Primitive, practical minimalism - "Game string" - tying without knots - belt toggle / netsuke

[2012 01 09]
Rediscovering the square wheel... :-) ... Actually : rediscovering some kind of toggle / belt toggle, netsuke, ...

I was reading an interresting paper [see references below] about rabbit sticks and something called "game string". I had to try some kind of "experiment archaelogy" in order to understand the following passage : "Ceramic discs do provide a surface against which string can be hitched around itself and drawn taut, eliminating the need to knot the string to hold objects in place. Because the discs can move freely along the string, quick adjustments are possible to accommodate the addition of subsequently dispatched prey."

I could find an practical interpretation to the first sentence. But the second sentence remains to be illustrated (without using "preys", if possible). I couldn't find how the movement of the disk along the string allows quick adjustements. Quick adjustements are obviously possible (no knot ...) without using the free moves of the discs. So... the "Game string" must offer more wonderful primitive tricks... still to be rediscovered...

material : ~paracord, cow horn perforated discs, rabbit sticks, atlatls, arrows, ...

The inspiring paper :
"A Game String and Rabbit Stick Cache from Borrego Valley, San Diego County"
1998, Koerper, Henry C, Cypress College
Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology, 20(2)
http://escholarship.org/uc/item/69q7r0zs

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• toggle
• netsuke
• chui-tzu
• perforated
• discs
• rabbit
• sticks
• string
• belt
• 根付
• Нэцкэ
• 坠子

[AllergicHobbit]

Dispatched rabbits can be hung on the string, by one or both legs, in the same way as the other objects, I imagine?

[freejutube]

@AllergicHobbit

Yes, that is more or less what says the paper about "game string" and rabbit sticks. What I can't find is how the fact that the discs can slide along the string makes the device quickly adjustable. My quick adjustments are done by unrolling and re-rolling the string around the base of one of the toggle. I don't use much the other toggle. There must be something more to do with the 2 toggles.

[AllergicHobbit]

@freejutube Maybe you could drill two holes in each disc? That way the disc can slide on the string but will have more resistance?

[freejutube]

@AllergicHobbit

Thanks, that's a good idea.

The perforated discs described in the paper have only one perforation each.

And according to the author, the mobility of those discs (with one perforation only) allows adjustements. I'll try to make more experiments and see what comes out.

[steintanz]

Very interestig method. I am very sure I've seen sth similar before also using disc, but unfortunately I can't remember where or what that was ...

"the "Game string" must offer more wonderful primitive tricks... still to be rediscovered... " -- maybe it's useful for butchering an animal as well?

[freejutube]

@steintanz

Yes, it's the generic idea of "toggle". The discoid shape is more useful than other shapes in one aspect (or more ?) : no need to worry about the orientation of the toggle. The "game string", used to carry preys, resembling a strangling device, is an ugly dreadful looking device, as its name suggests... The paper I refered to also reports testing it as a "bola" or as an aid to fly rabbit sticks. Killing devices... nothing wonderful, I must admit... But as a simple "belt" it's OK.

[gotrocksinhead]

very interesting! good ideas

[greenjack1959l]

not yet but I will be looking at the possibilities, great stuff your doing, look forward to more

[greenjack1959l]

not yet but I will be looking at the possibilities, great stuff your doing, look forward to more

[AllergicHobbit]

Cool!