My son's birthday was this week and I'm so excited I just had to share this with the forum...

Some recent threads here got me thinking about my (misspent) youth and some of the activities we enjoyed back then. In particular, the hours of fun that came with owning a simple slingshot. So after some serious thought I set about to research what was available today and if it might be a good gift for my son.

Well it turns out that Trumark is still in business and going strong. For those of you from my era might remember, these are the folks that put wrist-brace slingshots on the map. I checked the other makers but kept coming back to this one and finally ordered it...

Trumark FS-1 at SlingshotsUSA

But as you might imagine, I got so caught up in the idea of sharing a part of my past with my son (and daughter) that I ordered two. Along with safety glasses, ammo, etc.

Fast forward several days and the package arrives. I've been teasing my son and giving hints all week. He finally tears into it and his eyes light up. I was half worried that in a day of video games and iPods that a lowly slingshot will not have much appeal to him. Boy was I wrong!

The entire family had the obligatory discussions around safety, rules, responsibility, etc. But then we spent some of the best quality time we have ever had together... for the next three hours.

We shot, laughed, shot, competed, shot, talked, shot some more. And wouldn't you know it, the little $#^@ outshoots me and knocks down more plastic bottles! -huge smile- We had gone to a place where folks walk past and the smiles of rememberance and admiration on parents and grandparents faces was something to behold.

At one point during all this he turns to me and says "Dad, this is way better than any video game" The look in his eyes about choked me up. And I suppose I should mention how he gets out of bed later that night, comes upstairs and hugs me and says thanks. Then without another word plods back to his bed.

Today my daughter is home too and we are already talking about building a simple plywood backstop/catch. She can't wait to try them out!

The bottom line? Your mileage may vary, but this has to go down in my history as the best $10.95 I've ever spent!

The lowly slingshot... enjoy the simple gifts life offers,

Excellent job, dad!

-Blast

Yep, brings back the memories. Good job.

The best things in life do not have to cost a fortune and giving yourself is the very best gift anyone can give. Being together as a family and having fun is what it is all about. Good job!


Pete

I had one as a kid. I helped keep the crows out of the corn with it.
Great gift MedB!

Nice Job MedB!

I was slingshot crazy as a kid and introduced my son to one at about age 10 with similar results. Timeless

Mike

P.S. After many many attempts I even managed to get a grouse with my wrist-rocket while moose hunting about 10 years ago, it tasted extra good.

I have a lifelong friend in England.

We met when his dad was working in California for a year and he

attended my Anglican school. We had slingshots and had great fun.

he also got a degree in archaeology, only he is one of those

guys you see building medieval seige machines and lobbing

boulders across the countryside or testing greatbows against

breastplate. I am sooooo jealous.

That was great. I hope to be able to share a similiar memory with my son when he is of age. Just have to get it past my over paranoid wife. She isn't a fan of anything that shoots.

Thanks, all.

I hear you, Mike. I faced the very same challenge. It's one of the reasons it took me so long to do this. Agree with her that it's not a toy, and requires maturity and supervision. But that it will help teach valuable lessons and share part of your past with a new generation. Good luck.

Use of slingshots is very common at Cub Scout day camps. They'll typically set of a shooting range with all sorts of stuff to plink at, and then use dog kibble (can't remember which brands are nice and round) as ammunition. The idea is that they can leave it on the ground outdoors and the environment is unharmed beyond the temporarily fat stomachs of a few happy racoons.

Its a great way to start young folks learning the rules of firearm safety without taking someones head off.

You should see what some unaware 11-13 year olds do with 22's at summer camp. The shooting range directors take the safety aspects veeeeery seriously and I've seen 11-year old boys kicked out of the area for the week in tears.