mr=punch
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As I see it from my side of the fenceWell chaps and lasses
I am no expert where catapults are concerned and it is true that any fork bent bit of metal, welded metal, carved wood or cut board will all do the job.
True also that different band whether they are square, round, flat or tubed will all do what is asked of them in different powers and consistancy.
So now it is all down to what you find personally pleasing to the eye and also up to the job now there is a school of thought that says as long as it does the job that is all that matters and of course this is a valid point, then you get the technical achievement class that is way beyond does the job and gives the maker a certain satisfaction when shooting a totally one of a kind self made catty and I am sure the generous sharing of these designs is a real pleasure.
Now we come to the cattys that are works of art I am really into timber and love the fact that even boards cut from the same tree are never exactly the same even veneer that is cut just 1mm thick will have differences even though they may not be readily apparent to the naked eye, so every natural fork, board cut, carved catty is unique and being so is a work of art obviously some will be more desireable than others depending on the pattern of the timber used and of course this will dictate the price.
All of the Milboro, Sureshot, deadshot and many more of the older type cattys are now desireable because of sentimental values IE I had one of those when I was growing up type of thing I sold my milboro for £60 on ebay some years ago along with my Mamod steam engines and to be honest I was shocked but pleased at the ammount of money they made.
I have seen many re-casts of the old type cattys at various country fairs with nice timber/bone/horn handles with pretty bolsters and pins in the fashion of knife scales but bdooly hell at £80 plus for a bit of cast ally or brass well??
Now what you really have to decide is if you desire a cheaply mass produced chines dankun catty or a finely crafted english made one off no two are the same totally unique catty then there is really no competition and if you are moderately clever you could make your own works of art.
And for those of you that haen't seen it yet here is my work of art a Romany made totally one off as the horn used to make it will never be repeated and it has a lovely carving of a blacktip on it just to make sure.
punch
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