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He Specializes In Primitive Weapons
Bob Booth's customers don't make a lot of noise when hunting small game. A whoosh of a blowgun, the whir of a bola, or the snap of a sling is all that's heard. Since 1987, Booth has been studying primitive societies and making the weapons they used to survive.
"I make an Eskimo 10-ball bola that I use to hunt rabbits, and I've used a heavy caliber blowgun on grouse, rabbits and squirrels. It takes a little skill, and you have to be smarter than whatever you're hunting," says Booth.
He has developed blowguns and darts for specific animals. Living in a heavily wooded part of Oregon, he has found a 3 to 4-ft. blowgun is sufficient for most small game.
"I can teach a person how to hold it and use it in 10 minutes," he says. "In half an hour, they will be hitting bulls eyes."
On Booth's website, you can select from 0.38 to 0.68 caliber blowguns and slings of all types and sizes. A new addition is the deadly Pana single band bamboo slingshot from the Philippines. You can also pick a more high power weapon like a spear thrower, throwing arrow, javelin or even quarterstaffs. Blowguns range in price from $18 for a 30-in. 0.40-caliber blowgun to $45 for a 4-ft. 0.68-caliber combination hiking staff/battle staff/blowgun. Most of Booth's weapons are in the $20 to $35 range.
Uses aren't limited to small game, adds Booth, noting that some of his customers use spear throwers to hunt wild boar in California and Oregon and deer in Michigan. Others just use them for target practice.
"I make all the weapons here, mostly with wood from Oregon, Maine and Colorado," says Booth. He also incorporates stainless steel into weapons and ammunition, such as crossbow bolts and darts, while keeping plastic to a minimum.
Catalogs are available for $3.50. Booth's weapons also can be reviewed and ordered from his website.
Hunting with primitive weapons varies by state and province. Check local laws before using a primitive weapon.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Primitive Weapons, 6043 N. Minnesota Ave., Portland, Ore. 97217 (ph 503 285-4992; fax 503 285-5461; primweap@ciusa.net; www.primitiveweapons.com)


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2006 - Volume #30, Issue #6