Blowguns (Blow guns) - Primitive Weapons
Blowguns were ancient, primitive weapons used by Natives Americans that required minimal resources or technology to construct. Aiming different types of projectiles using Blowguns (Blow guns) demanded little equipment and not much practice to be effective. The Cherokee and other tribes of Native Americans used Blowguns but as they were made of perishable materials, few ancient Blowguns have survived and are rarely depicted in the paintings of the period.
Picture of a Blowgun
Blowguns (Blow guns) - Targets and Uses
Blowguns (Blow guns) were used primarily as piercing weapons for hunting purposes but also for warfare.
- Uses of Blowguns (Blow guns) for Hunting: The projectiles were used to bring down small game such as squirrels and also birds.
- Uses of Blowguns (Blow guns) as weapons: The accuracy of the 'blower' could cause significant injury especially if poison was added to the tips of arrows
Blowguns (Blow guns) and Poisonous Darts
During warfare the darts or arrows of blowguns were often poisoned. The poison was stored in special cone shaped clay receptacles that were kept in the bottom of the blowgun quivers. The poison was obtained from either poisonous snakes, or even gila monsters, and from extracts from various plants. To obtain venom from a rattlesnake the reptile was irritated until it repeatedly struck into the liver of an animal, impregnating it with its virus. Alternatively poisonous snakes were induced to bite into a piece of spoiled meat or liver. The blowgun arrows or darts were then dipped into the poisoned meat. Extracts from plants were also used to obtain poison for arrows. Many tribes used used extracts of yew from bark and needles as arrow and spear poisons. Some other plant juices were also used for poisons for blowguns. Refer to Poisoned Arrow.
The Canes used to make Blowguns (Blow guns)
The canes used to make blow guns were from Arundinaria, commonly known as the canes, which is the only type of bamboo native to eastern North America. The canes are characterized by their woody, cylindrical stems and grow in areas with hot, humid summers, where the canes reach heights of up to 50 feet and over two inches in diameter. The Arundinaria or the canes plant was extremely important to the Southeastern Native American tribes who used the cane used to make everything from houses and weapons to jewelry and medicines. It was also used extensively as a fuel. The bamboo canes could be used to make other weapons besides blowguns such as simple spears by sharpening one of the ends and the flexible wood was sometimes used to make bows.
Making Blowguns (Blow guns) and Darts
Making Blowguns was not a difficult task and required just two major elements - the tube and the dart or projectile:
- Making a tube for Blowguns: The tube was made from river cane or reeds and generally measured from 3 feet long but the sizes varied considerably according to their use. The joints in the cane were cleaned out by using a smaller cane until it was hollow all the way through
- Making a dart or arrow for Blow guns: Blowgun darts were not made from the canes they were made from hard woods such as the hickory and maple trees. The rear end of the dart had a piece of 'fluff'' attached that was made from thistledown in order to center the dart in the blowgun and make the dart fly straight
- The 'fluff' attached to the blowgun dart would also form a seal so that the wind pressure from blowing behind the dart would send it through the barrel at a great speed providing additional force to the penetration of the projectile
Blowguns
- Description and definition of Blowguns
- Materials required to make Blowguns
- How to make Blowguns - method of construction
- Interesting facts and information about Native American Blowguns for kids and schools
- Native American Weapons
- Poison arrows and darts used in blowguns
Blowguns - Pictures and Videos of Native Americans
Native American Weapons - Blowguns (Blow guns). Discover the interesting facts and information which relate to the History of Native Americans and the weapons they used such as Blowguns (Blow guns). The pictures on this site show the weapons and tools that were used by various Native Indian tribes that can be used as a really useful educational history resource for kids and children of all ages. All of the articles and pages can be accessed via the Native Indian Tribes Index - a great educational resource for kids providing an unusual insight into their culture. We hope you enjoy watching the videos - just click and play - a great resource for gaining facts and information about the life of Native American Indians.
