DARK BAT

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DanKung Black Bat Review

- A Tale of Three Bats -

Bats are beautiful! They are so beautiful that a few of months ago I ordered my third DanKung Bat slingshot. The fork loop design on the Bat is one of the main reasons that I like the frame so much. It just makes sense. The loops are not overly exaggerated and they provide a dished top to keep the tubes from rolling or slipping off during the shot. The bottom corners on the fork rings are well rounded to allow a comfortable thumb placement without annoying points or sharp edges. Finally, the tube slots are positioned at the base of the loop, right at the fork junction, which makes application of rubber fork sleeves a simple task rather than a frustrating burden.

My first Bat frame was the original design with a plain looped handle. The size on this frame is very similar to the small DanKung Palm Thunder. Unfortunately, when wrapped with paracord, the handle width was just a wee bit narrow for comfortable pinky clearance. Tennis racket over-grip worked out fine for a wrap and it provides a slip-free covering. The “Bat-1” design is great for someone looking for a traditional type handle, minimal size and an improved fork tip. The frame is no longer listed in the DK e-catalogue but they might be able to source one out for you, if you had the desire.

My second Bat was the DanKung Bat Metal frame, also known as the “Bat-2”. This second edition has the same fork and same loop tip as the Bat-1 but the handle is quite different. The #2 version has a slightly longer and more contoured handle with barreled sides and a circular pinky hole. Some slingers might call this an upgrade version. I posted a review on this frame a while ago so I won’t go into further detail here.

My latest Bat frame is the new Black Bat. This model has several small differences when compared to the other two. The first obvious difference is the greyish, non-polished metal finish. This is the main reason why I ordered the new frame. The other Bats are comfortable and fine shooters but sometimes, when the sun is shining from a certain angle, I get an annoying glare on the fork tip when aiming. The Black Bat does away with this problem. The lightly textured dark grey surface prevents glare but is smooth enough that it doesn’t cause tube wear. It’s a different look but one that I enjoy. There are several other DK frames that share this same “black” finish. The Black Palm Thunder was my first introduction to this finish process so I was well aware of what I was getting. The grey finish is very durable and doesn’t wear off or take on a shine with heavy use.

The Black Bat basically has the same fork tips as the Bat-1&2 but with a bit more pronounced dishing. The loop holes are slightly more elongated and the ear itself sticks out a fraction more than the other two examples. The differences are very slight.

The fork aiming notches on the “black” frame are a feature not found on my other two Bats. The notches are positioned directly above the fork tips, when the frame is held sideways (ala gangsta style). When at full draw, you will see the notch right between the parallel tubes coming off the fork. The notches work as designed but I wanted something brighter for my aging eyes so I glued short sections of fibre optic rod into the notches. One side has florescent green while the other has orange.

The handle on the new Bat is the common traditional loop style. It’s a comfortable size and it’s wide enough to give ample pinky room when wrapped with paracord. The handle length is a bit longer than the Bat-1, giving an overall frame length that falls between the two other models.

None of the Bats are overly heavy for stainless frames. The Black frame is the heaviest at about 10 grams more than the Bat Metal (Bat-2). The added weight is likely due to the slightly thicker cross section on this frame (0.32” vs 0.30”) .

Measurements
Overall length = 4.78” (121.4 mm)
Width across frame at fork loops = 3.40” (86.4 mm)
Width between forks (at loops) = 1.62” (41.1 mm)
Fork loop outside diameter = 0.89 (22.6 mm)
Width at top of wrapped handle = 0.93” (23.6 mm)
Width on outside of bare handle (at widest) = 1.51” (38.4 mm)
Frame thickness = 0.32” (8.1 mm)
Total weight with tubes = 5.6 oz (160 g)

Metallurgy
Fe = 72.49%
Cr = 15.94%
Ni = 10.40%
Mn = 0.79%
Zr = 0.38%

Fe = iron, Cr = chromium, Ni = nickel, Mn = manganese, Zr = zirconium

The metal composition indicates a 304 stainless steel alloy. The chromium content on my example is about 3% less than the other 304 stainless DK frames that I had tested. The nickel content is approximately 2% higher.

