Toy IJ "Owl Head" w/images

[45Auto]

Sorry for the long delay in making and posting these images.



Above is a hollow cast iron or cast steel toy next to an actual .32 IJ safety hammerless revolver for comparison. The toy has no moving parts or maker's marks. The only remarkable aspect of the toy is that it was cast with the Owl Head grips for which Iver Johnson was famous.



The grip of the toy is not an exact Iver Johnson match. For example, there is no "IJ" flanking the grip screw hole. For this reason, I would suppose the toy was not made by Iver Johnson but by a toy maker without permission. I would guess the toy was made back in the days when the "Owl Head" was well known. Maybe prior to the introduction of the 3rd model.

Not being a toy collector I have nothing but guesses about the vintage of this toy and no idea of who made it. The toy tends to show how famous the Owl Head once was.

Best regards,
Greg

[b.goforth]

i agree that this is most likely of pre1909 manufacture. the iver johnson's arms and cycle works safety automatic revolvers were popular and well known between 1894 and 1941. the owl head grip revolvers were mentioned in several songs and numberous fiction books. the company slogan "hammer the hammer" was so well known that at least one letter from europe and addressed only to "Hammer the Hammer U.S.A. was delivered to the iver johnson factory in Fitchburg MA around 1909.

it would be interesting to hear from anyone who might have knowledge of older toy guns.

bill