Kuskokwim Throwing Board



This ia a throwing board from the Kuskokwim area of southwesern Alaska. The original, on display at the Sheldon Jackson Museum in Sitka, Alaska, is 16" long. It was possibly collected by Sheldon Jackson in the 1890s.

Material:
Wood, 16" x 2 1/2" x 3/4"
Dowel, 1/4" x 3/4" (throwing peg)
Dowel, 3/16" x 1 3/4" (finger peg)

Construction:

• Cut out the sides of the board. The end is 7/8" wide, and it's fairly straight for about the first three inches, then recurves out to the sides.
  
  
  
  
• Cut out the grip. The deepest part on the "top" is 3/4", tapering up to 1/4" from the top at the end.
  
  
  
  
• Round off the tip and the handle grip.
  
  
• Thin out the finger rest. Work it down to about 3/8" high at the edge, up to flush on the thumb side.
  
  
  End View
  
  
• Carve out the groove. Make it 3/8" wide where the peg goes if you can (I had to use a 1/2" chisel, so my groove is wider and farther from the tip). Follow the sides of the board, flaring it out. It should be 1/4" deep where the peg goes, rising up to flush with the top of the board about 10" from the handle end.
  
  
• Drill the hole for the index finger. I used a 3/4" drill and just went all the way through, and it's very comfortable for me. Drill whatever is right for your hand. I put the hole 5 3/4" from the handle end of the board, in the center, sloping down towards the back.
  
  
• Round off the edges of the finger hole and sand it down.
  
  
• Round off all the edges and sand smooth.
  
  
• If you want to stain or paint it, do it now before you attach the pegs.
  
  
• At the tip end of the groove, drill a 1/4" hole about 3/8" deep. Drill it at a 45 degree angle sloping back towards the tip.
  
  
• Take the 1/4" peg and round off one end. Glue the other end in the peg hole.
  
  
• On the side of the finger grip, drill a 3/16" hole. I did mine 3 3/8" from the handle end, but do whatever fits your hand. Drill in at a slight angle, going in about 3/4" deep.
  
  
• Simply glue the finger peg in place.
  
  

The original

Mine are the same size, just smaller photos.

My first copy


My second copy
For the hands-on display at the Sheldon Jackson Museum.

This is a joy to hold and throw with. To use it, you put your index finger in the hole from the back, put your middle finger on one side of the peg, and wrap your hand around the grip.

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