Spit-Fire Cap Gun by Nichols Industries, Inc.-Capgun Rifle

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	The book, A Brief History of Nichols Industries, Inc. AND ITS TOY GUNS would indicate that the Spit-Fire was the first rifle produced by Nichols Industries. Actually it was produced in the same year as the Stallion 300 Saddle Gun, 1958. Both are (sort of) replicas of the Winchester 30-30, The Gun That Won The West.




	Different Versions of the Spit-Fire



	The Spit-Fire Cap Cartridge Loading Hip Gun With Clip. This complete set is just a little more rare. The little clip goes over your belt. Both the gun and the bullets (obviously) are for right-handed people and are angled so that you can draw them more quickly. This is a single shot, so we bought some Stallion Round Caps.

Here is my Uncle Talley signing a Spit-Fire box that was owned by Jamie Linford. Uncle Talley would sign anything you asked him to and never charged anything for it. He always considered it a privilege. Now if I had just had the sense that Jamie had and had had him sign lots of things for me too!

Photo by Jamie Linford

It is only fitting that the first rifle Nichols produced would be for the little ones, as Uncle Talley was always thinking of the little cowboys and cowgirls. When this gun first came out, it was very popular—especially with yours truly. I don't think that anybody had ever quite seen anything like this before. So we just had to have one.

Fortunately the gun, by itself, only sold for 98 CENTS. Sounds cheap doesn't it? Well, in 1958 $ .98 was 4 weeks' allowance for me, maybe less for you. In those days you could go down to A & W Root Beer and get a cold one in a frosty mug for 5 cents. If you were feeling flush you could get a big one for 10 cents. You could play a round of miniature golf for 10 cents. (Tyler, Texas) So, that being said, we STILL saved up and bought one.

The true testament to how well these sold and how well they were built is how many are still in BIG KIDS' hands today. You will find them on the internet at auction almost as often as the Dyna-Mite.

When you cocked the lever, the chamber would slide out, pushing the hammer back (early models). It was single action only. Put the handle back to its original location and you were ready to shoot. You had to make it count because you only had one shot. Later in the year the Stallion 300 Saddle Gun alleviated that firepower shortage and once again Nichols was on top.



		A close-up of the Spitfire showing its action in play. The chamber would push the hammer back and it was cocked. The bullet didn't fly out when you did this, and this was also the way to load the gun. Click For Larger View

Nichols Industries Spit-Fire & Holster

Gun & Scabbard

A great fit!

Ruff "n Ready

Another angle

Please Click On Each Thumbnail For An Enlarged View!
Many thanks to Jim Turner for these photos!

Here is a really neat Spit-Fire holster photo furnished to us by Dayle Moyer! It is the McKinnon Company, He says that he believes they were in New York, not sure. They also made single and double holsters for many Cap Guns.




	Different Versions of the Spit-Fire



	The same gun as above, but taken out of the holster in order to show it all.

	How's this for a rarity? A copper-plated Nichols Spit-Fire. Not many of these around! Photo thanks to Robert Nichols

	You seldom see a Spit-Fire without the forestock! This is a late model that is more representative of the Kusan/Nichols days. I don't see "Spit-Fire" on the right side of this rifle, do you? Photo thanks to Robert Nichols

	And here is a contribution sent in of a non-forestock Spit-Fire that is blued! Photo thanks to Herb Taylor

	This is a rather rare version of the Spit-Fire that is blued and has dark walnut furniture. The lever, hammer, forestock clip, trigger and Circle "N" are also gold. Photo thanks to Jim Turner

	And here's one with the same holster as one above, but the furniture is turquoise. Our friend Dayle Moyer said he took it to Ben Graves (read: expert) and Ben said it looked authentic to him. I'm satisfied.

Here is a phenominal set of Spit-Fires and Spit-Fire imitations from our friend Dayle Moyer. My guess is that Dayle has more examples than anybody. Be sure to click on this "thumbnail" to see a really big photo of the same.

Here's a nice photo sent in by Robert Maiers who says, "I have two Nichols cap guns that my father received in the 1960's when he was a toy distributor selling Nichols cap guns. One is a Dyna-Mite derringer the other is a Spit-Fire. Both are gold in color and are in custom-made walnut cases. I think these were some sort of commemorative edition that was given out to distributors." (You're right Robert!)

Thanks!!!

This is one of the later models of the Spit-Fire that doesn't have the forestock. (with holster!)

Photo courtesy of Louise Utley

Obviously the Spit-Fire on top is a regular production Spit-Fire, but the one on the bottom is one that is made completely out of plastic. No metal parts. That's about as "dumbed down" as you can get. Richard says there is no "N" in the circle and so apparently doesn't know who made it. He says it is not quite the same size. I had never seen one before. How does he find these things? Maybe he stole it out of the Smithsonian.

Photo courtesy of Richard Strom of Jacksonville, Texas
Richard has one of the finest Nichols collections there is.
Lots of really unusual things I didn't know about.