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I always thought that this toy Derringer Cap Gun
was the first Nichols Cap Gun to come out with the "Firing Shells." I'm still
not sure. Probably one of you serious collectors will tell me. However, it came
out in 1961 and with its 3-piece bullets (and a strong supply of caps) I could
knock over small objects from across the living room. It reminds me of that
Christmas movie where everybody tells the star (Ralphie) that if he got a BB
gun, he would shoot his eye out. Well, I never shot my eye out. My sister was
the target. (Just kidding!) However, before they lowered the muzzle velocity of
these, I'm sure you could do some major damage. As it was, you wouldn't want to
get hit in the eye.
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Here is the Derringer with some ammo. Those 3-piece bullets are
always good to get and you can hardly have too many of them. They are sort of
like the Stallion 38 bullets, but have an enlarged end to accept the plastic
pellet and there are ribs on the edges of the alloy part to vent more gas to
lower the velocity.
This shows the break-down of
the Derringer and a
3-piece bullet that has the plastic pellet
removed.
Slip the shell in, cock it, fire it. BANG!
Just watch where you
aim! |
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Here is an authentic original card with the
Firing Shells and lots of extra plastic pellets.
Photo contributed by
New
England Auction Gallery |
If the above photo
wasn't enough for you, then this contribution from Jamie Linford, should really
do the trick. The kit on the left is simply amazing. I have never seen it
before nor do I know where it came from. A gold Nichols Stallion cap box?
Amazing! If I could buy either of these kits for 40 CENTS, then I would sell
everything I own and buy as many as I could. Click on the above photo for an
even larger one.
The loading operation of this cap gun is that you
press a button on the left side (The photo below shows the button right above
the screw behind the trigger.) and the barrel swings up—exposing the
3-piece bullet—or an empty hole if you haven't been able to buy a bullet
yet. These 3-piece bullets are actually valuable and people like to bid on them
at auctions. If a Derringer were auctioned and came with 3 bullets, then the
bullets would easily outvalue the gun! (Probably even ONE bullet these
days!)
Speaking of the bullet, the bullet is the same that is used by
the Buccaneer, Detective, the Model 95 Rifle and the Model 61 Stallion. Very
useful to own a few thousand. Retirement pay.
A
very rare copper-plated pellet-firing Derringer.
Photo contributed by Robert
Nichols
This is actually
a pretty fine cap pistol and was very well made. It is almost a carbon copy of
the original Derringer, but is about 2/3rds size. Still, it was popular enough
(and common enough) that you can find one very easily. |
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Click on these half-sized photos to see it
larger. This is the blued version.
Photos by Bill Zide |
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Dueling Sets
by Nichols!
(from 1962
brochure)
CLICK ON PHOTO
Thank you
Robert Nichols! |
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Some of you just dream of actually finding a set
like this at a flea market. And then some of you actually find one.
This Derringer Heirloom Dueling set is one
of the most rare prizes you will find. And when you think about the fact that
the box is the whole secret, then it is quite amazing that it exists at all!
The Derringers themselves are not that rare, the bullets are more rare, but the
box? Well don't hold your breath!
As far as I can tell, the heirloom dueling sets only
came out in 3 models: The Buccaneer, the Derringer and the Stallion Model 61.
(the rarest!)
Photo contributed by
Lynn Kessler |
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First National Bank Derringer Party Set
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Now
here's a set you're not likely to EVER see!!! This was a one-of-a-kind given
away at a party honoring the First National Bank on March 10, 1962.
Many thanks
to Tom Wallace for these photos! |
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These two Derringers on the cards are
actually different. I suspect that the one on top came first because it has
caps. The upper one looks like it has black grips, whereas the bottom one looks
like brown grips. I don't know if the area in the upper right would have been
98 cents (probably) or $1.98 or 69 cents. You tell me. But I can tell you that
the doggone (!!!) bullets and the plastic plugs are worth much more than you
would think. About the price of a Michelin tire!
From the Chuck
Quinn collection
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