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Toy gun

arts Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Toy guns are objects made to look like real firearms. People use them for casual play or organized sports.

A popgun
A popgun

These toys come in many different sizes and prices. They can be made from wood, metal, or plastic. Some makers use a mix of these materials. Many modern toys use bright colors and strange shapes. This helps people know they are toys and not real weapons.

Cap gun
Cap gun

There are many ways these toys work. Cap guns use a small percussion cap to make a loud bang and a puff of smoke.

Spring operated gun toys
Spring operated gun toys

Pop guns use air pressure to launch a cork or foam piece. An inventor named Edward Lewis made the pop gun.

Water guns use a pump to spray jets of water. Some toys, like spud guns, use air to fire a piece of potato.

Spud Gun
Spud Gun

Foam dart blasters shoot soft darts or balls.

History shows how these toys have changed over time. Rubber band guns became popular after rubber bands were patented. Stephen Perry patented them in England on March 17, 1845.

RBGPooma1
RBGPooma1

Early cap guns were made of heavy cast iron. After World War II, makers began using zinc alloy instead. Most new cap guns are made of plastic now.

Cap gun
Cap gun

In the 1930s, Daisy Outdoor Products made famous rocket pistols. These toys were inspired by stories in comics and movies.

Jo-Jo0736
Jo-Jo0736

Some toys are used for serious games and sports. Airsoft guns shoot small plastic pellets in competitive games.

Bi-3681
Bi-3681

Paintball guns use gas to shoot paintballs at targets.

PaintBallMarker
PaintBallMarker

Laser tag uses infrared light beams instead of physical objects.

サバイバーショット初期型
サバイバーショット初期型

There are also light guns for video games. These use sensors to see light from a TV screen.

Nintendo-Entertainment-System-NES-Zapper-Orange-L
Nintendo-Entertainment-System-NES-Zapper-Orange-L

Even gel blasters use water beads for play.

Toy guns also appear in training and fiction. The military uses "dummy guns" to teach soldiers how to handle weapons.

Ship's Serviceman secures spaces during security reaction force (SRF) training scenario
Ship's Serviceman secures spaces during security reaction force (SRF) training scenario

These are sometimes called "blue guns" or "rubber ducks." In movies, actors use prop guns that look very real.

Cap gun
Cap gun

Science fiction stories often feature ray guns. These imaginary weapons fire energy beams.

Space Pilot X Ray Gun made by Taiyo
Space Pilot X Ray Gun made by Taiyo

These stories help make toy versions very popular.

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🖼️ Images & Media (19)
File:A popgun.jpg
A popgun.jpg
File:Boy Marine Outfit.jpg
Boy Marine Outfit.jpg
File:Cap gun.jpg
Cap gun.jpg
File:Spud Gun.jpg
Spud Gun.jpg
File:Gerald-G-Water-Gun.svg
Gerald-G-Water-Gun.svg
File:Vintage 1950s Toy Cork Rifle ("Pop Gun") by All Metal Products, Wyandotte, Mich. (8401937535).jpg
Vintage 1950s Toy Cork Rifle ("Pop Gun")...
File:Space Pilot X Ray Gun made by Taiyo.jpg
Space Pilot X Ray Gun made by Taiyo.jpg
File:Headquarters and Support Battalion Kids Boot Camp 140424-M-SO289-058.jpg
Headquarters and Support Battalion Kids...
File:Bi-3681.jpg
Bi-3681.jpg
File:PaintBallMarker.jpg
PaintBallMarker.jpg
File:Nintendo-Entertainment-System-NES-Zapper-Orange-L.jpg
Nintendo-Entertainment-System-NES-Zapper-O...
File:サバイバーショット初期型.jpg
サバイバーショット初期型.jpg

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