Space Outlaw Space-Gun thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Space Outlaw Space-Gun

Cap Gun
1975-1982 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Space-themed cap gun, made from chromium-plated die-cast metal, with its original box. The gun takes the form of a futuristic pistol, the grip is deeply moulded to the holder's fingers. When the trigger is pulled, the hammer would hit the cap, with the flash being visible through the two red plastic 'windows' on either side of the stock. Pulling the trigger also enables a spring-loaded recoiling action, where the barrel protrudes and then snaps back very quickly. There is a lifting front sight on top of the barrel, and a working rear sight it can be aligned with. Just in front of the trigger on the proper left side is a turning 'ray selector', by which various pretend 'ammunition' can be chosen: cosmic, sonic or gamma rays. On the opposite side is another dial, labelled 'range'.

The printed card box has a transparent plastic window on its front, and is printed with product information, the name of the manufacturer and an artist's image of two spacecraft in flight.


Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Pistol
  • Box
  • Packaging
TitleSpace Outlaw Space-Gun (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Chrome-plated die-cast metal, acrylic; printed card
Brief description
Cap gun with box, 'Space Outlaw Space-Gun'; metal, die cast; Great Britain, BCM, 1975-1982
Physical description
Space-themed cap gun, made from chromium-plated die-cast metal, with its original box. The gun takes the form of a futuristic pistol, the grip is deeply moulded to the holder's fingers. When the trigger is pulled, the hammer would hit the cap, with the flash being visible through the two red plastic 'windows' on either side of the stock. Pulling the trigger also enables a spring-loaded recoiling action, where the barrel protrudes and then snaps back very quickly. There is a lifting front sight on top of the barrel, and a working rear sight it can be aligned with. Just in front of the trigger on the proper left side is a turning 'ray selector', by which various pretend 'ammunition' can be chosen: cosmic, sonic or gamma rays. On the opposite side is another dial, labelled 'range'.

The printed card box has a transparent plastic window on its front, and is printed with product information, the name of the manufacturer and an artist's image of two spacecraft in flight.
Dimensions
  • Gun length: 25.5cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'MADE IN ENGLAND / REGD. DESIGN NO. 876355 / PAT. PEND.' (Located on inside of gun, on the cap magazine.)
  • '-RECOIL ACTION / -TAKES 100 SHOT CAP ROLL / -PLATED DIE-CAST METAL / -FIRING FLASH AND SMOKING FEATURE' (Printed on box)
Object history
Part of the Edward Castle collection.
Production
BCM produced several versions of the Space Outlaw cap gun from around 1960. This version dates from between 1975, when the company was taken over by the Morris Vulcan Group, and 1982, when it arrived in the Museum.
Subjects depicted
Other number
876355 - Registered Design number
Collection
Accession number
B.212:1 to 3-2016

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Record createdNovember 4, 2016
Record URL
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