Slingshot HISTORY

NOTE: Work in Progress - 12/2024

 

The slingshot has a humble beginning and fascinating history with roots stretching back to ancient times, evolving from a simple hunting tool to a modern recreational sport. Here's a timeline of its journey across different cultures and eras:

Ancient Origins:
 * The Sling: The precursor to the slingshot, the sling was a weapon used in ancient warfare and hunting. It consisted of a strap or pouch to hold a projectile, which was swung and released to launch the projectile with great force. Slings were used by various civilizations, including the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Chinese.
 * The Gastraphetes: This ancient Greek invention, dating back to around 400 BC, is considered a type of crossbow and a precursor to the catapult. It was a powerful weapon used in siege warfare.

 

History of the Slingshot: A Timeline

1839: Charles Goodyear accidentally discovers vulcanization in Woburn, Massachusetts, a process that stabilizes rubber and changed the modern world. This innovation revolutionizes the production of various rubber products, including tires and, importantly, slingshot bands.

1840s: Vulcanized rubber becomes widely available, paving the way for the modern slingshot.

1860s: The first recognizable slingshots appear, typically made with forked branches and rubber strips. These are primarily homemade and used for hunting small game and, unfortunately, sometimes vandalism.

1880: Orville Curtis receives a patent for a "catapult" that can shoot pellets or arrows. This design features a band attachment that foreshadows the modern GZK Xiao Fork style.

1882: C.F. Pohlman and H. Thompson patent a "toy" catapult with a handle resembling slingshots made by The Southern Armoury (UK) in the 1920s.

1887: L.B. Myers patents a toy "sling" with a slotted band attachment. The "slotted" design has impacted many brands of slingshots, including the iconic Wham-O in the 1960s.

1897: D.S. Green patents a slingshot design incorporating a coil spring to reinforce the connection between the rubber and the arms, which is a similar concept to the modern band clips.

1905: R.S. Hill files a patent for a toy "catapult," which is granted in 1906.

1916: John R. Calhoun patents a slingshot with a metal frame, an angular handle, and a unique hook-based band attachment system (US1187344A). This design showcases the diverse construction and band attachment methods being explored during this period.

1918:

  • The first commercially produced slingshot, the Zip-Zip, is made from cast iron. This is now a rare collector's item.
  • A.R. De Pass patents a "SLING SHOT" with an "over the top" band attachment style that influences most modern slingshots.

1920: J. Smithwich patents the first folding slingshot with a hollow handle for storage. This design influences many modern folding slingshots, including the Snipersling's S-Pangolin.

1922: Illustrated World magazine publishes an article on how to make a slingshot for shooting arrows. The frame design is similar to the modern Pickle Fork Shooter (PFS), a design made popular by Darrell Guillory (Dgui on YouTube).

1930s: Teenager Rufus Hussey begins crafting his famous handmade beanshooter from dogwood in Randolph County, North Carolina, earning him the nickname "Beanshooter." His influence on the slingshot community is immense, with his dedication to craftsmanship and natural materials inspiring many modern slingshot makers.

1933: L.R. Parris files a patent for a "SLING SHOT" with a slotted band attachment, influencing wooden slingshot designs of the 1940s, including the iconic Wham-O Sportsman.

1935: L.R. Parris is granted a patent for the Slingo, a "toy" slingshot made from bent steel wire.

1940s:

1945:

1946:

  • Popular Science magazine features Jim Gasque, a slingshot builder and hunter from North Carolina, who popularized the "archery" style of shooting sideways. This style of shooting will come to impact the sideways or "gangster" style of holding the frame horizontally for accuracy.
  • Slingshots gain popularity as recreational items after World War II, aided by the surplus of latex rubber tubing.

1947: W.C. Wright files a patent for the first wrist-braced "SLINGSHOT", a design that becomes popular in the 1950s.

1948:

  • Wham-O begins mass production of its iconic wooden slingshot, the Sportsman. This design sparked a wave of Wham-O clones, including the DeLong Ranger, Lohman Hardwood, and Bullseye.
  • The Hodge/Mulders Catapult is patented and later influenced the Victor 20 and 10 slingshots from Victor Animal Trap Company.
  • John Milligan, a Detroit missile worker, was featured in a magazine, begins producing the Milligan Special hunting slingshot. The design, with its distinctive grip lines, was ahead of its time and resembles the modern Goblet EVO from Catty Shack.

1949: W.W. Osborne files a patent for a "SLINGSHOT" with a magazine, which is granted in 1953.

1950s:

  • Carl Tinker produces the iconic Killdear and Dearslayer slingshot using a homemade metal molding machine in Lapeer, Michigan.
  • The famous Lukens slingshot is produced by Lukens Aluminum Company and comes with a arrow rest.

1951: K.Z. Huscar patents an ammunition centering pouch with a small hole for alignment, a predecessor to the modern centered punch hole pouches.

1953: A.J. Ticher patents a method for attaching latex bands to a slingshot to reduce breakage.

1954: Saunders Archery introduces the Double Eagle, the first slingshot with multiple bands.

1956: Kalman Z. Haszar patents the iconic "SLING SHOT" - The Scope Shot, designed for shooting at a 90-degree angle.

