Cap Guns: A Blast from the Past

Cap guns were once a staple in every child’s toy chest and a symbol of imaginative play and adventure. These toys, which used some form of mild explosive to create a popping sound and puff of smoke when the trigger was pulled, were an integral part of childhood for generations of kids. From cowboys to cops and robbers, cap guns allowed children to act out their favorite stories and play out their wildest dreams.

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The Early Years

The first cap guns date back to the 1860s, shortly after the American Civil War, when firearms companies began experimenting with toy guns to keep their businesses afloat. These early cap guns were made of cast iron and used paper strips enclosing sealed tablets of a gunpowder mixture, similar to tiny fireworks. Later toy ammunition strips were designed to advance automatically and often included eight or ten percussive caps in a single plastic round.

Novelty Cap Guns

Many early cap guns were produced as novelty items with little resemblance to actual weaponry. These toys represented cartoon characters or animal figurines, such as the “Sea Serpent” gun shaped like an underwater goblin whose snapping jaws would ignite the cap.

Other toys played on racial prejudices like the “Chinese Must Go” gun, which depicted an American immigration officer kicking a caricatured Chinese man, whose mouth would then close on a gunpowder cap.

The Great Depression and War Years

During the Great Depression, the demand for cap guns skyrocketed among young children. The increased attention was fueled by the popularity of comic-strip characters like Dick Tracy who were known for their shoot-outs. Cap gun manufacturers like Nichols, Esquire, Daisy, Halco, and Stevens, as well as larger toy companies like Hubley and Marx, dominated the market. However, in 1935, parents like Rose Simone in Chicago became concerned about the violent nature of these toys and organized toy-gun bonfires in an effort to eliminate them.

Despite these efforts, cap guns continued to be popular, especially during World War II and the golden age of American heroism. The association of cap guns with cowboy movie characters like Roy Rogers, Buck Jones, Gene Autry, and Hopalong Cassidy further fueled their popularity. In the 1950s, Western-themed TV shows put miniature guns into the hands of millions of young fans, solidifying their place in pop culture.

Mattel’s Cap Gun Revolution

In 1955, Mattel launched its noisy, fully-automatic “Burp” gun, which it promoted through a year-long sponsorship of the Mickey Mouse Club television show. Several years later, in 1958, Mattel released its widely popular “Fanner” cap gun line, allowing kids to fire their guns in rapid succession by hitting the hammer directly with no need to pull the trigger.

Mattel also created a series of “Shootin’ Shell” guns and playsets, which fired plastic bullets that could be coupled with its “Greenie Stick-M-Caps” to create the desired popping sound.

The Decline of Cap Guns

The cap gun craze finally slowed during the 1960s and 1970s due to images of bloodshed in Vietnam and increasing parent protests against the toys. Then, in 1988, the U.S. Federal Toy Gun Law made it illegal for companies to sell “look-alike” firearms, including toy cap guns, without a “permanently affixed” bright-orange plug at the end of its muzzle. Even vintage cap guns are now required to be sold with this orange marker, as you will see with just a quick look at cap guns for sale on eBay.

Closing Thoughts

Cap guns have been a part of American toy history for over a century, from their early days as cast-iron novelties to their glory days as Western-themed toys in the 1950s. While their popularity has declined in recent decades due to concerns about violence and safety, they remain a nostalgic reminder of a simpler time.

Today, cap guns are mostly collector’s items, and while they may not be as popular as they once were, they still hold a special place in the hearts of those who grew up with them. Whether playing cowboys and Indians or simply enjoying the thrill of a popping sound and puff of smoke, cap guns will always be remembered as a beloved toy from the past.

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