We never had any toy guns ... not because our parents disapproved of them, but, with five boys, plastic (and even metal) toy guns wouldn't have lasted very long.
We found that baseball bats made ideal weapons. When held underneath your armpit, they were BARs or submachine guns; when held against the shoulder, they were rifles; when rested on top of the shoulder, they were bazookas.
Truly, the first multi-function weapons system.
Everyone knows you have to turn the fat end of the bat forward when its a bazooka or youll shoot your own troops. Ill have to remember to never play guns with you!