RARE VINTAGE NICHOLS STALLION 45 CAP PISTOL, W/ 3 SHELLS AND AN EXTRA CYLINDER

Description

I have owned this toy cap pistol since it was purchased new in 1950. It is quite rare, and in very good condition. I am not an expert, but it appears to be die-cast, and there is very little separation at the seams where the two sides are joined. It could use a good cleaning, but I will leave that to the next owner, if desired.
Trigger is disconnected. Hammer is intact with a strong spring, and the cylinder rotates when turned manually. It has never been disassembled. The bullet ejector spring works fine. Both grips are original and fully intact, with no cracks or chips, and the red "jewels" are in place. Three original cartridges remain, but the lower half of each one is missing. A second cylinder is included, which is missing an interior piece.
Nichols Industries, Inc. was started in 1948 in Jacksonville, Texas. Production of this toy pistol, which is a full scale replica of the Colt 45 "Peacemaker", began in 1950. It was named "Toy of the Year" in 1950 at the World Toy Fair in NYC, and was considered the best toy cap gun ever made at the time. A later version of this pistol, the Mark II, came out later, and is more common.
This toy gun is not dangerous. It does not fire dangerous projectiles, and cannot be modified to do so. This replica gun contains colored markings required by law, including a permanently attached orange plug.