Tubes
The Black Bat is no different than other looped tube frames and will handle all the common skinny Malaysian tubing such as 1632, 2040, 1842, 1745, 2050, etc. The tubes can be shot with single strand, full doubles or a pseudo-taper configuration. My current favourite for the Black Bat is 6 5/8” full double 2040s with a 4-hole hole pouch. With my 32” draw length I’m getting right around 200-205 fps with the premium grade 2040 and 3/8” steel ammo. The thicker Theraband or surgical tubing will also work with the Bat’s oval ring holes.

Overall Opinion
The Black Bat is becoming one of my favourite flat frame slingshots. As mentioned, the fork tips are a welcome characteristic and the unpolished finish is both attractive and functional for high sunlight shooting. The simple fibre optic inserts yield a more visible reference for improved aiming. Overall the frame feels great to hold and my accuracy is right where it should be. I’m happy with it 

Compact, light weight, accurate and attractive, I carry my black bat on most days, I shoot 6mm and 8mm steel balls, its the best fun I've had in years, I recommend buying it when it's back in stock.

Here is another alternative for the Bat-2. The handle is wrapped down to the pinky hole with Wilson overgrip. The overgrip is a thin wrap that gives a slip-free gripping surface. The tubes are double 2040 with a homemade pouch (2 holes per side). I think I'll keep it this way for a while.

Pic 1 --- Bat-1 and Bat-2 handles wrapped with Wilson brand "Overgrip".
Pic 2 --- Bat-2 as it arrived from DanKung with paracord on the handle.

Several years ago I purchased the first edition Bat-1 frame and it’s still worthy enough to stay in my collection. This original Bat-1 has a simple loop style handle that is similar to the small DK Palm Thunder. The Bat-2 frame is what I recently received from DanKung and is the subject for this review. The Bat-2 is a fairly new product addition that they now call the “Bat Metal Hunting Slingshot”, likely because the Bat-1 isn’t on their web site these days. This newer style Bat-2 is basically the Bat-1 with what might be called a handle upgrade. The handle is a bit longer and has a contoured shape on the sides to fit the hand better. The pinky hole is still maintained but the handle also has a contour on the bottom that will fit your pinky if you choose to wrap your hand around the grip and forgo using the hole. I found that it works fine with both holding styles.

The DK Bat-2 is a nice little cast stainless frame without fancy spikes and uncomfortable sharp edges. It’s a polished frame with the desirable dished fork tips to hold the tubes in position when shooting. Frames with large rounded fork loops have been known to be somewhat problematic with tubes rolling or positioning differently for each shot. The Bat’s dished fork tips hold the tubes and keep this from happening. I find the forks to be very comfortable for a finger wrap and thumb brace hold. The lower part of the fork loop is nicely rounded to give a sweet spot for the thumb to rest. The loop holes are slightly elongated sideways (ovals) rather than being round in shape. This gives a lower ring profile which I prefer. The handle on the Bat-2 is quite narrow at the top with a ¾” measurement at the neck. I find this works great for a snug finger wrap with my medium sized hands. My preference has always been for a smaller style handle and this one fits the preference. As was mentioned above, the outside edges on the handle form a comfortable barrel shape that flows into a pinky nook at the bottom. You need to see the pictures to fully appreciate the shape. Overall I find the Bat-2 to be both visually pleasing and functional.

