11 Toys That Doubled as Weapons
These are the toys that kids adored but often discovered could double as makeshift weapons.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
From lawn darts with sharp metal tips to Frisbees that struck like flying discs, many childhood toys were more dangerous than they first appeared. Some caused harm unintentionally through poor design, while others were deliberately repurposed by kids into playground weapons. This list looks back at the playful yet risky double life of these unforgettable toys.
1. Lawn Darts (Jarts)
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Lawn darts were designed as an outdoor family game where players tossed weighted darts into plastic rings on the ground. The problem was that these darts had heavy, sharp metal tips that could easily pierce skin or worse. Many kids learned quickly that throwing them at each other turned the game into a dangerous battle.
2. BB Guns
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Marketed as a step between toys and real firearms, BB guns were often given to young kids. They shot small metal pellets with surprising speed and could easily break skin or damage an eye. What was meant as harmless backyard target practice often became a standoff between siblings.
3. Cap Guns
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Cap guns popped and sparked using small explosive caps to mimic real gunfire. While fun in cowboy roleplay, the tiny explosions sometimes burned fingers or were used aggressively in point-blank play fights. The loud snap and smoke also gave kids a sense of real power, making them feel like their “toy” was a true weapon.
4. Slingshots
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A classic childhood staple, slingshots could fling pebbles, marbles, and even bolts at alarming speed. Though technically considered toys in some eras, their ability to break windows and injure birds or unlucky neighbors made them serious weapons. Every kid who owned one eventually tested its power on something more dangerous than a tin can.
5. Yo-Yos
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Yo-yos were meant for tricks, but in the wrong hands, they became swinging bludgeons. A hard throw or an intentional strike could bruise skin or even knock out a tooth. Playground legends of kids whipping each other with yo-yos were often rooted in very real accidents.
6. Boomerangs
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Often sold as colorful wooden toys, boomerangs were a favorite at the park. But anyone who miscalculated a throw discovered they were capable of hitting with brutal force on the rebound. More than one family outing ended with someone taking a spinning wooden blade to the head.
7. Toy Swords
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Plastic or wooden swords were common props for knights, pirates, and ninja games. Even though they were “safe,” they packed enough weight to leave bruises when swung with force. Kids inevitably abandoned the pretend battles and went straight to whacking each other.
8. Nerf Blasters
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Nerf guns seemed harmless with their foam darts, but kids found ways to weaponize them. By modifying darts with thumbtacks, pins, or coins taped to the tips, they created painful projectiles. Even unmodified, a point-blank shot to the eye could sting for days.
9. Super Soakers
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Super Soakers were designed for water fights, but their high-pressure streams were surprisingly powerful. Kids discovered they could be filled with substances other than water, from vinegar to soda, making them sting and stick. Older models had so much pressure that a direct shot could knock over smaller children.
10. Skip-It
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The Skip-It was a toy with a weighted plastic ball attached to a ring that kids looped around their ankle. It was fun for jumping games, but the heavy spinning ball became a hazard to anyone standing nearby. Many siblings used it less for skipping and more for tripping or whacking each other.
11. Frisbees
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Frisbees were designed for casual tossing, but their hard plastic edges could hurt on impact. A fast, mis-aimed throw could leave red welts on skin or even chip a tooth. Many kids treated them like flying shields or discs in mock battles, only to realize they could actually cause harm.