Sling

By Crusader1307

One of the oldest of all weapons, The Sling was a mainstay in early Greek combat. A trained Slinger was a prized commodity. Documented as early as the 2nd Century B.C. in Greece, The Sling cord itself was made from flax, hemp or wool. Each material had it's pros and cons. As opposed to twisting the cords, braiding was the more popular means of sling preparation. Braiding did not allow the material to outstretch. An effective Sling cord ranged from 2 to no more than 3 feet in length. In the cords center a cradle was fashioned.

An additional piece of same cord material could be used or a piece of reinforced leather. Both were normally diamond shaped. Specially designed (carved) stone or bronze projectiles around 18 ounces were used as ammunition (of course any comparable stone or pebble could be used as well). As time progress, pre-produced clay and lead shot were used. Lead would found to be particularly popular in the 5th Century B.C. Due to their small size and difficulty to see in flight by an enemy. Although documentation of how Slings were constructed exist, not examples have survived. Ammunition types have however.