Stallion 38 Cap Gun - Stallion Cap Pistols

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Mike Nichols
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	In 1951, following the tremendous success of the Stallion 45, Nichols introduced the Stallion 38. This gun is about 75% the size of the Stallion 45 and has the smaller versions of the 2-piece bullets. These bullets were made by Remington. With a cap in the bullet, when the gun was fired, since the die-cast bullet had a channel through it, the smoke would come out of the front of the gun. Very realistic. In the long run, the Stallion 38 actually outsold the famous Stallion 45 in all versions. Reason? Believe it or not, at the time, the Stallion 45's price put it out of the reach of many kids and parents. Now they all wish they hadn't made that decision! Most Stallion 38's were made in Jacksonville, Texas after the move, so the Pasadena versions are slightly more valuable—especially the ones that were made from "scrounged" zinc alloy carburetors during the Korean War. Holsters were also made for the 38. The best quality frames were made out of the zinc alloy: ZAMAK. Naturally during the war it had a strategic value. After you see the Stallion 38, remember that there are quite a few other Stallions on this website, but the Stallion 300 Saddle Gun is listed under "Rifles."

This "Double" set is one of the more rare items you will see! It consists
of the Stallion 38 and the Dyna-Mite. This particular 38 was made in Jacksonville.
Another fine photo submission from Jamie Linford.

Here is an interesting story by my cousin Robert Nichols
(Son of Talley Nichols).

When the new plant opened in Jacksonville in the summer of 1955, all the guns showed the Pasadena name. The local fathers were anxious to promote Jacksonville and asked my Dad when would he have "Jacksonville" on the guns instead of Pasadena. He retooled that area of the existing Stallion 38 on the barrel to make it say Jacksonville, then had a special run of 250 guns made with this new change. He held a special event out of the change and invited the local fathers of the community. Each of the guns was double buffed, double copper-nickel-chrome plated and double polished. Each was stamped with the words "PILOT RUN" to distinguish from any other Stallion 38 that these were special.

They are the most beautiful and rare Stallion 38's I have ever seen.

The only reason I know this story is that a new publisher of the Jacksonville Daily Progress was a friend of mine and in the 1980's had taken over the operations of the newspaper from a long standing and locally involved previous owner of the paper. The old editor desk stayed at the newspaper. My friend kept hearing a noise in one of the drawers when he would open and close it. Upon investigating he found this gun. He asked me why it said PILOT RUN, so I asked my dad. Dad then told me the story for which I am relaying the information. The friend, being a very good friend, gave the gun to me.

— Robert Nichols

This gun, over the long haul, actually sold more copies than the Stallion 45. This gun was popular with the smaller kids, as it fit their hands very well. On the right you will see an old original Stallion 38 box from Pasadena, Texas. Photo by Jamie Linford - Click On It!

Here is a rare offering from Rich Hall. The gun is a "Nichols Stallion 38" with Texas "Quick Draw" Holster in box. Gun is MINT. The holster is the scarce Texas "Quick Draw" Holster made by the Melvin G. Miller Company of Houston, Texas. The holster can be used right or left handed as seen in the pictures. Thanks Rich!

And here is the Quick Draw Holster for the 38 (and the .41-40) but this is the RARE ONE with the lettering on the card. Nice set of Pasadena Stallion 45's and double holsters in the back PLUS the Nichols gun (or hat) rack up above. And I also see a Model 94 rifle peeking out the right side and a Cowhand underneath. Is that a Stallion Model 61 underneath the .41-40 holster?
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR LARGER PHOTO

This photo is by Belinda Quan from Chuck Quinn's collection.

This is a rather fine double set from Hal Richardson.
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR LARGER PHOTO

There were several Nichols Cap Guns that were made for the Daisy BB Gun Company and sold under their name. This is one of them. A copper plated Stallion 38. The Daisy logo is right above the trigger. Another fine photo from Robert Nichols A fine example of a Stallion 38 Photo by Jim Manning Most things were labeled to show where they came from. This is the back of a bullet belt clip.		Starting with the Stallion 38, all of the rest of the Stallions (except the 300 Saddle Gun) used this size bullet. CLICK FOR LARGER VIEW Squinting and still can't read? Click On Service Policy Above Klondike 44 & Box CLICK ON PHOTO Klondike 44 Cap Gun CLICK ON PHOTO Thanks Rich Hall! Another nice 38!
Here's a fine Pasadena Stallion 38 from Bob Garvey

A small note: This is the first Nichols gun that has the swing down loading gate. It keeps closed by friction, so one that is tight is more valuable. Owners should not open this loading gate any more than they have to, in order to make sure that they don't loosen it up. Another note: These Nichols cap pistols were made out of die cast zinc alloy and since the guns are quite old, do yourself a favor: don't fire them. If you should accidentally break a hammer or some other part, then there goes the value of your collection! However, one of the hallmarks of Nichols guns was that they were generally built in a more robust fashion with a higher emphasis on quality, and that explains why they have lasted so long and are so valued by collectors.

You need a few cartridges? Well, here's 72 cartridge clips. Let's see now, at about $5 per bullet (since there were 6 per clip and not counting the clips themselves) that would be about $2160. Makes me wonder if this box is full or empty!

Photos by Chuck Quinn.

Click On This Rare Photo For Close-ups!

I'll do more with my available photos of this rare gun when I get a chance. This belongs to Ed Manes and is the INCREDIBLY RARE Nichols Stallion 44. I put it here on this page, for it falls into a similar slot as the Klondike. Most of us think that Nichols Industries, when faced with the cancellation of the Klondike TV Show, decided to do a slight bit of retooling and release the Stallion 44. Why it never made it out there in large amounts is a mystery. However, it is truly one of the rarest finds in the Cap Gun Hobby.

