My Dad was born in 1934 and from what I know as a child these were toys? Both appear as fully functional .22 blank pistols and I am told they are Smith and Wesson. The S on one side and W on the other. I plan on placing them into a shadow box and hanging them on the wall but would love to know what I actually have and what the value might be. Thank you, Greg
Looking for info on old S&W pistols
- Thread starter Greg E
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They are not toys if they are fully functional .22 caliber blank shooting pistols. They are not Smith & Wessons, either; those markings were never on any S&W that I am aware of. What they are would appear to be vintage starter pistols that could have been made by anyone back during the Depression.
There are smarter folks around this campfire than I am who will have more definitive information.
There are smarter folks around this campfire than I am who will have more definitive information.
Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! Very interesting no matter who made them!
Yeah, believe it or not they actually are toys. 22cal blank toys. The date is correct for this particular type, however there are earlier ones that date to the late 1800's. Solid cast metal. Mostly iron. Most found don't work but are sought after by collectors. I almost started collecting these but prices are getting high on them if functioning so I decided not to add to my safe with the real thing. Especially when prices are close to the real thing? $300??? Just didn't make sense to me.
You can see them on Ebay and get a good idea about prices. They can also be seen in distributor catalogs in the toy section. They made a huge number of them in many variations and eventually evolved into the 6 shooter cap guns of the 50's, 60's, and early 70's when they became plastic. The early ones (1880's) are vey cool and sometimes have major manufacturers motif's on them. Who manufactured them? I never got that far with them but I'm sure there were several toy companies that did. Likely the same companies that made metal toys of that period.
Value? Watch them on EBAY....You'll be amazed at what people pay for them now. Punch in Antique cap gun and have fun.
You can see them on Ebay and get a good idea about prices. They can also be seen in distributor catalogs in the toy section. They made a huge number of them in many variations and eventually evolved into the 6 shooter cap guns of the 50's, 60's, and early 70's when they became plastic. The early ones (1880's) are vey cool and sometimes have major manufacturers motif's on them. Who manufactured them? I never got that far with them but I'm sure there were several toy companies that did. Likely the same companies that made metal toys of that period.
Value? Watch them on EBAY....You'll be amazed at what people pay for them now. Punch in Antique cap gun and have fun.
dltvette
US Veteran
I really like the early ones with patent dates cast into them. Some as early as the 1880's.
Just a heads up? The law now requires that these have a blaze orange tip(permanently applied) and color on the frame for safety purposes. If you look at those for sale they all have some sort of insert at the tip of the barrel now. You have to admit, a lot of them look pretty darn real. I've seen some that are cast to look exactly like a .25 Auto. You have to do a double take on them.
Just a heads up? The law now requires that these have a blaze orange tip(permanently applied) and color on the frame for safety purposes. If you look at those for sale they all have some sort of insert at the tip of the barrel now. You have to admit, a lot of them look pretty darn real. I've seen some that are cast to look exactly like a .25 Auto. You have to do a double take on them.
Gee, I wonder how many little kids were accidently shot carrying one of these? Especially one with a .22 blank? That last post looks pretty darn real. Although, back in the day a gun wasn't seen as knee jerk as it is today. When I was a kid we used pop guns and cap guns playing on the street that were pretty loud. Never heard of anyone getting shot. The cops were never called on us and the Neighbors didn't freak out either and that was in San Francisco!!!! Times sure have changed!!
opoefc
US Veteran
Get a copy of "Cast Iron Toy Pistols"by Petty. It will tell you all you want know & more about these guns. Ed.
