You have to recognise that there is a movement afoot. Pre-Lockdown, we were able to report on three awesome shops that stock Slingshot World magazine and sell a pukka choice of slingshots as well as selling elastic and ammo. There is Westons in the lanes in Brighton, there is The Hunting Lodge in deepest Kent and there is RANGER in Surbiton. And oh BOY have they been busy beavering under lockdown! I went to see boss Andy at RANGER the second day they were open, to allow for the mad rush of day one to get dealt with.
While the aforementioned both have handmade slingshots as well as a choice of factory models, the guys at RANGER have got Dan and Tom and a wider ranger of catapultry kit than anyone. These dudes are deep slingshot fanatics and with Tom being eager disciple to Dan’s raging passion for all things slingshots, they have turbocharged their slingshot department and have also (as of the very day I went to see them) launched a brand new shiny website, complete with a whole page dedicated to slingshots.
They have a brilliant display now. With handmade leather-wrapped slingshots, they have ply slings that they have embellished with pewter pheasants and they even sell the pewter pins to make your own, too. They have seasoned natural forks that sound so dry and woody it’s like a bunch of xylophone keys being tipped out when they get them out to fossick through. There are also some proper customs but all priced sensibly. I know that as a lad, I would have loved this shop with a passion more than I had for Jack’s in Harrow. The reels of elastic and choice of sizes of ammo means they cater for the serious target shooter as well as hand cannon 14mm lead-launcher lads. You can even get BIG pouches cut to your very own asking! The sheer breadth of knowledge and enthusiasm here means it is worth making a serious drive to get there. You can park right outside for up to two hours and Surbiton station is literally one minute walk away around the corner.
Tom and Dan have even made a couple of top cunning catch boxes and thus have a range at RANGER, albeit only 7m.
They have so much enthusiasm that Dan has started a YouTube channel and they are starting up their own slingshot club.
All this and a genuine Aladdin’s cave of clothing, cooking, camping and carrying, in addition to knives and cordage. It is just a heavenly emporium. And the best part is the avuncular warm presence of Andy, the owner, who hired these beacons of bushcraft and slingshot culture. Every customer gets treated with that rare thing these days, actual engagement. Given that it isn’t yet normal times and the shop must not get too crowded, you get a ‘hello’ and if you want to just browse – of course – or if you want advice and to have them find you those outsize trousers you wanted, (ahem!) they will find you your choices.
I love the place, obviously and am deeply chuffed to be associated with them and to see how they are developing.
OH and one last thing.. these folks are ALSO ripping the crap bands off the brand new cast Milbros and are wrapping and rebanding them, to create some wicked classic restomods!
The details:
Ranger
10 Central Parade
St Marks Hill
Surbiton, Surrey
KT6 4PJ
T: 020 8399 9995 Email: [email protected]
