The Sling
Last Updated on 30 July 2008
A sling is a device that is used to throw a rock or other projectile with considerable mechanical advantage. Slings are widely used in the Middle East and South America. The most famous example of a sling in use can be found in the famous Biblical story of David and Goliath.
Please visit http://www.slinging.org/ to see a comprehensive web page about slings. This web page has links about sling history, how to sling, a gallery and links page.
You can purchase literature about Peruvian slings from StoneSlings.com
You can purchase authentic slings from the flight-toys.com catalog. Ethnographic slings can be found in the flying toys link, and in the ethnographic artifact links for South America and Asia.
Federal Import Restrictions for Ethnographic Items from South America
The first two slings from South America that I purchased were ethnographic items that cost $100. They were marked as being 19th Century, or earlier. The first sling, pictured directly below, is Peruvian. It is made out of Alpaca wool and weighs only a couple of ounces. The overall span is 67 inches. The pouch is split, as shown wrapping around the river bed rock in the photo below. I have used this sling to throw large Buckeye seeds more than twice the distance than is possible by hand. The one thing that I especially like about this sling is that the throw is absolutely silent.

The second sling is extremely large and heavy. It is Bolivian and made out of Llama wool. It has a span of 86 inches and weighs a massive 14.4 ounces. The pouch is split and very thick and heavy. The pouch is large enough to hold a cannon ball.

The Snoopy Ruler has a length of 12 inches.

Here are two more photos showing the fabric and weave pattern.


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