This Website
Copyright ©  

Mike Nichols
All Rights Reserved








For some reason I can't quite explain, the Stallion 41-40 has always been my personal favorite Nichols Cap Gun. Maybe it's the wonderful scrollwork or the flip-out cylinder. Maybe it's the correct size. Perhaps it's the good looking proportions and the stag grips. Or, maybe it's because one Christmas my Uncle Talley surprised me and my cousin John Yocom (a year older) with a twin set of Stallion 41-40s with black custom holsters! (Or all of the above) No matter, this cap gun has endeared itself to thousands of people over the years and consistently remains one of the most highly prized (and most highly priced) guns in the series. A mint condition Stallion 41-40 in a perfect box will cost you about as much as a minor Van Gogh. Or at least it will feel that way to those of you who paid $1.98 in 1958. Darn! I wish I still had that set. (New of course!)

After you see the Stallion 41-40, remember that there are quite a few other Stallions on this website, but the Stallion 300 Saddle Gun is listed under "Rifles."

Here's what Jed Niederer thinks is where the name and style came from.
"I think I have solved the mystery about the naming of your Stallion 41-40. I stumbled upon some information about the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 44 - 40. Yep, .44 -.40 Caliber is the reference. See attached photos. Check out the scrollwork and the 44 - 40 on the barrel. Quite a resemblance. I'm betting Talley, or one of your kin, was inspired by the 44 - 40 and built your favorite 41 - 40." — Thanks for the photos Jed





A nice example of a Stallion 41-40 showing the flip-out side. This right side view also shows the little lever used to release the flip-out cylinder. Sadly, this is the only part of the gun I would have changed. I would have made it a little thicker so that it wasn't so fragile.
(Psssssst.......If you own some of these levers, get in touch!)

Click on box to see a larger view
The above photo shows the nice grips. There are also some grips that had a lot of brown in them—thus looking more "Stag Horn-ish." This cap pistol also uses the same 2-piece bullets as the Stallion 38 and others. One of the more wonderful things about the flip-out cylinder is that once out, you can push the knurled rod on the front of the flip-out assembly towards the rear of the gun and it will push out the bullets! What a great feature!

A little kid would "casually" let his friend show him his cap gun, and THEN he would pull out HIS Stallion 41-40 and (again very casually) flip out the cylinder........and push out the bullets.

..... Case Closed!
........ Humiliation Complete!

This is a sensational photo of the front end of the Stallion 41-40 showing what the neighbor's kid would be seeing after YOU flipped out the cylinder.
Thanks Robert Nichols for the photo!



Another fine photo showing the very classy grips on the Stallion 41-40.
Thanks Jamie Linford for the photo!

(One of our advertisers!)



A close-up showing the (now) standard Circle "N." You can see the flashing here as it came out of the die casting machine. After the casting, the pistol was put into another "die" and a press came down and WHAM! All of the extra flashing was removed. Next they were taken to the plating facilities.



Nice close-up of the cylinder with
the six 2-piece bullets
Photo by Jamie Linford




A bullet clip that was furnished for many of the smaller Stallion cap guns including the Stallion .41-40.
Photo by Jamie Linford

(One of our advertisers!)

It is quite possible that it is impossible to get a better photo of the Stallion 41-40 barrel than this. Otherwise I would have reduced the size of this photo in order to get this page to load more quickly. I hope that you will be patient in this website, for "normally" you don't build a site that has so many photos nor such large ones, but I figure that since this site is designed to be a repository of knowledge on Cap Guns, that you will forgive a slow-loading page out of your desire to "see it all."

Thanks Joe Chapman for the photo above and below! (Learn photo tips from this man!!!)





This whole Cap Gun just has simple amazing scrollwork. When you think of the best scrollwork, and not just the most, but the finest in excellent quality and taste, you must think of the Stallion 41-40.
It was not rare to have a broken Stallion 41-40, as the stress on the swing mechanism was acute and it was common to have the frame crack. However, since the screw on the frame held it all together, then one did not always notice this situation. I have one that exhibits this very problem.

However, as previously stated, if you only can afford ONE Nichols Cap Gun, then this might make a good candidate. For me, it evokes many fond memories of youth. (Thank you Uncle Talley!)

Here's another great shot of the cylinder when it is out. Unusual, of course, for a revolver's cylinder to swing out to the right and not the standard Smith & Wesson left side.


Doggone this is a pretty set of Stallion 41-40s! It reminds me of the sets mentioned above that my Uncle Talley gave to John and me one Christmas. I may as well mention that John Yocom (my favorite cousin because of our closeness in age and general demeanor) was my Aunt Gwen's son, who is Uncle Talley's sister, and of course, my dad's sister.

Photos by Carl and Ginger Robbins

BE SURE TO CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS


And here is the Quick Draw Holster for the .41-40 (and the 38) AND 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 another one of those wonderful Melvin G. Miller Co., Inc. sets from Houston, Texas
CLICK ON PHOTO FOR LARGER PHOTO

This photo is by Theran Mills.



Nichols Stallion 41-40 Made in Great Britain
To me, this is about as weird as it gets. I think that my Uncle Talley would roll over in his grave to see something like this. Correct me if I'm wrong ANYBODY, but I can't imagine that while my uncle controlled the company, Nichols Industries would have allowed Great Britain to manufacture one of their premier Cap Guns. I have to think that it must have been done during the Kusan years, because the tooling would have had to be furnished to the Brits. But notice that it is quite clear that it was made in Great Britain.

Photos by Rich Hall
Be Sure To Click On The Thumbnails!






This Web Site © Copyright All Rights Reserved