Sounds like I may have had a Nichols. From Wiki;
“In 1946 Talley W. and Lewis W. Nichols started a cap gun company in Pasadena, Texas, which eventually became one of the world’s largest cap gun manufacturing companies. World War II being just over they wanted to manufacture something and after several ideas the idea was proposed that they make toys, specifically toy cap guns. The primary choice was a cap pistol that resembled a 19th century version of the famous Colt Peacemaker in some way, as that was an extremely popular revolver.
Their first gun, the Silver Pony, was made and orders were brisk. The success of this initial offering led to the Mustang (later called the Silver Mustang) and the Silver Colt. But these were somewhat ordinary cap guns and being small they ventured out and created a large cap gun called the Stallion 45. In 1950 the Stallion 45 was introduced at the New York Toy Fair and became a sensation. It was declared the “Toy of the Year.” Besides its large size, which was essentially the same size as its namesake, it featured individual 2-piece bullets, which would hold a single cap and when the gun was fired, the cylinder revolved, the bullet fired, and smoke came out of the end of the barrel.”
>> In 1950 the Stallion 45 was introduced at the New York Toy Fair and became a sensation. It was declared the “Toy of the Year.”
When we were pups, a realistic toy pistol that fired real projectiles won toy of the year in (of all places) New York City.
Dude... we’re getting *old*.