Cool stuff I found (and bought) online

[Smashie]

I have been known on occasion to buy random cheap stuff on-line that I have have absolutely no use for whatsoever.


Case in point is this little crossbow I found on ebay. Now I thought it would be rubbish and break immediately, so I got 3 just to be sure. $10 for 3 including shipping from China.





OK, it's metal and it fires tooth picks


Seems pretty well made, out of stainless steel even.








The prod even seems to be laminated





So, how well does it shoot? Not too bad is the simple answer. As long as you don't try for anything long range.


This was from 12" away





Empty cardboard box.


Now the part that reinforces that this IS NOT A TOY


This is how far the toothpick penetrated the cardboard





That being said, I'm off to find some silver steel rod to make some more arrows 


I've also got some other stuff waiting, but they're coming out to play at the UK Meet 

[magentus]

Now I thought it would be rubbish and break immediately, so I got 3 just to be sure

MTO in a tee! 

That looks wild Smashie - worth attaching to your wrists once you have made some steel bolts? COme in handy post-apocalypse 

[Corwyn]

Was reading this a few days ago:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/22/forget-fidget-spinners-its-the-toothpick-crossbow-that-is-worrying-parents

[Smashie]

Was reading this a few days ago:

https://www.theguardian.c...-that-is-worrying-parents

Cool, I didn't see that, I'm not what you'd call a Guardian reader.


Hmm small nails might be a solution  [size=78%] [/size]

[dks]

no link??

[Smashie]

no link? ?

I'd love to, however evil bay in the UK have unilaterally decided that these can no longer be sold so I can't search for them any more. It also appears that they may be banned in China as well

[dks]

that makes your toys highly desirable, collectable, and possibly soon,.illegal

[Corwyn]

Was reading this a few days ago:

https://www.theguardian.c...-that-is-worrying-parents

Cool, I didn't see that, I'm not what you'd call a Guardian reader.


Hmm small nails might be a solution  [size=78%] [/size]

Well.. I read it often as they have the best website among the newspapers on the island... also they get really good live coverage of events.
Couldn't care less about UK politics.. .just sitting on the sidelines and chuckling.

[Poncho65]

That thing is awesome Smashie Who would have thought to make a crossbow that works with toothpicks Love it and thanks for sharing

[Smashie]

Was reading this a few days ago:

https://www.theguardian.c...-that-is-worrying-parents

Cool, I didn't see that, I'm not what you'd call a Guardian reader.


Hmm small nails might be a solution 

Well.. I read it often as they have the best website among the newspapers on the island... also they get really good live coverage of events.
Couldn't care less about UK politics.. .just sitting on the sidelines and chuckling.

UK politics is a minefield so I don't bother with it so much. Global politics on the other hand are far more important for spotting trends and the directions that other countries may follow. And that's my lot on the amount of political discussion you'll get out of me 

[Smashie]

that makes your toys highly desirable, collectable, and possibly soon,.illegal

Gold plated it would make a nice paperweight, not a weapon at all

[Corwyn]

Was reading this a few days ago:

https://www.theguardian.c...-that-is-worrying-parents

Cool, I didn't see that, I'm not what you'd call a Guardian reader.


Hmm small nails might be a solution 

Well.. I read it often as they have the best website among the newspapers on the island... also they get really good live coverage of events.
Couldn't care less about UK politics.. .just sitting on the sidelines and chuckling.

UK politics is a minefield so I don't bother with it so much. Global politics on the other hand are far more important for spotting trends and the directions that other countries may follow. And that's my lot on the amount of political discussion you'll get out of me 

Unfortunately I must care about UK politics as they nowadays impact me directly... 50% of our sales go to UK and in the last year those figures just plummeted... if we get stuck with import fees as well, we can all pack up and queue for the unemployment office. Romania (other 25% of sales and our homebase) is about to suicide too with turnover-based taxes so...

Back on topic.. I love having banned, dangerous stuff around.

I remember having a cork-pistol when I was a kid.. replaced the cork with a huge nail... it went 2 cm through the wall plaster and jammed into the concrete... my mom threw a fit..

I meant to get one of these crossbows last month, but it's such a pain getting to the postoffice for me nowadays...

[Grant Lamontagne]

What better way to get rid of something than to post an article in (so called) main stream media about them, and ensure that folks (like me) that hadn't yet heard of them find out all you need to know.  Plus, as a "hot toy of the year" I have to ensure my kids get one, especially if they are going to be banned soon!   

Back to the original topic- congrats Smashie- that looks freaking awesome!

Now I'd best be off to eBay to get one before they disappear!

Def

[Don Pablo]

Has ebay UK banned them already? Before I found out about them and had a chance to get one?


SMURRRRF!!!

[Syncop8r]

I think they have been banned here.

[moonweasel]

Looks like China banned them (strangely, the home of sketchy products) and by default the Chinese sellers can't sell on ebay

[Ron Who]

I want one ! 

Can we have a pic of it armed and ready to fire?

[Aloha]

That is a wonderful little crossbow.  Possibly banned, illegal, and dangerous, yeah count me in 

[Sparky415]

 

I'm sure I've got some 4inch nails in the Garage Mate 

[Alan K.]

I want one. Very cool.

[Gerhard Gerber]

That might be one of the coolest things I've ever seen, only way I could want it more is if I was 15 again.

Can't remember the show's name (William Tell?), but crossbows of any type was my thing for many years 

[Chako]

That is cool. I have something similar but made out of plastic and shoot much safer Q-Tips.

[Kev D]

I have an old barnett pistol crossbow somewhere. I should get some bolts for it and bring it to the meet

[Smashie]

I have an old barnett pistol crossbow somewhere. I should get some bolts for it and bring it to the meet

Oh yes, the more dangerous things at the meet the better    (I really mean that)

[Kev D]

I have an old barnett pistol crossbow somewhere. I should get some bolts for it and bring it to the meet

Oh yes, the more dangerous things at the meet the better    (I really mean that)

I'll dig it out tonight then and make sure the string is still ok 

and my black widow catapult as well then

[Smashie]

I have an old barnett pistol crossbow somewhere. I should get some bolts for it and bring it to the meet

Oh yes, the more dangerous things at the meet the better    (I really mean that)

I'll dig it out tonight then and make sure the string is still ok 

and my black widow catapult as well then

Hmm I'm sure I've got a black widow somewhere 

[Kev D]

I have an old barnett pistol crossbow somewhere. I should get some bolts for it and bring it to the meet

Oh yes, the more dangerous things at the meet the better    (I really mean that)

I'll dig it out tonight then and make sure the string is still ok 

and my black widow catapult as well then

Hmm I'm sure I've got a black widow somewhere 

8mm nuts are good in them, I'll have to raid our stores for a couple of hundred of them

Bolts ordered. 48 should be enough for us incase we break a few 

[pfrsantos]

I have an old barnett pistol crossbow somewhere. I should get some bolts for it and bring it to the meet

Oh yes, the more dangerous things at the meet the better    (I really mean that)

I'll dig it out tonight then and make sure the string is still ok 

and my black widow catapult as well then

Hmm I'm sure I've got a black widow somewhere 

That sounds a little racist... You should catapultate every widow equally!

 

[carboncopy101]

Wow. Very nice make so clean! 

[kkokkolis]

I had a plastic little crossbow as a kid, in yellow color, that shot toothpicks (with a trivial rubber band). I felt desire for this shinny version immediately.