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A cap gun or cap pistol is a toy gun that creates a loud sound akin to a gunshot and a puff of smoke when the trigger is pulled. Cap guns were originally made of cast iron, but after World War II were made of zinc alloy, and most newer models are made of plastic.

hooded”>http://www.himfr.com/buy-hooded_outerwear/”>hooded outerwearCap guns get their name from the small discs of explosive compounds (roughly 1.4 to 1.6 mm in diameter) that provide the noise and smoke, effectively the same as the separate percussion cap used to replace the flintlock in real firearms, although invariably smaller and made from cheap plastic or paper rather than soft metal. Some are arranged in plastic rings of six, seven, or eight. There are also single caps, roll caps (of 50 to 500), and disk caps, all of which were actually extremely small versions of percussion fireworks. Armstrong’s mixture is often used as the explosive.

Cap guns became especially popular when the heroes of cinema and television rode through the West ridding the territories of villains. Many cap guns were named after or endorsed by leading matinee idols like Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, The Lone Ranger, Tonto, Dale Evans, Marshal Matt Dillon, or any of countless others.

The “Golden Age” of cap guns was after World War II when television became popular and such companies as Nichols Industries, Hubley, Kenton, Kilgore, Wyandotte, Classy, Mattel, Actoy, Esquire, George Schmidt, and Stevens made millions of cap guns in various versions. While many had their names patterned after a hero or heroine, many cap guns also were named “Stallion 45″, “Pony”, “Mustang”, “Pioneer”, “Cowboy”, “Texan”, “Colt 45″, “Rodeo”, and such.

From the end of the war until about 1965, children all over the world emulated their heroes and collected and played with these toy guns. However, when the Western television shows began to fade away and the heroes retired, the popularity of the toy guns also diminished and eventually all of the famous cap gun manufacturers either sold out to other toy companies or started manufacturing other types of toys.[citation needed]

There were many types of cap guns, including small guns like Derringers, large rifles, and working miniatures of most of them, one of which (the most famous) was named after the television show, The Rifleman. The pistols generally were in 3 styles, the semi-automatic, the revolver (that actually had a revolving cylinder) and the revolver that looked like a regular revolver, but opened to load a roll of caps. Almost all of the early models used either roll caps or circular disks of caps, but in 1950 Nichols Industries came out with a large model called the Stallion 45, which had a revolving cylinder into which individual bullets were loaded, which each had two parts. The circular cap was placed into the 2-piece bullet and then when the gun was loaded and fired, it was very realistic. Eventually several companies used this idea and a few years later Nichols invented a plastic bullet that was inserted into a hollowed out version of the regular 2-piece bullet and when the gun was fired, the plastic pellet shot out of the end of the barrel. Eventually Mattel also came out with a model called Shootin’ Shells.

Ring cap guns are usually modeled after revolver pistols, with the cap ring placed in the cylinder section of the toy gun. Like its real-world counterpart, when the trigger is pulled, the cylinder rotates a new cap into place, the hammer is drawn back, and then released; the shock causes the cap to explode harmlessly, producing the noise and smoke.

Strip or paper cap guns use the aforementioned cap strip in lieu of the cap ring. As in the ring style of gun, each pull of the trigger advances the cap strip forward, pulls back the hammer, and then strikes the cap.

Cap guns in the United States[1] and Canada must be manufactured with a bright orange, red, or yellow tip placed over the “muzzle” of the cap gun, or with the entire gun made in these or other bright colors.[citation needed] Laws requiring these markings were made because of incidents where civilians – usually children or teenagers – were killed by police officers at times of low visibility (such as dusk or nightfall) when the officers thought they saw real guns, but these incidents were very rare.[citation needed]

There are millions of collectors throughout the world who collect all types of cap guns,[citation needed] even though restrictive laws in some areas may make it difficult.[citation needed] Whereas the toy guns brought small prices originally, they now command significant prices for many models, with some of the most famous sets of holsters, guns and original boxes selling for high prices at auctions and toy gun shows. Some collectors will collect all types of cap guns, but many collectors specialize in either guns named after a famous western hero or a particular company’s set, like the Nichols Industries or Hubley cap guns.

Caps have occasionally been used in toys other than cap guns where an explosive effect is desired. One example would be the “Thunder Punch” version of the He-Man action figure from the original 1980s Masters of the Universe toy line. Ring caps were placed in a “backpack” integrated into the figure, which contained the striking mechanism for the caps (as well as tiny vents to allow smoke from a triggered cap to escape). This mechanism was triggered by drawing the figure’s spring-loaded right arm back and releasing it to swing forward; the explosion of the cap was intended to simulate a thunderous noise caused by the supposed superhuman power of the character’s punch.

