The proper English word for this may be slingshot or catapult .... but we used to call it a "lastick".
So did you own one as a boy? I suspect quite a number of us did at one time or another. It was just a "macho" thing to have (maybe because schools banned it). Not that many of us used it for any serious or injurious purpose. All I ever did with mine was practice shooting pebbles at a banana tree in an aunt's garden.
I'd like to say this was my old weapon from those youthful days, but alas my lastick disappeared a long, long time ago. In fact I saw this in a shop in Shanghai last week and just couldn't resist buying it for old memories' sake.
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Jimmy,yes i remember having quite a few and used to shoot birds after school and sometimes at dogs,my last one was given by a friend which was made of steel.
ReplyDeleteEk Hock> Come to think of it, I could have got my first lastick from you! It was a prized possession (though kept well hidden from parents and teachers). LOL
ReplyDeleteJimmy, I don't remember I had one. Probably the govt qtrs compound at Satok was too small and didn't permit me to play. However I did have a self made rifle shape wooden gun about 2 feet long. At the end of the rifle is a small nail where you tie the rubber band to. The rubber band is pull to a choke which also act as the trigger. The cartridges are unripe hard berries from a berry tree planted behind the house. I used to play with the neighbour’s children just like the Red Indian -Cowboy movie. LOL! If you’re on target it sure causes some pain. If I am not wrong it could shoot a distant of 20-30 feet. It all depends on the tightness of the rubber band.
ReplyDeleteHappy reminiscing the good old days!
Cheers.
corrections:
ReplyDeleteCherries from a cherry tree.
I think it could be 20-30 meters.
I had one too and accidentally shot someone in the butt. Hemmm. I better not say who I am.
ReplyDeleteYes..I remembered possessing such weapon of destruction..the first one is a prototype model made from a hard jambu tree behind Alexius Reggies's house..the second one was given by my Dad's friend..shoot anything from birds to animals...yoh..
ReplyDeleteI had a few back then, easy to make as I can easily cut branches from the back of my house.
ReplyDeleteI once shot a humming bird with the lastick and later felt sorry for the poor bird, well, I didn't know I was that accurate with the weapon.
Bought one made of stainless some years ago, attached with an arm rest some more, so powerful that the 'bullet' pierce through a car door. (using a metal ball bearing as bullet, standing around 30feet away)
Now keeping it for 'self defense' in case intruders comes into my house. So guys, announce your arrival if you happened to drop by my place k?
the thing, same one as in pic is available here in kuching for rm4.90.
ReplyDeleteI do remember the rifle style 'sling-gun'. However, I do not recall an actual slingshot. Probably too poor to afford one - without parental subsidy...
ReplyDeleteWhat we did was to weave thick strands of rubber bands into an impromptu sligshot that you make with your fore-finger & thumb. Using a thick rolled up paper slug, we would shoot down chichaks off the shop walls (2-storey high!). :)
NL @ 8.30pm - are you Nic Lau or Norbert Liew? Or none of the above?
ReplyDeleteHey, I bought a couple of them at a remote town 2 months ago for my 2 'ang mo' nephews in Hudderfield, England and they were thrilled to bits. It was something they had been looking for for the past 2 years during their visits here.
ReplyDeleteAlmost exactly the same except for the finer detailing shown here.
nl? NL is Norbert Liew and Nicolas Lau is Nick.
ReplyDeleteNormally I would use NL and Nick using Nick.
Now understooded?
at the next Grand Reunion, we should put one "lastick" in each gift bag. LOL
ReplyDelete