Bang, bang … gotcha, you’re dead.
Since the Civil War, children have been playing shoot-’em-up with toy guns.
In fact, the toy gun stands out as the one plaything most distinctly American. And with good reason.
From colonial days through the 19th century, firearms were the principal tool that enabled us to subdue, settle and survive in this land. Firearms played a vital part in our fight for freedom from imperialism in our first turbulent century.
The War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Civil War were fought essentially with small arms. So, it is not surprising that by 1850, when toys began to be mass-produced, toy guns were among the first to appear on the market.
The success of the toy gun was instantaneous. Myriad examples have been made — from heavy, cast-iron pistols and cap-firing Western six-shooters to lithographed-tin police automatics to the most futuristic-looking ray guns.
But when one begins touting the toy gun, some parents and psychologists bristle: In many quarters, the glorification of instruments of violence is no longer an acceptable form of play.
A TV ad featuring the animated characters from The Simpsons addresses this point. When Bart Simpson attempts to zap his sister with a glowing toy ray gun, she quips, “Playing with guns is an obvious coverup for your male inadequacies.”
Be that as it may, toy guns remain a fascinating niche in the realm of collectibles. But be prepared to shop around and pay a fat sum for choice pieces because examples tend to be cross-referenced with other areas of collecting, such as cowboy, science fiction, detective and comic character memorabilia.
The period from 1870 to 1900 is considered the golden era of toy guns. Replacing the older peashooters and cork poppers were guns constructed with metal hardware or entirely of iron or lead. Many of the early pieces were made to use a “tape primer with powder,” known today as a cap. Cap guns provided a loud but relatively harmless toy.
Scores of toy guns exist from this period. Some are plain and unattractive; others are marvels of metal casting. Prized examples have animal heads for handles and firing hammers and other forms of fantastic ornamentation. By 1880, the cap pistol had become a standard among toy manufacturers. One of the rarest is the so-called America Brand pistol of 1880, worth about $250 in top condition.
Metal remained the most popular material for toy guns until World War II. By 1941, war demands had cut off the supply of iron, and toymakers turned to materials such as paper, wood, tin, zinc, rubber and even wax. Some guns were made of molded sawdust and glue.
It was not until 1950 that die-cast guns and those made of plastic began to dominate the toy gun industry.
Here’s a quick rundown on what to look for, but prices are tough to determine; an old cast-iron gun may cost $10 while a choice Flash Gordon ray gun from 1934 could set you back $150 or more.
Among the goodies in early toy pistols are those made by Nemo, Scout, National, Buster and Tiger. Most are embossed with the name of the maker, and each fires a single cap or a roll of caps. Models vary widely.
Sturdier and larger are the pieces from the 1920s and ’30s. These generally have strong names, such as Invincible, Ranger, Bunker Hill, Master and the ever-popular Oh Boy.
The guns in both categories range from $15 to $75, with older models in prime condition fetching more.
With the popularity of cowboys in the movies, a whole new line of Western- style toy guns hit the market. Available only with Ralston cereal coupons and a dime was a balsa-wood six-shooter made in about 1935 — purportedly to the specifications of cowboy daredevil Tom Mix. These fragile guns are exceedingly rare.
Other toy cowboy guns include the Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Red Ryder models. Among bonafide BB guns are the high-quality Daisy toy rifles from the ’30s. Highly sought are the ones with Buck Jones or Red Ryder carved into the stock. Vintage leather holster sets, complete with six-shooters, also are great finds.
The big money in toy gun collecting goes for ray guns and other space-age weapons. Not only are the designs of these pieces often flamboyant, they are colorful and many emit unusual sounds, such as sirens, metallic pops and whirs.
The Buck Rogers of the 25th Century ray guns and Atomic pistols from the mid ’30s are the toughest to find. Beautifully designed and functional (one made a loud pop; another had a flasher inside), these guns are worth $175 and more. A rarity is the garish yellow-and-red metal Buck Rogers “liquid helium” water pistol, which can fetch $300.
But the most exotic collectible toy gun of all is the Hubley Atomic Disintegrator pistol (circa 1950), with its bright plastic handles, dials, switches and gauges. This gun held a large roll of caps that could be rapid- fired. The blazing gem is worth $250 or more.
So, stick ’em up. While folks today may balk at buying toy guns for their kids, there’s nothing stopping collectors from building a playful arsenal of vintage pop guns and six-shooters that reflects the history of toys in America.
The best book on the subject is Charles W. B
