For many kids, the first attempt at DIY comes in the form of a Y-shaped branch and a rubber band: the rudiments of a homemade slingshot. Assembled from materials from the backyard, a kid’s first slingshot often facilitates his first hunting experience, launching small rocks and marbles at unsuspecting birds and squirrels. But that scrappy, semi-dangerous toy turned out to be so much more that a plaything when manufactured professionally.

In 1839, Charles Goodyear revolutionized the rubber industry with his patented vulcanization process. Goodyear’s new found strength in rubber made possible the production of much more durable tires and inner tubes. The first wave of vulcanized inner tubes provided a much stronger rubber launchers, making for the most powerful do-it-yourself slingshots the world of handheld weapons had ever seen.

Making use of Goodyear’s newest rubber technology, recreation and arms manufacturers alike took to branding their own slingshot models. In 1918, the first commercially made Zip-Zip slingshot hit the market, made of cast iron and rubber. Thirty years later, Wham-O was named for its founding product: the Wham-O slingshot.

The toy sporting goods company that is now known for items like the Frisbee, Hula-Hoop, and Slip-and-Slide has its roots in the production of a small yet powerful hand-held weapon. The Wham-O slingshot was used primarily for target competitions and small game hunting, and is the predecessor for the many modern slingshot weapons that are available today.

Unlike their cast iron Zip-Zip cousin, the extreme high velocity slingshots from Armory Replicas make the perfect portable pocket weapon. Made of durable, lightweight materials, our slingshots are as portable as they are accurate. With this steady-aiming weapon and a variety of steel ball ammo sizes to choose from, you’ll be hitting your target with unmatched ease and accuracy.

This isn’t your granddad’s childhood slingshot - you’ll be packing serious heat with your high speed pocket slingshot from Armory Replicas!