The Civil War is considered one of the first “modern” wars because of advances made in Civil War weapons. These developments included more sophisticated rifles, and the use of entirely new weapons, including the Gatling gun, an early machine gun. Colt and Remington revolvers were used on both sides, and these pistols were said to be highly liked by troops. Large quantities of both types of revolver were used as Civil War weapons, although they were typically owned by officers or mounted soldiers. In fact, over 150,000 Colt Revolvers were delivered to Union soldiers during the war.

Many Civil War soldiers also used rifles. The Springfield Model 1861 was the most widely used rifle, favored for its range, accuracy, and reliability. This rifle included several advances in gun technology, including the use of percussion caps rather than flintlocks. The Enfield 1853 musket was the second most widely used rifle in the war, on both the Confederate and Union sides. In fact, it is estimated that nearly one million Enfields were used as Civil War weapons, and they were used in every major battle of the war.

To load the typical Civil War musket, the soldier would pour in the black powder, drop in the round lead ball, pack it down using a ramrod, and then fire the weapon. Although time consuming, these Civil War weapons were actually quite advanced for their day. These Civil War weapons differed from their predecessors because they were able to fire more rapidly, and were more accurate from a distance.

The casualty rate during theCivil War Swords  was very high, in large part due to advances in Civil War weapons making them much more deadly than in previous wars. Besides these very popular guns, there were many other types produced in smaller quantities, as weapon manufacturers popped up in both the North and the South. Some of the advancements made during the Civil War include rifled muskets, repeating rifles, machine guns, and cartridge rounds.

I wonder if we ever consider how easy we have it with modern firearms?  Aim,pull the trigger and fire.  We even have scopes that allow anyone to hit a target with pinpoint accuracy.

It was not always so simple.  In the 17th and 18th centuries, before the advent of percussion ball and cap and long before metal cartridges appeared on the scene, loading a flintlock rifle was an involved process at the best of times.  It’s hard to imagine how those shooters of long ago were able to perform all that involved business with an enraged grizzly or a determined enemy rushing at them!

Here are the twelve steps it takes to load and fire a flintlock rifle or musket:

1. Bite down on the paper cartridge and tear it open with your teeth.

2. Push the striker (called a frissen) forward and pour a small amount of powder into the flash pan.

The powder in the pan was intended to ignite the main powder charge inside the firing chamber of the barrel, which would then propel the lead ball out of the barrel.  However, the spark struck from the flint often caused a quick explosion in the pan which failed to ignite the main charge.  This is where we get our expression, a “flash in the pan.”

3. Push the frissen  back into position to cover the flash pan.

4.  Hold the musket with the muzzle pointing up.

5. Pour the rest of the powder into the barrel from the muzzle.

6. Insert a lead ball into the barrel.

7. Push the cartridge paper into the barrel (called the “wadding”).

8.  Remove the ramrod from its storage pipe beneath the barrel and use it to push the wadding and the ball down the barrel.

This was easier to do with a musket than with a rifle.  The musket barrel had a slightly larger diameter, and its interior surface was polished smooth. A rifle had spiral grooves cut into the metal inside the barrel, which made the ball spin as it exited the barrel, thus increasing the accuracy of its flight.  The fit of the bullet inside the barrel had to be tighter to impart the spin, so the grooves and smaller diameter made it more difficult to ram the wadding and ball all the way down to the firing chamber.  Even though the rifle shot farther and more accurately, its slower rate of fire was the primary reason muskets continued to be used by military units until the late 1800s. Rate of fire was an important consideration in a battle where speed of firing was a matter of life and death. The invention of metal cartridges and breech loading (loading the bullet through an opening at the rear of the barrel near the firing chamber) finally put an end to the musket’s dominance in military use.

9.  Replace the ramrod in the storage pipe.

10. Raise the musket to a firing position, bracing the butt against the shoulder.

11.  Pull back the hammer.

12. Aim and fire.

We’ve all seen scenes in movies where an intrepid frontiersman, pressed for time by an approaching danger, simply left the ramrod in the barrel and fired, rather than removing it from the barrel and replacing it in the storage pipe.  The ramrod then became part of the ammunition propelled out of the barrel when the charge fired. In an extreme situation where those extra few seconds were a matter of life or death, this may well have been done.  But unless you had time to recover the ramrod from wherever it flew, the loss of it would render the weapon useless, so it seems unlikely that those frontiersmen made a habit of doing this. Whatever  became of the ramrod once it was used, though, it is clear from the steps above that loading and firing a flintlock was far from a simple proposition, and Dan’l Boone and countless other frontiersmen and soldiers who used them certainly deserve our admiration for being able to do it with such a high degree of dexterity and skill.

The rum cake recipe may originate from the early 1800’s, but the taste is always the same, whether then or now. The Denver Pie Company provides an authentic treat that have long pleased mountain men, cowboys and travelers across the Rocky Mountains. Made of the finest ingredients, the rum cake symbolizes all things great in Colorado history.

