Aug 20, 2014


Visitors to the special Heritage Day at the Sharbot Lake Farmers Market on August 16 got a chance to see why throwing razor-sharp wooden-handled instruments around is fast becoming a trendy activity.

Mike Procter gave tomahawk-throwing demonstrations where guests were taught how to properly and safely throw a tomahawk at a wooden target, and it is easy to see why the activity is catching on. Mike Procter has been throwing tomahawks at targets for close to 15 years and this year he took home the Bob Gregory Provincial Tomahawk Trophy after placing first at the Ontario Muzzle Loading Association’s tomahawk throwing competition, which took place in Chatham on the August long weekend. Mike competed against 16 other throwers from across the province and scored nine points after his fourth effort, which clinched his first place win. Procter has won the trophy for the last three consecutive years, every year he has attended.

Procter, who is well known for his love of everything heritage, said he loves the simplicity of the activity. “It doesn't take a whole lot of equipment but requires skill that comes from a lot of practice.” He has a target set up in his backyard and tosses tomahawks all summer long. He said he enjoys the exercise, the concentration involved and the fact that the activity has put him in touch with other like-minded folk who enjoy traditional heritage activities. “Back in the 1700 and 1800's, tomahawk throwing was a pastime. You'd never throw them during a battle because you would lose your weapon but being a good thrower was a form of intimidation for sure.”

Last year when Procter was fundraising for his three daughters' annual Swim of Hope, he set up a tomahawk-throwing fundraising event that attracted several people who have since come together to form a Sharbot Lake group of knife throwers. The group has yet to be named but likely will be called the United Sharbot Lake Knife Throwers. They meet regularly and toss knives at a target, honing their skills and having a bit of social fun. “The guys love throwing knives and now we throw both knives and tomahawks. When the guys first joined they couldn't hit a thing but since we've been meeting they have really improved,” Procter said. The group presently has five members and is open to anyone. Interested parties are invited to contact Mike Procter at 613-279-2572.

Currently the members are in the process of making their own traditional throwing knives from tempered steel. They will be longer and heavier than modern throwing knives. The targets used are playing cards mounted on wooden stumps and points are awarded for hitting the target and/or hitting or cutting the card. Safety when tossing lethal metal-bladed tools around is key and the throwing booth at the market included a back screen as well as a roped-off throwing section.

When he is not tossing tomahawks around Procter also makes bows and atladdles, which are long flexible spears that are thrown with a stick. Procter also tans hides and makes all of his own heritage equipment.

Also present for Heritage Day at the market was heritage enthusiast Bob Miller, who was showing off rifles, muskets and other historical items, all hand-made by himself. His display included common heritage trade items like copper kettles, woolen blankets, hatchets, axes, bone powder horns and other horn containers, which Miller said were the “plastic of the day and used for things needed to be kept dry like gun powder, salt and pepper and more.”

Miller gave heritage fire-making demonstrations with flint and steel and shredded hemp, and visitors to his booth had a chance to try it themselves.

Miller is a member of the Pioneer Gathering group and he said he became involved with heritage activities when he fell in love with the history that got us here. “What particularly interested me was how people came here with practically nothing and still managed to survive and thrive.” Miller's display along with Procter's tomahawk tossing booth attracted numerous curious visitors to the special Heritage Day market.

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