CHINESE JACKS

Just couldn't resist this walk down Memory Lane.

I was a child during the 1970's and Chinese Jacks were one of my favorite games to play.  Small plastic rings looped together to form a little cluster.  Chinese Jacks or Jax, were sold at every toy store, grocery store, and corner drug store across America.   Not so today.  

I did find a set on Amazon for $25.00.  That makes me chuckle, since I can remember them being sold for a dollar.   Never fear, here is an Instructable to give this simple, but addictive, game a come back.
 

Step 1: WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

SUPPLIES:

Wire cutter
Needle-nose pliers
3 yards of 12 gauge jewelry wire  - One package was enough to make 5 Jacks with 14 Jump Rings each.
Pony beads
Sharpie marker

Comments

[Treasure Tabby]

Interesting. But this is the first time I have heard of these and I was born in the early 70's too. All we had were the traditional jacks and rubber ball.
I don't know maybe they never had these in Canada or something?
Oh well.
But thanks for sharing these.

Ha I sound like I'm in a school yard. ;)

[jillq]

Could you post the "rules" of the Chinese Jacks game? I'd love to make these with my 1st graders. Thanks!

[cdawisconsin]

Hello. The rules are on the last page of the Instructable. Just click on the video. Have fun playing =)

[sunshiine]

What a clever idea! I always enjoyed playing with jacks as a kid. I even bought a set a couple of years ago that were at a junk store. Thanks for sharing.
Sunshiine

[susanrm]

This is awesome!

Oh man. It reminds me of Hamesh Avanim (five stones), an Israeli game, but that is much harder. It's played with five hard metal cubes about 1.5 cm on each side. When you throw the stones up, you have to pick up one or more stones AND catch the one you threw in the air. The other rules look very similar, with variations including catching them on the back of your hand. It was a tough, bruising game, and it was great to play it on the asphalt playground because even though you scraped your hand, eventually the sides of your stones would soften. Your hands also toughened up a lot! Here is a video demo of it.

By the way, I learned how to play in England! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBbBubMHalM

[mikeasaurus]

Great, I totally remember this and also wonder why I've not thought about it until now!

[cdawisconsin]

Thanks. I haven't thought about it either for many years =) But, as they say, it's all coming back to me now. I have a ruthless, take not prisoners approach.

[mikeasaurus]

when playing competitive games, ruthless is the only way to be! :)

[Penolopy Bulnick]

These look so fun and colorful! I'm going to have to learn how to play :)

[cdawisconsin]

Thanks. It is a lot of fun. And a blast teaching my three girls how to play last night.