Fishing, Hunting and Camping
Tips, articles and reviews by people like you.
Hunting Slingshots – The History Behind them
Since they require no real mechanism or technology to use, there is often debate as to the history of slings and slingshots so when were they actually introduced? In truth, many historians have seen evidence of slings throughout history as weapons when early man would need to hunt in order to survive. Over time, different variations of sling were used until the mid-1800s when we saw the first slingshot.
In 1839, Charles Goodyear invested vulcanized rubber and this is thought to be the starting point for the modern day slingshot. As we reached the 1860s, the weapon had gained a reputation for being a tool used for vandalism and juvenile activities. With a ‘Y’ shaped body and simple rubber strips, the weapon became a ‘do-it-yourself’ tool.
In terms of slingshots that were made commercial and available to buy, this is thought to date back to around 1918. However, they weren’t really a popular option until ‘Zip-Zip’, the cast iron model, was introduced to the market after World War II. Later in the 1940s, the National Slingshot Association was formed and newer models were coming to market including the ‘Wham-O’ slingshot.
After the formation of the association, new clubs and competitions started to take place across the United States. Suddenly, the reputation of being a weapon for juvenile delinquents was changing as four from every five sales came from men aged over 30 years.
In the fifties, the slingshots improved once again with various additions and changes including bent aluminum alloy rods that formed a brace over the wrist to give support. Furthermore, surgical rubber tubing was used in the ‘Wrist Rocket’ rather than the flat bands that had been used to that point. Since the fifties, the materials used have got stronger and there have been many features that can be added such as sights and different tools.
Due to the simple resources required to build a slingshot, they have also been used as military weapons throughout the decades. As recent as 2002, a propaganda video was released by Saddam Hussein who discussed using the weapon against invading forces. Additionally, slingshots are still used today when it comes to launching unarmed aerial vehicles (UAVs) into the sky. With two crew members as the fork, a big elastic cord will stretch between to launch the aircraft.
Of course, there are many dangers of the weapon if not used correctly and there has been much discussion over the years about their legality. In some jurisdictions, including New York, arm braced slingshots are prohibited and have been made a Class-4 misdemeanor.
As you can see, there has been many developments of the slingshot throughout time to finally reach where we are today with various different materials, sights, and additions to each model!
For more information about hunting slingshots, visit us at our official site.
Gifts for The Outdoorsman in Your Life
Some of us have a regular man in our lives but some of us are lucky enough to have an outdoorsman in our life. When trying to find a unique gift for a hunter, it seems like we always end up on some cheesy “redneck” novelty items that are made by people that have no clue on what someone that truly loves the outdoors would like. So today, I came up with a short list of gifts that a true hunter would like. Read below for some great gift ideas for the outdoorsman in your life.
Camouflage Rings
Camo rings are the perfect gift for any occasion. Your outdoorsman will enjoy the gift so much that he won’t care about wearing jewelry! Camouflage rings are also a perfect way for a couple of outdoors people to show that they love each other when it comes to wedding rings. Camouflage rings come in a variety of different options from laser-etched hunting themes to King’s Snow Camo.
Real Silver Bullets
Silver is one of those items that never completely loses value. Buy your outdoorsman stocks and he probably won’t know exactly what to do with them, buy him silver and he will be set to trade it should anything happen to the economy. Until that point your outdoorsman will enjoy the craftsmanship of his silver bullets that are made from .999 silver. The bullets are available in a variety of calibers and the price fluctuates based on the price of silver at the time.
Bullet Bottle Openers
If you are looking for a little cheaper options, here it is. Does the hunter you are buying for like beer? What better way is there for an outdoorsman to open a bottle with a bullet bottle opener? These bottle openers look like real bullets (because it is real) but they have no primers or explosives of any kind, which means they are completely inert and safe to use as bottle openers. They are also lead free so that it is safe to use on bottles that you will be drinking out of. This package offers a .308 caliber keychain opener and a 50 caliber BMG opener.
Buck TravelMate Kit
Outdoorsman love spending time outdoors and the Buck TravelMate will help them enjoy eating outdoors even more. This kit comes with multiple tools that all fit into one sheath providing the outdoorsman with everything they need for their meal. The main tool in this kit is the spreader knife. It is versatile and can be used for spreading your favorite toppings or slicing your favorite foods. The serration helps it chop through bread and other tough foods. Inside the sheath is a second tool, a fork that does more than just allow you to spear your food. This fork is also a can opener, bottle opener, screw driver, and grill scraper all together.
Zippo 4-in-1 Woodsman Tool
The Zippo 4-in-1 woodsman tool is an amazing tool that will make your outdoorsman enjoy outdoors tasks even more. The primary role of the tool is to be used as a hatchet. It can help you split logs, cut small trees, or whatever other task your outdoorsman’s heart desires. Also featuring a saw, the tool is capable of cutting small trees with a diameter of up to four inches. The back of the tool acts as a hammer allowing you to drive in tent stakes or hit in nails while the bottom of the tool has a loop to help you pull your tent stakes from the ground. To ensure safety while carrying the tool there is an orange cover that snaps on to keep the blade from cutting anything and to keep the tool noticeable.