Cap Guns is everything the toy gun collector could ever wish for, with over 600 full-color photographs of cap guns and gun accessories and a current value guide. Cap guns have been mass-produced since the post-Civil War era, made of wood, lead and iron. Designs were unusual; some guns pictured in this book even had two-and three-dimensional figures, or were animated with moving figures.
In the 20th century toy guns became realistic models, of cast iron, wood, composition, and plastic. Since 1950, most toy cap guns continue to be made of plastic or die-cast material. Cap guns from the Baby Boomer era of 1940-1965 are currently the most popular with collectors.
Guns shown in this book reveal the public fascination with cowboys and westerns, from Roy Rogers and Gene Autry to Hopalong Cassidy and the Lone Ranger. The glamorous guns of this period featured character names, shiny finishes, fancy plastic grips, and holster sets with sparkling stones and studs. Interest in toy guns has grown tremendously in the past few years. Demand far exceeds what is currently available for purchase as cap guns become one of the hottest collectibles among antique toy enthusiasts.
