Does anyone remember so-called "scorpions"?

Posted by BigMoFuggah@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 17 comments

I'm 58 and when I was in elementary school us kids used to make what we called a scorpion to snap other kids with. I can't remember if it was made out of a paperclip or a bobby pin. It was small and easily concealed to ambush your target person, and boy did they sting. Does anyone else remember these and how to make them?

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17 Comments

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Complete_Hold_6575@reddit

We didn't call them that but yes, we had several variations of such DIY toys

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casade7gatos@reddit

Was it shot or did it stay with the attacker? I see some little projectiles.

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BigMoFuggah@reddit (OP)

It wasn't a projectile, you would cock a part of it push another part of it and the the cocked part would sting your victim

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casade7gatos@reddit

[here’s a little bobby pin stinger](https://youtu.be/KELpLnU01cc?si=HpGa-67CRfX2m6ci). It’s sort of pretty after it shoots off, like a bow. Reminds me of popsicle stick bombs with the potential energy.

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BigMoFuggah@reddit (OP)

That's the one for sure! I hated getting popped with one of those. I figured if anyone could identify what I was talking about it would be a Gen Xer because these were one of the "joys" of our childhood

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casade7gatos@reddit

Oh yay. I was sure it wasn’t going to be it. I really want to make one, and I have bobby pins.

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BigMoFuggah@reddit (OP)

They won't maim your victims but it will definitely sting enough to make them swear. 🤣😂

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Just-Ice3916@reddit

Sure... we called them "snappers," and whoever administered one was at risk for getting farted on or punched.

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kevbayer@reddit

Didn't it kind of spin? Like a rubber band and a paper clip, maybe folded into paper and fit in the palm of your hand?

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BigMoFuggah@reddit (OP)

That might be what I'm talking about about

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murder-kitty@reddit

I do not. I do, however, remember the asshole on the bus home from school who made a dart gun with a Bic pen and straight pins. I hope that, at some point in his life, he got stabbed by an angry woman.

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dustymag@reddit

We bought blow guns and darts at the farm show or something, then went home and put holes in everything.

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BigMoFuggah@reddit (OP)

That's even levels above the scorpion that I mentioned. Good thing he never hit someone in the eye.

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det1044@reddit

that was a viral moment in my school when we figured out how to make weapons from bics

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notmyfault@reddit

I remember being assaulted with them, never learned how to make them though.

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BigMoFuggah@reddit (OP)

They sure did sting, didn't they?

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Tall_Abalone_8537@reddit

I know exactly what you're talking about, but we called it something else--I just can't remember.