Wilderness Arena > Supplies > Weapons

Weapons

Weapons

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How to make a powerful survival bow out of cheap PVC pipe

There are a couple of ways to make a PVC bow. In a pinch, you can simply take a 4-6 foot piece of PVC pipe, notch the ends, and string with paracord at a high enough tension to bend the bow limbs. The second method is a bit more involved but results in a more powerful bow. Method 2 is possible due to PVC’s inherent ability to bend when heated and retain its shape without weakening the integrity of the material’s structure. Recurve bows, bows with tips that are bent to curve away from the archer, constructed from PVC pipe can produce anywhere from 30 – 70 pounds draw, which is significantly higher than the energy delivered from an equivalent straight-limbed bow.

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Making arrows in the wild

Wood for arrow shafts Making arrows while in the wild is not difficult.  To being, collect shoots to use for the shafts (slightly dried wood is better than green wood).  Dogwood makes the best shafts, but any other straight hardwood shoots can be used. Cut them at least a couple of inches longer than the…

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How to build a Trebuchet (Catapult)

A Trebuchet (pronounced treb-oo-shay)  is a medieval siege engine that transfers gravitational energy into kinetic energy – similar to a playground see-saw.  In ancient times, it was used to launch (throw) projectiles including boulders, dead horses, and diseased bodies into or over castle walls to soften the defenses in preparation for invasion. On one end…

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Bola

The bola is made from weights on the ends of interconnected cords.  It is especially effective for capturing running game or low-flying fowl in a flock and does no by entangling their legs. Most bolas have two or three stones of equal weight (some bolas as been built with as many as eight).  A bola…

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Bow and Arrows

Components of a Bow A box consists of two elastic limb ends, traditionally made from wood, connected by a string.  By pulling the string backwards, the archer exerts compressive force on the string facing section, or back.  The stored energy is later released putting an arrow into flight. The curved limbs may have a single…

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Throwing Sticks

One of the earliest weapons used by humans, the throwing stick, commonly known as the rabbit stick (or throwing club, kylie, or boomerang), is very effective against small game (squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits). The rabbit stick itself is a blunt stick or wooden club, straight or naturally curved at about a 45-degree angle. In the…

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Spears in the Wilderness

Bladed Spear To make a bladed spear, use the same procedures to make the blade that you used to make a knife blade. Flint, obsidian, iron,or bone can be used for a spearhead.  If possible, modify the normal knife blade construction by adding barbs to the base of the blade.  Barbs will ensure the spear…

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Knives in the Wilderness

In a survival scenario, a knife is by far your most important tool.  A knife has four basic functions. It can puncture, slash or chop, cut, and scrape. A knife is also an invaluable tool used to construct other survival items. If you find yourself in a survival situation without a knife, you can make…

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Clubs in the Wilderness

A club, also known as cudgel, baton, mace, nightstick or bludgeon, is essentially a short stick.  You hold clubs and most are small enough to swing with one hand. Although they are not thrown as you would a throwing stick, the club can extend your area of defense beyond your fingertips. It also serves to…