Cap Gun Monday: MATTEL Rolling Block Rifle

The Rolling Block Rifle was one of Mattel's distinguished line of Shootin' Shell weapons. It was sometimes packaged alone (with a cowhide bandolier - not shown because I don't have one) and sometimes with a Shootin' Shell Fanner 50. It was modeled after a real Remington rifle fitted with a rolling breechlock between the hammer and the cartridge. Because that sounds a little complicated, it was also called (at least on the box) an "Indian Scout" rifle. It's about 30 inches long.

More Cap Guns HERE.

Cap Gun Monday: Mattel Zero W Fanner 50

Last week we looked at the holster (and the box) this baby came in. So here's the weapon itself, and aside from the sloppy application of the Zero W sticker, it's a fine piece of gunmaking. The smooth imitation woodgrain grips weren't used much on Fanners. In fact, the only other smooth-gripped Fanner I own is a silver job with white grips that came in a Lone Ranger holster. 

Cap Guns Galore HERE.

Cap Gun Monday: Mattel Zero W Fanner 50 (with box & holster)

I have mighty few cap guns in their original boxes, so I feel compelled to show off those I do. Next week, I'll yank this smokewagon out of the holster display it in all its glory. The Agent Zero W line was Mattel's answer to The Wild Wild West, which was of course TV's answer to 007, hence the "Zero."

More Cap Guns HERE.

Overlooked Films: Mattel SNUB-NOSE .38 Commercials

Two weeks ago I posted a couple of Mattel Shootin' Shell Fanner commercials (HERE), harkening back to my days as a half-pint gunslinger. This week I grant equal time to my inner detective. Yep, I had one of these Snub-Nose .38s, complete with badge and shoulder holster, and wore it to emulate my favorite private eye, Stu Bailey of 77 Sunset Strip. At the time, of course, I had no idea old Stu had been born in Roy Huggins' The Double Take, but that's another story (told HERE). 

I also had the Tommy Burst machine gun, but didn't know it was sold in a detective set. I used mine while wearing my plastic army helmet.

Gun Play: Mattel Fanner 50

I had a lot of cap guns when I was a little kid. And now that I'm a big kid I have a lot more than that. But the number one choice for my holster has always been the classic Mattel Fanner 50. Introduced in 1957, the Fanner remained the anchor of the Mattel cap gun line well into the late sixties. The early Fanners, like these, had a realistic nickel finish. Several variations in finish, grips, size and function were introduced over the years. We'll take a look at many of them, and other nonlethal weapons from my armory, as the Almanack rolls merrily along.