improvised brass gun can come to the rescue. If you have bamboo or cane stalks at hand, you can try to make such weapons and shoot something for lunch without attracting unwanted attention.
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