The Bat-2 comes with rubber sleeves on the forks and a paracord wrapped handle that stops at the pinky hole. Unfortunately the barreled shape on the handle creates a bit of a problem for retaining the cord. After only a few shots my cord started slipping down the grip. It was easily removed to expose the sweet little handle beneath. The bare handle would be welcome for someone who prefers the slenderness. I found that it shot well without a covering. I also briefly tried a thin tennis racket wrap and this might be the way I go with this frame. Wilson Sports Company has a thin wrap called “Ultra Wrap – Comfort Overgrip” that was designed to be applied over a thicker tennis racket grip. On a stainless slingshot this thin overgrip provides a slip-free surface if you find that your hands get too sweaty for the bare frame. You can wrap the entire handle or leave the pinky hole exposed. The overgrip only costs about a dollar a roll and is simple to apply. One small drop of superglue will keep it secure (no glue on the frame). Another option is to use the supplied tape label to keep the wrap from unwinding.

I mentioned in other reviews that I am a fan of small slingshot frames. The Bat-2 definitely fits into this “small” category. The frame’s fork section is very close in size to the little Palm Thunder. The original Bat-1 had a short handle like the PT but this Bat-2 has a little more length but still falls under 5” overall. The frame is very close in size to the DK General-II and fits my average western hand very well. The frame length provides good leverage without excess handle hanging below the lower edge of my palm.

Measurements
Overall length = 4.90” (125 mm)
Width across frame at fork loops = 3.29” (83.5 mm)
Width between forks (at widest) = 1.73” (44 mm)
Fork loop outside diameter = 0.84 (21.5 mm)
Fork loop inside diameter = 0.44” x 0.35” (11 x 9 mm oval hole)
Width at top of bare handle = 0.74” (19 mm)
Width on outside of bare handle (at middle) = 1.12” (28.5 mm)
Frame thickness = 0.30” (7.5 mm)
Total weight with wraps and tubes = 5.1 oz (145 g)

Metallurgy
Cr = 19.76%
Fe = 71.29%
Mn = 0.78%
Ni = 8.17%

Cr = chromium, Fe = iron, Ni = nickel, Mn = manganese

Metal content was tested with an Olympus GoldXpert analyzer. According to online data, a 304 stainless alloy should have 18-20% chromium, 8.0-10.5% nickel, less than 2% manganese and possibly some traces of non-metals. The balance of the mixture would be iron. The Bat-2 frame seems to be right for the 304 stainless steel claim.

Tubes & Flatbands
Like all DK “looped band” frames, the Bat-2 will easily accommodate the thin Malaysian tubes such as 1632, 2040, and 1745. The skinny Malaysian tubes can be shot with single strand on each side, full doubles, or even in a pseudo taper style (partial doubles). One of my favourite combinations is single 1745s measuring 6 ½” -7” long with 1” loops at the forks. With 3/8” steel ammo this combination delivers 190-200 fps with my 32” draw length and shooting style. The thicker Theraband tubing also works with the Bat’s oval ring holes. I quickly checked some red, yellow and green Theraband examples and they seem to wrap into the fork holes with a good fit. Single strands in these thicker tubings might be a chore to draw but they should work fine. I also checked for flatband installation and found the ½” x 5/16” rubber stoppers (plugs) will easily mold to the fork holes after using a squirt of rubbing alcohol for lube. These plugs will give you the option of Ocularis style install for using narrow flatbands on this frame. The flatbands would be held in place by slipping the plugs into the fork ears and pinning the band between the plug and the inside of the ear. The Bat-2 design has enough room for flatbands up to 5/8” wide.

Overall Opinion
The Bat-2 is a nice little flat (non-ergo) pocket-able frame with a few desirable features that are not found on many other cast frames. Shooting is comfortable with the thumb on the lower fork ring, index finger just below the upper ring and pinky in the dedicated handle hole. I’m still experimenting with my pinky wrapped around the handle rather than in the hole.

The narrow 3.3” fork width allows me to aim at the target using the junction point of the tube and fork while anchoring on the inside of my ear (sideways shooting). This is how I aim all my small frames.

If you like small stainless frames then this one might be worth adding to your list. I’m now thinking about the Black Bat for my next purchase. Ahhh, it never ends 