| Throughout the history of toys there has always | | | | one of the most realistic looking and sounding |
| been a category of toys that have gotten plenty | | | | guns ever made at the time. This was the Heavy |
| of heat from parents and educators. Guns. Back | | | | Machine Gun. It had a really loud rat-tat-tat sound |
| in the 60s there were more kinds of guns and | | | | when you fired it that could scare the heck out |
| gun sets sold as toys than you can possibly | | | | of anyone within hearing distance. The ammunition |
| imagine. Think we're kidding? Take a look at some | | | | belt rotated around and around to make it look |
| of the more popular of these sets that parents | | | | like you were really firing bullets. And to top it off, |
| have had to contend with over the years.In the | | | | the barrel lighted up when you fired it. One of the |
| early 60s there was a show by the name of | | | | most realistic guns ever made and a kid |
| Combat. Vic Morrow was so convincing as | | | | favorite.Later on, in the 1970s, another popular |
| Sergeant Saunders that every kid wanted to be | | | | gun came out. It was called Friction Sparkling M-16. |
| him. The toy companies cashed in on this. One of | | | | This was a 21 inch rapid firing machine gun. When |
| the most popular toy sets of the early 60s was | | | | you pulled the bolt back and fired, similar to the |
| the Combat toy set. It was simple enough. It | | | | Combat Thompson, it made a very realistic sound. |
| came with Saunders Thompson Machine Gun, his | | | | You could also see a bunch of sparks coming out |
| 45 caliber pistol, a hand grenade and his helmet. | | | | of the barrel. The gun was rather light weight but |
| Instant Saunders and the kids ate it up while | | | | it was very realistic looking and another kid |
| parents cringed.War wasn't the only theme of gun | | | | favorite.Of course, with the war in Vietnam, toy |
| sets back in the early 60s. There was another | | | | makers weren't going to miss cashing in on it. In |
| show called "The Man From Uncle". This show | | | | the 1960s they came out with the Cong Buster |
| stared Robert Vaughn and David McCullem as | | | | Jungle Gun Set. This set came with a 45 caliber |
| two secret agents. The show was so popular that | | | | squirt gun and a canteen. The gun and canteen |
| it too brought about some pretty cool toys. You | | | | were both made of very hard plastic and could |
| could get the Man From Uncle gun, security | | | | withstand just about anything.These few guns |
| badges and other gadgets that the show made | | | | don't even scratch the surface of the number of |
| popular. This was another big hit with the kids of | | | | guns and gun sets that came out in the 60s and |
| the time.Need a little more fire power? No | | | | 70s. If you'd like to find out more about these |
| problem. There was a gun made in Japan during | | | | vintage guns, don't worry. Another installment in |
| the late 60s that became very popular and was | | | | this series is coming. |