1960s:

  • Slingshot popularity declined due to a combination of factors: New and exciting toys emerged, competing for attention. The image of the slingshot suffered due to its association with mischief-makers like Dennis the Menace. These factors, along with changing social values, led to a decline in the popularity of slingshots.
  • Rufus Hussey continues to build his reputation as a skilled shooter and craftsman. He also started signing and numbering his "beanshooters".
  • Chinese manufacturers begin producing metal wire slingshots with round ears, similar to style of the modern Dankung designs.

1976: The National Catapultry Association (NCA) is co-founded by Rodney Wolf and Kent Shepard. This marks a significant step in organizing the slingshot community and promoting slingshots as a legitimate sport.

1978: Rufus Hussey appears on The Traveler TV show, reintroducing slingshots to a new generation. This appearance helps to revive interest in slingshots and positions Hussey as a respected figure in the community.

1980: Kent Shepard organizes the National Slingshot Championship in Toulon, Illinois, which is televised on Wide World of Sports. This event brings slingshotting into the mainstream and inspires a new wave of enthusiasts. Richard "BLUE" Skeen won the tournament and became an instant living legend.

1986: Rufus Hussey , at 67 years old appears on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, further solidifying his legacy and promoting slingshots to a broad audience.

2000s:

  • The National Slingshot Association (NSA), led by Richard "Chief AJ" Huffer, attempts to unite the slingshot community.
  • Chinese slingshot enthusiasts collaborate with manufacturers to improve slingshot quality. This collaboration leads to the development of high-quality slingshots like the Dankung 8mm steel rod model.

2003:

2004:

  • The Slingshot Forum is created, providing a platform for slingshot enthusiasts to connect and share knowledge. This online community plays a crucial role in the resurgence of slingshots worldwide.
  • Bill "Tex Shooter" Herriman won again at the National Slingshot Tournament.

2005:

2008:

2009:

2010: Jim Harris, designer of the Stratagem Pocket Slingshot (SPS), wins the East Coast Slingshot Tournament.

2011:

  • THE Slingshot Forum started their online forum, not to be confused with the "Slingshot Forum" founded in 2004.
  • The U.K. Catapult Association Forum is launched for slingers in Europe.
  • Nathan Masters starts his YouTube channel, FlippinOut Slingshots, providing valuable educational content and promoting slingshot safety and responsible use.
  • Jim Harris won the East Coast Slingshot Tournament 2 years in a row, using his famous SPS.

2012:

  • Simpleshot Slingshot launches, offering slingshot education and products. Their innovative designs, like the Axiom and Scout, become popular worldwide.
  • The Chinese Slingshot Club Champion League begins holding national competitions.
  • Ray Bazonski wins the East Coast Slingshot Tournament using the Axiom Champ that he designed with Nathan Masters of Simple Shot Slingshot.

2013: Ray Bazonski wins the East Coast Slingshot Tournament again for the second time.

2014:

  • Wasp Slingshot launches, producing high-quality polycarbonate slingshots. Their innovative designs, like the UniphoXX and Enzo, push the boundaries of slingshot technology.
  • Ukrainians use slingshots in the Maidan Revolution, demonstrating the slingshot's potential as a tool for resistance.
  • Ray Bazonski wins the East Coast Slingshot Tournament for the third consecutive year.

2015:

  • Chris Graffin starts his YouTube channel, promoting his Catapult Carnage brand and pushing the limits of slingshot accuracy with his Titan Hunter series.
  • Nathan Masters of SimpleShot wins the East Coast Slingshot Tournament.

2016:

  • Chen Fei of GZK Band introduces flat bands and TTF shooting to China, revolutionizing slingshot technology and shooting techniques in the country.
  • Nathan Masters of SimpleShot wins the East Coast Slingshot Tournament for the second consecutive year.

2017: Nathan Masters of SimpleShot wins the East Coast Slingshot Tournament for the third consecutive year.

2018:

2019:

2020:

  • Kelvin Pham starts his YouTube channel@fomflip, documenting his slingshot journey and contributing to the online slingshot community.
  • Palestinians use slingshots in protests against Israeli forces.
  • The East Coast Slingshot Tournament is canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: Joseph Garcia wins the East Coast Slingshot Tournament. He is known for his design of the Hornet slingshot, popularized by reality TV star Zachary Fowler.

2022:

2023:

2024:

 

Slingshots Around the World:
The slingshot, in its various forms, is known by different names across the globe:
 * Catapult (United Kingdom): This term is commonly used in the UK and some other Commonwealth countries.
 * Slingshot, Beanshooter, or FLiP (United States): These names often refer to simpler, homemade slingshots, sometimes used by children.
 * Gulel (India): This is the common name for a slingshot in India.
 * Kettie (South Africa): This term is used in South Africa, likely derived from the Afrikaans word "katapult."
 * Ging, Shanghai, Pachoonga (Australia and New Zealand)

Modern Developments:
 * Materials and Designs: Modern slingshots utilize a variety of materials, including wood, metal, and high-tech polymers, like G10 and carbon fibers. Designs have also evolved, with features like ergonomic grips, adjustable bands, and aiming mechanisms.
 * Competitive Shooting: Slingshot shooting has gained popularity as a competitive sport, with organized competitions and tournaments held in various countries.
 * Hunting and Survival: Slingshots are still used for hunting small game and can be a valuable tool for survival situations.

The slingshot's enduring appeal lies in its simplicity, versatility, and potential for both recreation and practical use. It continues to be a popular pastime for many, offering a connection to a long and fascinating history.

WELCOME to the World of Slinging!!

 

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