Blowdart

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A blowdart is a pipe-based weapon still employed by some indigenous peoples of the South East Asia, Amazon and Guiana regions of South America to hunt. The darts are usually dipped in curare poison in order to paralyze the target.

The weapon is used by inserting the dart inside of the pipe (known as a blowgun) and uses the force created by one's breath to give the projectile momentum. The blowdart does not need to use darts; the dart is usually made of a hard wood to prevent cracking. Modern materials, such as aluminum or carbon-reinforced plastic, are also used. The back can be made of many materials, such as down, feather tips, and animal fur.