A Bola is a three-legged spider sling. It is made up of three lengths of cord attached to a rock on either end to weight it down. These cords are bound together at one end.
The three joined lengths, weighted at each end, are swung overhead and released just before the weighted ends are directly in front of your face in the direction of your target.
diy bola with made with paracord and rock weights
As the Bola travels through the air the three legs spread and wrap around the target. The weighted end can also inflict a heavy strike to the body of a game animal or bird.
I certainly made these as a child using some heavy ball-type buttons I swiped from my grandmother’s sewing machine.
I started by tying thread to one button, and swinging and launching it at the peach trees in the front yard.
From there it seemed logical to attach more than one of these single “bolas” together. As a child designing a toy, I have to assert that humans must have discovered the bola in the same way.
The bola is an action diy weapon. Viewed in slow motion this weapon is as impressive as it is effective.
The weights can be as basic as rocks of similar size, with groves through the middle, to attach the cordage to.
A more reliable attachment is to wrap the rocks in leather, canvas, or material. Tie off the ends, and attach those to your lengths of cordage.
Sand can be packaged in the same way or lead weight; these packages will add balance to your bola rig.
History of the Bola
The bola is a primitive hunting weapon so simple that, at first glance, it would seem improbable that it couldn’t have been invented earlier.
Physical evidence is vague as the leather or sinew cords that joined the weighted ends to make the Bola would have certainly rotted over any length of time.
However, the Americas have a rich history of using the Bola dating back to 2,500 BC – 3,000 BC.
Inca and other South American tribes have a well-documented history of bola use as well as what is now the USA.
The Inuit Eskimos have been using the bola to take down birds in flight, especially the migratory waterfowl that visit the tundra.
The Chinese have used the bola over the centuries with examples from many dynasties on display.
Overview Of the Bola
The bola, in my opinion, is vastly underrated in the survival community. Its effectiveness cannot be underestimated.
- Once built the bola requires the minimum of skill to throw. Young or old can make one.
- It can be used to take down birds in flight (ducks, geese), and small to medium game animals. It’s also effective against larger animals when the legs are targeted…