Created by a small family-owned business, The Denver Pie Company, this unique gift product is available for the more than 27 million annual travelers to Colorado and the surrounding states. The Rum Cake is packaged specially in natural earth-tone packaging combined with regional graphics and custom labeling. Ultimately, the rum cake provides retailer with a unique product to provide its customers.

Jason Kline, owner of The Denver Pie Company, says that each cake is still made the old-fashioned way – in small batches. The combination of vanilla and other secret ingredients and then a generous hand glazing with gold rum (straight from one of the oldest distilleries in the world) make this a mouth- watering experience. In addition, each cake is individually vacuum sealed, ensuring a shelf life of 6 months or indefinitely, if refrigerated or frozen.

“Visitors to this beautiful region of the U.S. deserve a high-quality, gourmet souvenir,” Kline said. The original Denver Pie product line originated with Peanut Butter and Key Lime variations. “We wanted to create a product to encourage the state’s millions of tourists to take home a piece of the Rocky Mountains.”

The story of the Rum Cake begins in early 1800s where beaver trappers and traders explored the expansive wilderness of the Rocky Mountains; they encountered American Indians and built forts that still stand today. It was not uncommon for these fur traders to carry a supply of rum with them through their travels. Not only was it used for trading, but cooking too.

The creation of the rum cake stems from a legend where on one cold winter’s night, a mountain man was enjoying some cake, but found it to be too dry. He doused the cake with some rum; it was so good that he later developed a method of immersing the cakes in rum syrup, and used it for trading at outposts all along the Rocky Mountains. This creation is enjoyed and sold today!

Kline’s enthusiasm toward his hometown is apparent. Many shop owners have found success with Rum Cakes as well. “These Rocky Mountain Rum Cakes convey a very warm and inviting feeling. They are a delicious and thoughtful gift. The flavor is exceptional! After all, it’s Rum and Cake! What could be better!” said Christine Shamrell, Gift Shop manager St. Regis Resort, Aspen

The American explorers, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, knew long before they left on their westward 1804 Corps-of-Discovery exploratory expedition that the success of their journey depended on their careful preparation beforehand and the experience and readiness of their crew. During that epic 28-month journey from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back, they roughed it through the unexplored northwest wilderness via the Missouri, Columbia, and smaller rivers, and the Rocky Mountains. They met and, in most cases, befriended 50 Native American tribes along the way. They also faced multiple dangers and hardships daily. To make that hazardous 8000-mile round-camping trip alive, they needed healthy, skilled crew members and sufficient supplies and luck to do it successfully. Four of their accomplishments are listed below.

1. They made their way to the Pacific Ocean and back with only one loss of life, apparently to appendicitis.

2. They informed the Native American tribes met on the way of their new U.S. leadership, and bartered with them for food, survival, peace, and future trade.

3. They discovered and documented 300 new plants and animals.

4. They kept hand written journals of their journey, and made numerous maps of it.

Much of their success can be summarized in the following five areas.

1. Preparing for the expedition (experience, training, and supplies)

2. Diplomacy among the Native Americans

3. Diversity and teamwork

4. Exploratory river route taken

5. Making it back alive.

1. Preparing for the expedition

* Spearheaded by President Thomas Jefferson, the expedition was a government-sponsored military project that took many months of advanced preparation and training together with the gathering of large amounts of supplies. Thus, when the expedition departed from the St Louis area in May of 1804, it comprised three large armed boats carrying 30-tons of supplies and more than 30 skilled crew members, mostly soldiers. The soldiers were dressed in military uniforms and regalia. Their supplies included food, water, bedding, baggage, clothing, 21-bales of gifts for the native tribes, and much equipment for navigating, camping, hunting, fishing, cooking, trading, blacksmithing, constructing (two winter forts), doctoring, writing, map-making, exploring, and defending themselves. The expedition had ample manpower and supplies to start the trip.

* Lewis and Clark were healthy, seasoned, highly capable leaders. Before departing, Lewis received extra training on astronomy, medicine, and natural science in Philadelphia.

* The selected crew members were disciplined, rugged outdoors-men, trained for failure, success, and dealing with the wilderness and the unknown.

* Unexpectedly, the Louisiana Purchase occurred just before the expedition departed. Thus, except for the northwest Oregon region, the corps explored the Louisiana Purchase as a new section of their own country.

2. Diplomacy among the Native Americans

* Most of the northwestern tribes were friendly. They were receptive to future trade with the U.S. for modern wares and hunting equipment. As a result, the corps enjoyed many councils, gift exchanges, peace-medal presentations, marching parades, pow-wows, feasts, dances, demonstrations, and outdoor games with these tribes.

* Yet, on the way northwest, a large South Dakota tribe wanted ransom for river passage. But their level-headed chief kept it from going too far, which prevented a heated argument early in the trip.

