Remember Rubber Band Guns? They've Evolved!
We spent Sunday evening with good friends enjoying Sisko’s excellent chili, Michael’s choice cigars and some fine Napa Valley red wines. The “guy talk” eventually rolled around to how as kids we’d all made rubber band guns — pretty much a piece of wood with a handle and a wooden clothes pin attached to the back or top to hold a stretched rubber band — and how seldom we see kids making them today. It’s probably the fault of merchandising. The unfortunate result? Kids are no longer satisfied with “home made”, not when they can buy this…
…which, of course, leads to this when they need more firepower.
You know, technology is great, but I think our simple “single round” shooters were more fun, easier to make, cost less and, if a “part” broke, we just replaced the firing mechanism (clothes pin) or made a whole new gun! Kids today miss the joy of building something from nothing using only their imaginations, ingenuity and sense of discovery.
Doug
14 Comments
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (14)
I remember making and playing with rb guns. Always plenty of free materials in scrap piles at home construction sites and mom always had the clothes pins. Some of us got creative and made 'double barrel' guns with two clothes pins. We always put the clothes pins on top so you could fire them with our thumb. Toughest part was buddying up with someone who had a paper route so we had plenty of rubber bands.
Kids today don't seem into making things as much as buying things. There wasn't such a big selection of toys available for kids back then and it wouldn't have mattered because no body had extra money then. We developed imaginations by making do and pretending. Kids today are spoiled and lack imagination.
Does anybody actually buy the rubber band machine gun? Maybe regressive adults.
The sad but true thing is that there are parents who will buy these things for their children. By over-indulging their children, they deprive them of full development of their imaginations and fail to prepare them for when they enter young adulthood and can't afford to buy everything their want but can't afford. It is one reason for the rise in credit card debt among young people. it is a terrible epidemic.
Must have....must buy....now!
Cubicle warfare has reached a new plateau!
The Gatling gun seems overkill but the full metal auto would be perfect for my office. Guys are always throwing stuff into each others cubicles and having one of these to retaliate would be awesome!
Big boys and their big toys. Doesn't interest me at all. But shoes.....
I went to the xrea site and they make a ton of models but it's all in Japanese so I can't tell how much these things cost. Anyone know and can you buy them in the U.S.?
Both sites are Japanese. Probly can't get them here.
I NEED one of these! I just texted with a guy who has one and he said it is REALLY HEAVY. Don't care! Want one!
Did he say where he got it?
I will ask him.
He says his daughter is stationed in Japan and brought it to him when she was home on leave. He doesn't know how to get one,
Go to Japan, ship a case home and make some bucks for Christmas!