Blowguns the Breath of Death book (1993)

 Hello Everyone !!

The blowgun is a mysterious tool of silent death. Author Michael Janich in this book reveals the many secrets of its capabilities and uses: how to buy or make your own blowgun and darts (including "special" projectiles), shoot the weapon, devise custom targets and customize, maintain and store your gun. 

This is the best book on this fascinating and deadly device.

History : (Pg #1-6)

⦁ First invented in Malaysia & by 15th century, it was employed by both the hemispheres.

⦁ The areas most noted for its use are Malaysia, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Japan, S. India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, S. America, C. America, Mexico, SE USA.

⦁ Originally used against small animals & birds, shooting clay balls and pellets to stun/kill. Later, use of poison in darts and arrows became prevalent.

⦁ S. American blowguns were L- 12-20 ft, range of up to 50 yards.

⦁ Blowguns of Borneo Island, called Sumpitan, were made of hardwood, L- 7 ft, furnished with a spear-blade and hook, range of 150-180 ft.

⦁ Blowguns of Native Americans (US) made of reeds, loaded with soft wood darts (1-ft) with stoppers of thistledown. The tribes known for usage are Cherokee, Choctaw, Iroquois, Muskhogeans, Atticapas, Chetimachas.

⦁ In feudal Japan, mostly used by Ninjas for assassinations. Fukiya blowguns of Ninja had 20" tube with 2" darts, made of paper cones and slivers of steel someimtes poison coated. Ninja also used them as improvised snorkel. Sports Fukiya were tube (3'11") with darts (7.9"). 

⦁ During WW-II, Nazi Col. Otto Skorzeny used dummy cigarettes with hidden blowguns which used darts coated with curare poison.

⦁ In modern times, used by Ornithologists for collecting bird specimens, Veterinarians to deliver Tranquilizer darts.

Advantages & Capabilities : (Pg #7-11)

⦁ The advantages include low cost of both gun and darts, darts can be reused, maintenance-free, darts immune to effects of ageing, quietness.

⦁ On an average, darts can exceed velocity of 300-ft/sec. With steel darts, max range of blowguns (4-6 ft long) approach 64 meters.

⦁ The capability of darts depends upon factors such as length of gun, weight of darts, lung power of shooter, material of dart.

⦁ With a medium range gun, beginners can consistently and accurately hit upto 40-ft range.

Special Blowgun Projectiles : (Pg #47)

Wooden, spring-steel, syringe, tranquilizer, incendiary, mace/ pepper powders, paintball, poppers.

Blowgun Dart Poisons : (Pg #57-59)

⦁ Traditionally, blowgun poisons based on Strychnine, curare, exotic ingredients (like red ants, black ants, snake venom, magical herbs), Upas tree sap, poisonous shrub juice etc.

⦁ Modern poisons include insecticides, rat poison (strychnine, cyanide), ricin, abrin, Botulism (from decayed veg, meat).

Targets :

Cartoid artery, femoral artery, eyes, throat, temple.

Thank you for Reading !!