Anatomy of a Slingshot

       More Letters From Paradise
        Anatomy of a Slingshot
First you looked for a tree with a "Y-shaped" branch, necessary to create your slingshot. Box Elder trees were a good choice, as the wood was soft and easily yielded to dull jackknives and saws.

The bark would be stripped off, and the white wood soon dried. Then you could either carve a groove around the top forks of the Y, near the end, or make a slit in the end of each branch. Both methods were used.

Next, a search was conducted for a used inner tube. When found, it was cut into strips about an inch wide. Two strips of rubber were needed, about six inches long. One strip of each end of the rubber was tied to the end of each fork with a bit of string.

Then came the hard part. You had to find the tongue of an old shoe. When located, it was cut into a three inch piece, a slit was cut
on each end of the tongue. This was where the other end of the rubber strips were tied with a bit of string. The result made a small pouch. That was all there was to it.It soon became a prize possession. Your slingshot could launch small stones, marbles, clay balls, and even ball bearings.It was understood by all boys that you never shot at a person. It was against the code.

Alas, today you can buy a ready-made slingshot. These are cut out on a band-saw,and use rubber surgical tubing  instead of inner tubes. There is one called a "Wrist Rocket," for hunting small game. These are real killers. Not for small boys.  Oh well.
        Aloha
        Grant