Toy Guns...

Me

[Long Cut]

I've got a question for all the shootists and 2A guys out there...I've got a young (8 month old) son, and I want "Short Cut" to grow up right as regards firearms. The way I started, and as many of us did, was with toy guns. Many hours of my childhood were spent playing Soldier, Cops-n-robbers, and other games with my friends.

My dad never, however, hesitsted to teach me NEVER to point my toys at other people (well, him and mom, anyway.)

So, what I want to know is, are ANY companies still making toy guns that at least resemble reality? I cannot seem to find any decently-made ones on any toy shelves nowadays, as it appears the Succer Moms have succeeded in removing them from the toy stores.

Surely someone is bucking that trend out there, and wants to make a profit in this unserved market. If anyone has knowledge of one, or knows where to find such things, please respond with links and pics, if possible.

Please also, try to omit the "air-soft" guns, as those are a bit much for a pre-teen kid to handle (not to mention Dear 'ol Dad's wallet).

Oh, you can also use this thread to bash the Left over the head for stealing yet another good piece of childhood away, and by all means, share some of your more fun stories with us as well.

Thanks for any help offered!

[Long Cut]

Squantos' aim is dead-on in more ways than one.

Someday, I'd like to sit down with that geezer and hear some sea stories and advice.

[Old Sarge]

Hey, Pal, I've done the absentee-father gig for a while, too, ya know.

Just plan it out. That's all it takes.

[Long Cut]

His mom's an English Lit Summa Cum Laude, and his dad has read everything he could get his hands on since age 4. I've also kept most of them...you should SEE our home library.

It has everything from G. Gordon Liddy to Jules Verne and then some. I think my favorite is still "Treasure Island", though.

[TexasCowboy]

LC, I don't think I'd get toooo hung up in this safety thing.

I got my first BB gun when I was seven, and the first thing I did was shoot my sister in the butt!
'Course my butt hurt worse than hers afterward!
He'll absorb safety from being around you.

[Wumpus Hunter]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but try ebay.

I"ve seen lots of cool toys on there, and quite a few nice metal cap guns like I grew up. A while back I even found a few Mattel Shootin' Shell guns with Greenie Stickem caps!

[Long Cut]

I know. It just never gets easy, and when I hear him over the phone or see some photos, well...You know what I mean.

[Long Cut]

You don't know how I cannot WAIT to do stuff like that with Short Cut.

God, I miss him and his mom.

[US_MilitaryRules]

If you let your kids play with an airsoft gun be sure they are wearing the right gear. My son (12) had his tooth next to the front teeth shot out. He has had to have a root canal and a crown. A couple a thousand bucks broker.

[rock58seg]

Thanks for posting that. I was wondering how to describe it to him. I would not have come close.

[msdrby]

My father was a gunsmith by hobby. When I was very little, both of my parents were avid shooters in a gun club. Having been raised around it, I ate, drank, and slept gun safety. I had a realistic toy that he made for me out of a gun stock that he had hand carved. With my brother, my dad went the bb-gun route first, and then made him a gun when my brother was about 8. Eventually, he taught my brother how to make his own guns from a nice block of wood, too.

I guess he really started us off with the gun club, then going on deer/dove/quail hunting trips, then he got us guns, real or toy, same rules applied.

[rock58seg]

For the next time you visit the Alamo. The gift shop has some really amazing, non operating replica guns. Look. feel, and weigh correctly. Cylinders, hammers and triggers all operate as in the originals. Just that they cannot be loaded with bullets. Peacemakers, colt dragoons, kentucky squirrel rifles, etc. They are a little more expensive than the dollar stores. Even for the cork pop-guns which they also sell.

[rock58seg]

You just made my mouth water. Maybe i'll go hunting tommorrow. Naw wrong time of year. They might be pregnant.

[Long Cut]

I'm glad you kind folks put up links to that site. I wasn't even sure cap guns were made any more.

Hell, the safety-Nazis have banned so much other cool stuff kids grew up on.

[Robert Teesdale]

The very best in toy guns are the cap guns made by Edison Giocattoli. The following pics are the ones I had while growing up in the late 70's:













All are still made today. Here's the link for their product lineup: Edison Giocattoli. If you want to buy any, however, you need to go to this site:

BBGuns.co.uk

My dad taught me how to oil them and care for them. Despite billions of caps fired over the days of my childhood, not one of my Edison cap guns ever fell apart or failed to work.

[rock58seg]

Do a net search on "black powder" sites and get one in kit form. very affordable and a fun project.

[in the Arena]

I received a Daisy for my 7th birthday which I still have today, full of great memories and is the weapon my daughter learned firearms safety with. Previous to that it was water pistols and cap guns.

[Robert Teesdale]

Walter D. Edmonds? Small world. He was my step-grandfather. I used to spend vacations with him and my grandmother at 27 River St. Concord. I remember his cigars, acid wit and the newspaper he buried himself behind after breakfast.

An incredible gardener, as well.

[concentric circles]

Indeed! Concord no less! This writing could not come from there today.

[Robert Teesdale]

No kidding! Here's a picture of the back yard of 27 River Street, Concord... probably taken in the early 80's. Wat (WDE) is crouched on the bank to the left.



I used to have to watch for snapping turtles that would crawl up out of the Charles River from time to time.

[Long Cut]

Checked that site...those are indeed some fine-looking cap guns. Are they made in Italy? I didn't see any when I was there.