The History of the Dart Gun
Dart guns are ancient weapons and have commonly been called blow guns because you propel the dart out of the tube by blowing air forcefully into the hollow tube. The exact origins of weapon are lost to history, but it is believed the bl;ow gun was developed independently in Asia and Africa during the Stone Age.
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Hunting
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Many anthropologists believe dart guns were first used to hunt small and medium-sized game such as rabbits and deer. Small hunting parties of a dozen or so men would track and corner their prey. Depending on the size and strength of the animal, the hunters would have to hit it with multiple darts.
Combat
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Combat is about as old as hunting, and early on the Stone Age tribes realized they could bring down rival tribesmen as effectively as antelope. Dart guns, along with slings, are among the oldest forms of artillery. Tribes in remote corners of the world such as Borneo and the Amazon still use these weapons today.
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Manufacturing
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Most dart guns are made out of two types of wood, either bamboo or cane. A suitable piece of wood is selected and carefully hollowed out. The darts are usually carved from reeds. Modern dart guns are made out of metal and plastic and are sophisticated weapons with stocks, scopes and triggers.
Poison
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Tribes developed poison darts to make their weapons more effective. The poison dart frog's skin excretes a toxic chemical when agitated. Wildlife conservationists use tranquilizer darts to capture animals in order to monitor them before releasing them back into wild.
Today
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Dart guns of the blow gun variety as well as the trigger-and-action kind are enjoyed by hunters and target shooters. Special kinds of darts have been developed for recreational uses such as paintball and soft tip.
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