Barnett Black Widow Sling Shot Recall Issued After Injury Reports

More than 100,000 sport and hunting slingshots have been recalled following reports that the wrist brace slipped off the users’ hands, allowing the extended slingshot to snap back toward their face, causing severe facial fractures and bruises. 

The Barnett Outdoors sling shot recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on July 8, following consumer complaints indicating the slingshot’s wrist strap can slip off the wrist brace when the slingshot’s pouch was pulled back. This may cause the body of the slingshot to snap back and strike the user. To date, Barnett Outdoors has received at least two injury reports as a result of the slingshot’s snapping back, resulting in bruises and one case involving facial fractures.

The CPSC has determined that the slingshots can cause serious injuries if the wrist brace slips over the user’s hand, which can cause the 6-inch tall metal forked frame to retract toward the user, posing injuries of fractures, bruises, eye punctures, and mouth injuries.

The recall includes Barnett Outdoors Black Widow slingshots that measure six inches tall and have a black plastic handgrip with red linear rubber stubs on the palm side and a silver metal fork. The wrist brace is black and made of a soft plastic wrist strap. Models with an “X” on the wrist brace are not included in the recall. The slingshots also include translucent beige tubular rubber bands with a gray suede pouch attached.

The CPSC stated that roughly 88,000 were sold in the United States and another 16,000 were distributed for sale in Canada.

The recalled slingshots were manufactured in Hong Kong under Barnett Outdoors, of Tarpon Springs, Florida where they were sold at A.C. Kerman, Archery Range, Archery Shoppe, Big Rock Sporting Goods, Bow Hunters Supply Store, Campco, Dicks Sporting Goods, Dunham’s, Florida Hardware Co., Great Lakes Marine Products, Gun World & Sporting Goods, Paducah Shooters Supply, Slingshots USA, Walmart and other archery, shooting and sports storesnationwide and online at Amazon.com and BarnettCrossBows.com from July 2014 to May 2015 for about $10.

Customers are being asked to stop using the recalled slingshots immediately and contact Barnett at 800-234-4907 or visit them online at www.barnettslingshots.com for information on how to receive a free replacement wrist strap.