Cap Guns

Cap Guns for Collectors and Reenactors

Cap guns sit in a different category to blank guns. They use a paper or plastic ring of impact sensitive caps, held in a die cast frame, and they produce a small bang and a puff of smoke without any powder charge. That makes them the safest option for family events, school demonstrations and living history displays where a louder blank gun would not be appropriate.

The die cast replicas sold here are heavy enough to feel like a real revolver and finished to match the originals, from the nickel plated Colt style to the antique finished pocket models. Because they rely on a hammer striking a cap, they need more care than a solid replica: keep the cap channel clean and never force the hammer if a cap has jammed.

Common questions

Are cap guns safe for children?
They are much safer than blank guns, but they are not toys for unsupervised small children: the mechanism has pinch points and the caps make a sharp noise. Many of the models in this section are sold as adult collectibles.

What caps do they use?
Standard ring caps sized for the model, usually 6 shot or 8 shot rings. The model page lists the correct size.

Does a cap gun need cleaning?
Yes. Brush the cap residue out of the channel after each session; the residue attracts moisture and will pit the finish if it is left in place.