Thanks Ed for the photo!!!




	Stallion 38 Carded







	Though these Stallion 38s have the plastic bubbles that are on the pegboard cards, you will notice that the plastic "blister" is actually stapled to the card. Some were heat-shrink-sealed to the cards, but these were not. You will notice on the left photo that it says "—Trigger It! —Fan It!" I guess this is an attempt at competition for the Mattel® Fanner 50. Notice the seal of approval by "Parents Magazine." Such recklessness!!! All photos thanks to Rich Hall




	FINA Pony Express (Super Rare!!!)









	My oh my, but this is a rare Cap Gun. This also isn't in Uncle Talley's book and is much like the Klondike in that it has been retooled (by the FACTORY!!!) into a limited edition FINA Pony Express. I haven't a clue as to how many of these were made, but it couldn't have been very many. Please Click On Each Thumbnail For An Enlarged View! Photos thanks to Dayle Moyer

Apparently this was a contest where the 2nd prize was the Nichols Fina Pony Express Stallion. This ad came from 1960.

Contribution by Dennis Rich. His dad won the Cap Gun and now he has a treasure.

As you have already guessed, I am a sucker for putting more photos of the Klondike on the site. The particulars about this particular gun aren't as particular as you might think. Actually everybody seems to have a lot of confusion. Most of all...ME!

Thanks to Steve Arlin




	Stallion 38 MK-II



				This is a "Klondike Knock-Off" because when the TV show went off the air, some genius thought it might make sense to re-use the tooling and make some other guns to sell. So Nichols made the Stallion 44, the Stallion 38 MK-II and the FINA versions. Instead of the usual sizes, I have made the pop-ups as large as Steve Arlin sent me. This Cap Gun is RARE (!!!) and EXPENSIVE. Fortunately for you collectors, I don't consider this one to be part of the Basic Nichols Set. Thanks Steve for these photos!










	Be Sure To Click On The Thumbnails!

Call me CRUEL, but these two photos are for those of you who are gluttons for punishment. These are from Steve Arlin's collection. This is probably the most expensive photo of a small group of Cap Guns that you are ever going to see!!! They are probably worth that Steinway that I have been praying for all of my life. If that isn't enough cruelty, then if you click on them, you will get even larger photos of them. If your monitor doesn't show without scrolling on the bigger photos, then too bad. Buy a bigger one. It will be a lot cheaper than buying these four Cap Guns. The Stallion 44 and the Stallion 38 MK-II were not marketed by Nichols, but were sold to Mr. Murphy to be a part of his "Notch-It" series with the wooden grips. Very nice if you have one, sorry if you don't. I don't!!!

Thanks to Steve for these photos. (above and below)

As mentioned above, the Stallion 44 and the Stallion 38 MK-II were not marketed by Nichols, but were sold to Mr. Murphy to be a part of his "Notch-It" series with the wooden grips. Very nice if you have one, sorry if you don't. I don't!!!

Here is a close-up of the famous Nichols FINA Pony Express on the left side. Folks, this is a really rare Cap Gun. I wish I owned one myself!!!
Photo thanks to Tom Reilly.




	Ultra-Rare Nichols FINA Oil Pony Express



				If you know me at all, then you know that I just can't resist showing off another good set of views of a great gun. This Cap Gun was given as a prize at certain FINA gas stations back in the 1960's.








	Be Sure To Click On The Thumbnails! Special thanks to David Denton for these photos.

Here we have a nice Nichols Pony Express with a beautiful holster. As previously stated, this is one of the rarest cap guns of all time.
Photo thanks to our friend Ed Manes!




	The Three Finishes of The Stallion 38 Pasadena, Texas







	Very few people in the world would have the resources to furnish photos like this, so we are indebted to Steve Arlin. These photos depict the three finishes that Nichols put on the Stallion 38 during its Pasadena stint. They are (top to bottom): (1) triple-plated chrome (2) Nickel plating (3) Korean war plating The (1) chrome plating was as follows: copper on the zinc alloy because nickel doesn't stick to the alloy, (2) the nickel plating was a 2-step process and is very slightly more dull and not as hard and durable and (3) the Korean war plating was due to the fact that during the war, there was a scarcity of chrome and especially the zinc alloy ZAMAK, so they had to scrounge around in junk yards for carburetors and the quality of the plating wasn't very good. However, for us collectors that makes a Cap Gun that is even more desirable, for these have proved to be more rare. You will notice that it has sort of a yellowish tint to it. Steve calls this last one the "mystery plating." So from now on, you must as well. When you click on the thumbnails, the largest photos have been left especially large so that you might more easily see any details. Be Sure To Click On The Thumbnails! All Photos Thanks To Our Good Friend Steve Arlin




	A Stallion 38 from Down Under?







	And finally...just to show how popular Nichols Cap Guns were...here's a Stallion 38 that Steve thinks was copied (and sold) by the M Hand Co. of New Zealand. Ain't that the beatin'est thing!!! It's like they bought the dies from Nichols and then altered them to remove any trace of Nichols, Jacksonville, Texas and U.S.A. and then stuck a Circle "H" on them. And the finish? The finish is beautiful. You will also note that on the loading gate, the "Use Stallion Caps" is gone too. I don't know why they kept the Stallion 38 under the cylinder. I would still like to have one of these, but you know Cap Guns. If they have been made, they are probably over at Steve's house! Be Sure To Click On The Thumbnails! All Photos Thanks To Our Good Friend Steve Arlin.

This is the same type display as we have seen for the Stallion 45 and Stallion 32. I don't know which is the rarest, only that I don't have any!
Thanks to Jack Rosenthal of Toys and More for these photos. Now wake up; when I say "these" I mean you can click on this photo and there's a bigger one "behind" it.

Here's some nice Stallion holsters from our good friend Ed Manes.