Bamboo Weapons

Much of the history of bamboo is steeped in the practical uses that it has and what bamboo has been used for over the centuries. The one thing that has been slowly declining in the history of bamboo is the weapons made of bamboo. While they are no longer relevant, bamboo weapons were once the standard in many parts of the world, and history buffs are still intrigued by the use of this plant in making many different weapons.

Versatility

One of the main reasons bamboo was used frequently for weapons was because of its versatile nature. Strong, bamboo provided an excellent base for many weapons like staffs and clubs. Its flexibility made bamboo a good choice for weapons that needed to bend like slingshots and bows.

Bamboo was also plentiful. Unlike metal, bamboo was easily carved or treated, then made into a weapon, while metal had to be heated and beaten into shape. Bamboo was also quite versatile because it could be the base for a handheld weapon or a projectile. The versatility of bamboo coupled with the ingenuity of the human race is also seen in all the types of weapons that were created with bamboo in the past, and can still be found now, though most are replicas.

Types of Weapons

As there were many different situations in which people were required to defend themselves or were out hunting, there were also very many different kinds of bamboo weapons developed for those purposes. Those weapons included:

• Blow guns
• Darts
• Bows
• Arrows
• Stakes
• Wooden swords
• Slingshots
• Staffs
• Fire arrows

As strong as steel and more plentiful than wood, bamboo seemed like a natural choice for those who had nothing better to use. But as a versatile weapon, there was nothing more useful centuries ago than bamboo. While they probably won't make a comeback, bamboo weapons will be popular collector's items for a very long time.

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