The Rubber Bandit
Monday, June 1, 2009
62 Comments
Tags: D.I.Y., Design, Guns, Handmade, Packaging, Rubber Bands, Slab-Serif, Typography, Weapons, Wood
The Rubber Bandit: the rubber band gun for the lady or gentleman that knows better than to grow up. Handcrafted out of curly maple and bloodwood, The Rubber Bandit comes complete with interchangeable barrels, allowing the bearer to fine tune the amount of damage he or she inflicts.
Package Reads:
"DANGER! This rubber band gun, handcrafted to the highest standards, is capable of inflicting 1st and 2nd degree welts, contusions, and bruises, on the supple flesh of it's targets.
For safety's sake, it should only be wielded by a trustworthy and licensed adult.
For fun's sake, place it in the hands of your craziest, most demented, deranged, unbalanced, loose-cannon of a friend, and watch the rubber fly."
dopeee. reminds me of some of jess hische’s work
@Nick – Thanks man. Jess has some absolutely beautiful hand lettering that I have seen around before.
come a long way since 8th grade :-)
Great process! Loved to see the progress from drawing to prototype. You should start finding ways to get these things manufactured that you make.
Thanks Dan & Matt. @Dan – Designing something for mass production is something I am very interested in. However, I would like to design a truly unique product before I take something that far. These projects I have done in the last year have been great for me, but I consider them warm-ups for what I hope to eventually do: design, engineer. and package a product from the ground up.
How can I purchase one of these puppies? Great work!
@Craig – This particular one is not for sale, but I would be more than willing to create whatever kind of rubber firearm you, or anyone else, would like. Email me if you are interested.
hey, nice work
is that Archer typefont?
@Young – Thank you, and yes it is!
What’s the price on getting one of these bad boys made?
@Shaun – If you are asking how much it cost me to make, the answer is around $40 – $50 for materials, although it could be made for much, much cheaper if you were to use some less exotic woods. If you are asking how much for me to make you one, the answer is I am not sure yet. I would like to make and sell these on a by-order basis, but there are some things I need to figure out first.
Andy just ran across your rubber bandit on crave and must say it’s pretty cool. I see you mentioned that you were willing to make one but not sure on the total price maybe???? Anyway I would like to get one of these as well so let me know if you’re up for it.
Andy, I would love to buy one of these as well. Please let me know when you figure out the details.
Me too! Do let me know when and how I might buy one of these because I’m definitely considering it. Also, maybe you would consider doing some sculpting work on the body of the fun to make it less block-like?
Take extreme caution that you don’t flash one of these around near a rookie cop.
Please let me know as soon as these are ready to be ordered, i would love one!
-E
Hi,
Really nice thing, if you don’t plan to make this for selling it, maybe you’ll plan to share (or sell) how to make one ?
Thanks,
Jacques-Olivier
Thanks for all of the comments guys! I am going to try and figure out a way to produce these in decent quantity.
@Jakatak – You can look at the basic drawings I came up with here: http://www.andymangold.com/rubber-band-gun-schematic/
The gun is really a quite simple thing!
This is sick! I’m definitely interested in purchasing one if/when they become available.
Great idea and lovely design.
I like it! its very clean and simple and brings me back to my childhood!
An absolutely gorgeous piece, I just love the packaging. I want one like you wouldn’t believe. Hahahaha. Any one want to volunteer for target practice?
This is fantastic!
Would you post this to our Facebook group? There’s a running collection of things made with H&FJ fonts, and this is a beautiful and uncharacteristic use of Archer. And it fires projectiles.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-NY/Hoefler-Frere-Jones/12904695995
Regards,
Jonathan
@Jonathan – Thank you for your kind words, and the fantastic font! I will be sure to post this to the facebook group when I get a chance.
Thanks to everyone else for the encouragement, much appreciated!
oo beautiful packaging design
plus I’d like to get my hands on one of those welt inflicting beauties
I really want to buy one of these… very cool, can you make to order?
HI
so as per all the above msg’s you can not buy this product! Dammit! This would have been the best Father’s Day gift ever! If you do end up making this and selling them or a product similar please e-mail me and let me know, I would definably purchase one or two.
Please and thank you!
A
super! this one goes under my mattress!
:-) real nice invention. At first I didn’t see what the different barrels where for. I read the text.
Nice work.
Thanks to everyone for the kind comments! Always appreciated!
Wish I could buy one of these for my husband for Father’s Day. So great! When you do (if you do I suppose) start making them to sell, will you email me and let me know? Thanks! (my email should show privately I think?)
Oh man, beautiful. I definitely want one. Please let me know if you do start selling them?
Thanks.
SUPERB! I have seen a lot of rubber band guns (not just mass-produced junk) , but this one is easily the most beautifully crafted.
Hi~
I’m Carrie, I come from Taiwan.
I saw ur design on Taiwan’s website and i love it very much!
How can I buy one The Rubber Bandit ?
My boyfriend & me r designers too , we love design toys!
I want to buy one or two The Rubber Bandit for my boyfriend, cos’ ur design is so cool!
My email is : pink.chinchin@hotmail.com
Please say u can sell me one The Rubber Bandit!
I really love ur design & we have design week once a year in Taiwan, hope u can come to Taiwan and join our design week someday.
OMFG I want one.
Love it. Nice use of Archer — a real type sensitivity. Great work.
@All – Thanks again for all the comments! Really appreciate you taking the time!
I saw you had some technical problem with the cog breaking….. I don’t know if you’ve ever used any of the “wood hardeners” that are available commercially…(home depot).
http://www.minwax.com/products/wood_maintenance_and_repair/high_performance_wood_hardener.html
This might be an easy fix for the Bloodwood. Good luck and nice work.
@Dave – I had seen some of the wood hardeners on the market, although my fear is that they would only make the wood more brittle. I think if it has a bit of give it has a better chance of not breaking.
Probably worth a shot none-the-less. Thank you for the suggestion and for taking the time to comment.
Another possible solution might be to make some Bloodwood plywood by cutting some 1/16″ veeners and glue the slices back together alternating the wood grain. I would do this with your trigger mechanism as well and then you’ll probably have a true 6 shooter.
@Dave – Now that is a very good suggestion, the grain direction does dictate which of the teeth break off. I’ll be sure to let you know if I get around to doing it! Thanks!
The Rubber Bandit was originally marketed in Canada is 1989 by the Artner Corp who also makes the pirate version Challenger Rubber band gun after which all the wooden multiple shot repeaters (six shot and twelve shot) including this one by Andy were copied after. Don Juhasz PE.
@Don – Could you link me to some more information on the “original” Rubber Bandit? I tried searching a bit and I came up with nothing. When I came up with the name I did a search to see if someone else had used it and it appeared no one had for a gun.
You should sell them
it looks like a very good idea and u can make alot of money. but i want to know how to make it or were can i get one or can u send me a blue print thank u.
can u please send me blue prints
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