Comments on: A Christmastime Price War—Over a Toy Ray Gun

By: Eric Long

Eric Long — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:19:41 +0000

Lane,

Its really a color image, just artifacts without much color. Call me.

202-633-2502

Eric Long

By: Kevin O'Hare

Kevin O'Hare — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:35:11 +0000

I have all the guns mentioned .The XZ-31 “rocket pistol” is a a pop gun and is chocked by rotating the handle forwards ,as does the smaller “Wilma ” , Daisy also made a rubber dart gun of the Wilma were the loading of the dart chocked the gun . The XZ-38 Disintegrator and the U-235 Atomic Pistol are spark guns with a replaceable flint. The XZ-44 Liquid Helium does not have a leather pouch or bladder ,but a leather piston in a metal tube . The end of the barrel is put in water and the ring on the rear is pulled back sucking in water ; each pull of the trigger moves the piston forward 1/4 inch for multiple squirts .

By: Margaret Weitekamp

Margaret Weitekamp — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:38:14 +0000

Lane, if you’re still reading, you can contact the Museum at nasmrefdesk@si.edu to ask about getting a copy of Eric Long’s beautiful photograph of the ray guns.

By: Margaret Weitekamp

Margaret Weitekamp — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:27:32 +0000

Jon, Sadly, once these object become museum artifacts, no one gets to play with them (not even the curators!). So I’ve never actually shot them. But the XZ-31 can be cocked and then fired when the trigger is pulled. It makes a popping sound (no sparks). The XZ-38 produced the next year did have a window at the top where you could see sparks created by a flint. And the XZ-44 Liquid Helium Toy Water Pistol from 1936 used a leather pouch inside the metal body to hold the water “ammunition.” Some Flash Gordon guns created by Louis Marx did feature shooting sparks created by a flint at the end of the muzzle.

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:04:53 +0000

More details, please: the trigger appears to be movable; what happens when it’s pulled? Does it fire caps, shoot sparks, eject water, or let a sticker out with a flag that says “Zap?”

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:54:06 +0000

I own the the XZ-31 itself, my dad gave it to me for my 20th birthday ten years ago:)

By: Lane

Lane — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:43:24 +0000

The B&W image of the three models is excellent, I’d buy it. Is it for sale?

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:44:46 +0000

Hi. I’ve been collecting vintage ray guns for many years, and in all that time I’ve never even heard that the prototype for the XZ-31 still existed. And if I had known about it, I certainly never imagined I’d be able to see it. Thanks so much for posting this article and the accompanying photos — it’s truly a thrill and has in many ways made my week.

Toy ray guns were props of imagination, a way for kids to have their own science fiction adventures just like the ones they read about in the pulps. Along with the holsters, helmets, space-phones, and other accoutrements, they created an immersive style of play that I’m certain planted the seeds for future astronauts, engineers, explorers — not to mention writers, filmmakers, artists, and, probably, future toy makers.

It’s really wonderful to see these toys recognized by the museum. I’m looking forward to making it down there to see the exhibit for myself.

By: Randall Neff

Randall Neff — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:48:40 +0000

Air and Space should post 3D scans of the three ray guns
for 3D printer experts.