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WABUKAN Arsenal · Bows and projectiles · Europe

Sling

Two cords and a small pouch: one of the oldest projectile weapons, able to hurl a stone or lead bullet much further than a hand throw.

Sling
Sling WABUKAN illustration

Also known as

shepherd’s sling; funda (PT, Latin); fona (Balearic); honda

Origin and history

Slings rot easily and were low-status weapons, so few survive. The oldest known were found on the coast of Peru and date to c. 2500 BC; the Egyptian "Manchester Sling", made entirely of plant fibre, dates to c. 2000–1800 BC, and a pair was buried with Tutankhamun. Ancient writers praised the slingers of the Balearic Islands, hired as mercenaries by Carthage; the Bible tells of David defeating Goliath with a sling.

Martial arts that use it

Seen in traditional practice, historical reenactment and demonstrations; no art page on WABUKAN yet.

Construction

A small cradle or pouch between two cords: a loop at the end of one goes round a finger or the wrist, and a tab at the end of the other is held between thumb and forefinger. The best ammunition was cast lead; ancient almond-shaped bullets were about 35 mm long and weighed about 28 g, and many were moulded with symbols or writing.

Basic techniques

Training

Ranged weapons are trained on a range with a safe backstop: stance, grip, release and breathing are repeated until the movement is identical every time. Distance increases only after the form is stable.

Safety

Only shoot or throw on a supervised range with a safe backstop, never towards anything you would not want to hit, and never retrieve while others are shooting or throwing.

Legality (general information)

Bows, throwing blades and similar weapons are often legal to own but may only be used on approved ranges or under club rules; some throwing weapons (such as shuriken or throwing stars) are banned outright in several countries. This is general information, not legal advice: check local law and your federation’s rules.

Did you know?

Traditional slinging is still practised in the Balearic Islands, with leagues and competitions. The Latin name for lead sling-bullets, glandes, means "acorns", probably after their shape.

More weapons

English longbow Boomerang Yumi Gakgung Shuriken Chakram

Sources

Original WABUKAN text, written from these cross-checked sources (facts, not sentences).

  1. Wikipedia — Sling (weapon)