Nasty .....toothpick crossbows ....!

Since bursting on the scene earlier this year, fidget spinners have had mixed press.


While they've become the must-have toy of 2017, there have also been reports of them being the cause of injuries and accidents .

With this in mind, there have been numerous concerns about the propeller-shaped gadgets' safety, with several schools banning them.

But parents and teachers like could not be blamed for having concerns over the "toy" that's touted to take the place of fidget spinners.

Handheld mini-crossbows, or toothpick crossbows, have been produced as kids' toys in China, The Guardian reports.

Worried parents want them banned before they take off amid fears a child could end up blinded.

The crossbows are selling for the equivalent of as little as 80 pence, can be purchased online and are designed to fire out just toothpicks.

However, graver damage could occur if the toothpick gets substituted for a needle or nail - and could be strong enough to shatter glass.

Worryingly, according to the Shanghai Daily newspaper, the items are also selling out fast.

The Shanghai Daily said: "The 'toothpick crossbow' toy has spread across China like wildfire among the nation’s primary and middle school children.
"The unusual shooting toy may be very small but it is powerful enough to puncture a balloon and pierce cardboard. And when the toothpick is swapped for a metal needle it becomes a dangerous weapon."



Just checked out on ebay , available from around £4 , but the other thing that is very nasty is that there are versions made up of multiple springs to increase there power....so what happens when little jonny gets hold of one of these and decide to substitute needles or nails and fires them at his little sister for a larf ...! Who thought of this for a kids toy need bloody shooting .!

Good god, I hope they dont find their way over here. They sound like a death waiting to happen

Given the number of Chinese Bazars in the area, it's a fair bet they will find their way over here!

Actually I'm in the UK at the mo, Southpaw, so I meant here. Sorry I didn't think to clarify
Unfortunately you're probably right about Quesada with all the Chinese shops