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Bang, Pow… CLICK?
By Jim Schleyer
Author of Backyard Buckaroos

Extremely rare and very large "G-Man Six Shooter" clicker made in 1941-42 by G-Man Six Shooter Inc. of Santa Monica, California. Seldom seen as I'm sure the ban on using metals during the war years curtailed their production.

Many a time, our allowance and chore money wasn't quite enough for that new cap pistol, so reluctantly, we'd choose a "Tin Clicker!" Actually a misnomer, as these toy pistols were more often pressed steel, although some were tin or plastic. A wide variety of "clicker" pistols and rifles were made by many of the larger toy companies. Perhaps they were simply a cheap novelty, something different, a toy easier to manufacture, or maybe produced to secure sales in locations where cap pistols were prohibited. I have seen ads from the 1900-1920 era that listed 10c to 29c clicker guns, so they have been available for nearly a century!

As a youngster, I vividly recall taking apart a "5 Star" clicker made by Marx to create two guns for a double holster set! Many of these same clicker models were also produced as water pistols, dart guns, flashlights, sirens, sparking pistols, rubber band shooters and bell toys. Although not being very popular with most toy gun collectors, they are quite rare as the mortality rate for these pistols was far greater than cast-iron and die-cast cap pistols. A few examples exist that reveal beer and soda labels inside as the metal from scrap cans was utilized to make toys!

Well known toy companies produced many of these clicker guns such as: Marx, Wyandotte, Ohio Art Company, Pyro and Daisy. Some small manufacturing plants, who were granted government contracts during WW-II, made pressed steel toys after the war ended, but most remain anonymous, as they seldom stamped their toys. A few of the lesser known toy companies include: Cadillac Specialty Co. of Detroit, MI; Corcoran Pressed Steel Mfg. Co. of Washington, IN; Myer & Shaw Mfg. Co. of Detroit, MI; Frandine Mfg. Co.; Harrison Novelty & Toy Co. of NJ; Ronson Mfg. Co; L.E. Mohawk Co. of NY; Elliott Corp.; Kennedy-Warren Mfg., Co. of Piqua, OH; and G-Man Six Shooter Inc. of Santa Monica, CA. Further research will undoubtedly uncover more companies who produced these collectible toy guns.

To most of you collectors the lingering smell of a fired cap will never be forgotten and to many others the sound of a clicker is immediately recognizable! Somehow, "CLICK… I got you," doesn't carry the same impact as "BANG!"

— Jim Schleyer

Early and rare U.S. Army .45 made by Marx probably in the 1920-25 era. Note the lanyard ring and remnants of a red cord.

Unusual and rather quaint interpretation of an Army .45 attributed to the Myer & Shaw Manufacturing Company of Detroit, Mich. Probably from the 1920-30 era.

Rare, gun blue, clicker revolver with unusual inset star medallions on both sides and raised grip panels. No markings or maker name and possibly from the 1930's.

Superb chrome finished Marx clicker with inset celluloid grips and red jewels on both sides. The grips have been engraved "Al Capone"! Made in the 1920-30's.

Outstanding detail and very rare Savage Automatic clicker made in plastic by the Harrison Toy & Novelty Corp. of N.J. in the 1950 era.

Extremely rare "FIVE STAR GENERAL" Army .45 in chrome finish attributed to the Corcoran Pressed Steel Toy Co. of Washington, IN from the 1945-50 era.

Unusual shaped chrome finished revolver with raised grips and a lanyard ring made by Wyandotte in the 1940-50 era. There are purple jewels on both sides and a toy lanyard cord is still attached. This was found in a Wyandotte Mountie set.