* During their sub-zero winter encampment in North Dakota, a large agricultural tribe nearby traded their stored dried corn for the expedition’s blacksmithing and medical skills. This corn gave the expedition a more balanced diet than the wild game alone.

* Further west, a large mountain-plains tribe provided the expedition with a guide, horses, and several human pack carriers for their climb over the Rocky Mountains. These provisions were made even though the tribe itself was starving, and was eager to go find meat at the time.

* On the other side of these mountains, another powerful tribe wanted to kill the weary expedition for its guns and plunder. But, an old woman there who had been treated well by the whites earlier in Canada intervened. She saved them. This same tribe then fed the cold starving expedition who had been eating everything from candles to colt meat during their late-season mountains passage.

* During their return from the Pacific and while waiting for the mountain snows to thaw, the corps earned their keep with a large friendly tribe by medically treating the old and ailing tribespeople there. In one case, a completely paralyzed old chieftain began to move his limbs after the corps gave him daily steam-bath treatments.

* Throughout the entire journey, the native tribes gave the expedition geographical tips, directions, rough maps, food, lodging, support, and services. They lodged their horses, and taught them how to burnout and use log canoes.

3. Diversity and teamwork

* As rugged woodsmen and, in some cases, half-breeds, the crew members had diverse abilities. They worked well together. They were scouts, hunters, sharpshooters, guards, fishermen, boatmen, boat/canoe makers, horsemen, soldiers, blacksmiths, gunsmiths, repairmen, trappers, campers, hikers, carpenters, traders, fiddlers, entertainers, cooks, tailors, negotiators, salt makers, nurses, and interpreters (English, French, Spanish, Indian, and signing).

* The presence of a woman, Sacagawea and her baby son, among the corps was a sign of peace to the tribes along the way. This fortunate situation prevented many potential conflicts with the tribes met. Sacagawea was the cool-headed wife of one of the hired interpreters. She was also an excellent gatherer of wild edibles and part-time guide. Additionally, she turned out to be the sister to an important tribal chief, the one who gave the expedition the horses and guide for crossing the mountains. Toward the end of their return journey, Clark wrote to her interpreter husband, “Your woman…diserved a greater reward for her attention and services on that rout than we had in our power to give her.”

* Clark’s personal slave, York, was tall, strong, and personable. The plains tribes and their children admired him greatly. He, along with Sacagawea, became highly important members to the expedition.

* Lewis’ black 115-pound Newfoundland dog, Seaman, guarded their night camps against wolves, bison, and grizzlies.

4. Exploratory river route taken

* The expedition’s route was far enough north that four armed companies sent out by a southwestern Spanish governor to find and stop them, never did.

* Much of the route was done on rivers and waterways, which gave the expedition a clear pathway to follow with minimum surprises, except for the strong turbulence of the Missouri River and the difficulty of crossing the Rocky Mountains. Yet, they were able to boat and canoe these rivers, and to cross the Bitterroot Range on horseback over known native trails.

* This route also allowed the Corps to see and experience firsthand the West’s vast native cultures, endless masses of game and wildlife, and lush pristine vistas in all seasons.

5. Making it back alive

* The expedition overcame endless hardships and close calls daily. Such hardships included lack of privacy, sickness, boils, sores, accidental injuries and knife/gunshot wounds, falls/spills, biting insects (many), poisonous snakes, thorny plants, bad weather, extreme temperatures, violent storms, hail, flooding, getting lost, stress, starvation, exhaustion, aches, pains, encounters with wild carnivorous animals (bears), depletion of trade goods, and potential death.

* After crossing back over the mountains on their return trip, the expedition divided into four groups to explore certain sections near two rivers, the Marias and Yellowstone. This temporary division spread them thin. All or any of these smaller groups could have been wiped out without the others knowing what had happened to them. Eventually, however, they all regrouped successfully on the Missouri River.

* When the corps made it back to St Louis, they were in dugout canoes and one boat, wearing buckskins, and “looking like Robinson Crusoe’s.”

In summary, when the expedition returned to St Louis in September of 1806 to the surprise of everyone, the welcoming crowd was ecstatic. By that time, most of the U.S. had thought the corps had died or vanished. No one had heard from them since the spring of 1805. Thus, after their return, many speeches and celebrations took place in St Louis and elsewhere. Lewis and Clark were appointed the Governor of the Louisiana Purchase and the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, respectively. Also, Lewis, Clark, and their crew members received sizeable land grants in Missouri for their successful journey.

Much of the corps’ success can be attributed to their being diversely well-prepared for that long dangerous journey, and to their ability to work well together while making their own luck along the way. They also had ample supplies to start with, which allowed them to adapt to their changing situations routinely, and to overcome the numerous hardships they encountered.

Author: J Delms
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty