Criss Cross
Jeff Bird Art presents Hubley, one of the oldest and best known toy cap gun manufacturers introduced the nickel plated die cast Rodeo toy pistol in the 1940′s. This matching set is surrounded by plastic cowboys, tiny horse shoes and a box of vintage roll caps and accented with two matching die cast cap pistols from the 1960′s all mounted on a mixed scrap wood lamination. The case is crafted from weathered recycled wood. Jeff Bird Art features recycled materials. 15″ wide by 13″ high.
Kick the Bucket Saloon
Rough sawn pine and oak trim from the scrap bin create the mood in this Jeff Bird Art piece. The good guy bad, guy conflict is epitomized in the 1960’s vintage plastic action figures. The ceramic letters are from an ancient kit, produced before graphics programs, and even before the home computer, they were used to create words for pictures, used in slide presentation. The PowerPoint of the previous generation. But the center of attention is a rare and much sought after Stallion 38, built in Jacksonville Texas plant of Nichols Industries accompanied by matching single shot caps and of course the wooden bucket salvaged from some kid’s school project (Yes, they said I could have it). (Re)Homed-SOLD
Black and White
While extending the barrel length of a hand gun makes it far more difficult to handle efficiently it increases the cap pistol’s accuracy significantly. Of course, with a cap gun that point is mute, however they look cool. In 1920, Kilgore introduced the Long Boy, enclosed by Jeff Bird Art is a very rare sample of that single shot piece. In the 1930′s National started selling the Trooper Safety. National left the cap gun business shortly thereafter having produced a limited number of toys, very few of which still exist, making this extremely hard to find. Cast iron cowboys, likely adorned with lead paint (just don’t chew on them and you will be fine) are un-judgementally colored white and black. Early single shot and roll cap ammunition complete this assemblage. The box is crafted from a black faced particle board from in a dumpster behind a Sears distribution center and some white finger jointed primed trim board salvaged from a local construction site. Jeff Bird Art creates recycled artwork. Rarely in life are things actually black and white.
Billy
Matching (unheard of!) Billy the Kid cast iron cap pistols, with their holsters (unheard of even less or is that more?) manufactured by A and E Stevens, the oldest maker of such cool stuff in 1938 and displayed by Jeff Bird Art. These rare toy cap pistols are complimented by 1935, single shot Stevens Pluck cap guns (they match too!). Matching roll caps (of course) provide ammo for Billy himself, guns drawn and ready to commit mayhem. A beautiful piece of red barn board and matching (what else) doors formed from a discarded picture frame complete this presentation. Jeff Bird Art features eco-friendly creations. 16″ wide by 12″ high.
Hi-Ho
This extremely rare Kilgore Hi-Ho cap gun resides in a cabinet created early in my (Re)Collections period. It is crafted in the western motif from black walnut stock, which was the last of the inventory remaining from Jeff Bird Art hand built working wooden pad locks. While a hardwood of this caliber would never be deposited in the common scrap bin, it was nestled on a shelf in the trim shed anxiously waiting re-purposing. This early piece resides in my private collection and will be offered for sale after I leave this life. Only those already owning a piece of jeffbirdart will be invited to bid on this work of art. Recycled art from Jeff Bird.
Big Bad Bill
This recycle drawer with a resized blue picture frame door from Jeff Bird Art shows exactly what happens to a bad guy in the Wild West. The detailed Kilgore Big Bill cast iron cap gun dates from 1936 and the Kenton Ranger cap pistol hails from that same decade. A box of Nichols Stallion single shot caps and assorted cast toy pistols complete this presentation. Vintage cap guns encased in repurposed materials is a trademark of Jeff Bird Art. 13″ wide by 11″ high.
Buckeroo Bookends
A pair of picture frames picked from a pile of “free stuff” at the end of a driveway inspired Jeff Bird Art to create this matched mirror image set of toy cap gun displays. Vintage Pony Boy holsters, Sheriff Elfego Bacca gloves and classic Kilgore roll caps compliment Hubley Buckeroo toy cap pistols. Come on you gottta love this one. Grab a die cast pistol and pop away! Jeff Bird Art uses post -consumer materials in all of his recycled art. Each piece is 13″ square.
Gunfighter
Scrap oak flooring holds a vintage sheriff and his peace keepers in this Jeff Bird Art western motif collection. A sliding glass door, courtesy of a broken CD holder opens for tactile enjoyment of these vintage toy cap guns. J and E Stevens Company, started in 1843, manufactured these cast iron cap gun beauties. The Clip Jr. toy pistol is from 1935 and the Colt (yet another shameless scam to capitalize on another company’s reputation by commandeering their trade name) cap pistol are included. 10″ wide by 7″ tall. Jeff Bird Art recycled art combines vintage collectible cap pistols with reused materials.
Sheriff’s Set
Single shot die cast vintage cap guns allowed for far more detail. Hubley introduced the PAL cap pistol in 1950, the TEX cap guin in 1960 and the PET toy gun in 1959. Each “pop” required the sheriff to place a single Hot Spot cap under the hammer. A namesake Sheriff’s watch set, a cast iron law man and a highly detailed Deputy Sheriff’s badge complete this Jeff Bird Art assemblage. The box crafted from a red picture frame (OK it’s obvious why this wood found its way into the trash but it really makes this one “pop” (Ohh, I never wanted to use that word…) and can be opened to handle these classics. Jeff bird searches his world for materials to use in his recycled art. 19″ long by 6″ high.
Cowpokes and First Nation. Formerly:
Cowboys and Indians.
Every wood shop has a scrap bin through which every piece of wood recycles until it is saw dust. This is no different for Jeff Bird Art. Clean remnants can be harvested from this box. Are the recycled, arguably not. But before the resolution of this conundrum this early piece was created. Turn of the century single shot cast iron caps guns were very popular. Encased here are an 1890 Eagle cap pistol, a Stevens Scout cap gun from 1893, a Kilgore Bang toy gun from 1930 and a Washington DC souvenir Big Chief cap gun made by Dent in 1931. Seriously, think about those dates. Hand painted cast iron western characters face off in the box that opens and allows the pistols to be removed and enjoyed. Jeff Bird Art is recycled art. 21″wide by 9″
Mick
In this creation from Jeff Bird Art a 1923 Kenton Mick cap gun, which still works, is combined with a rare revolver watch fob and what must be a good guy dressed in white. A poplar (that’s a kind of wood) box fashioned from a recycled storage container and recycled wood. Every kitchen built in the fifties featured those “cool” black metal hinges. Jeff Bird Art uses uses salvaged materials and vintage cap guns to create recycled art. 8″ wide by 9″ high.
Bandits
Cast iron single shot “springless” vintage cap pistols. This Jeff Bird Art display group includes a 1920 Stevens Echo, a 1930’s Stevens Pet and Kilgore PAL from 1935 all cap guns are in working order. Matching paper caps from the turn of the last century (that’s right early 1900’s) are featured. Two classic cowboy whistles add color. The box crafted from wood harvested the side of the road, one stop ahead of the trash truck. Jeff Bird Art uses recycled materials in all of his eco-friendly artwork. 10″ wide by 17″ high.
GUNS
Very rare, fully functional, cast iron revolver style cap guns. This Jeff Bird Art Western Motif Collection features a Stevens’ Sheriff with a trademark red jewel in the handle from 1940 and a Kilgore Buc-A-Roo with orange grips from the same era. Presented with vintage Nichols Top Hand Roll caps, Star Repeating Paper Caps and hard-to-find Hubley Texan Round Caps. The toy cap pistols are garnished with old west barbed wire, several vintage key chain pistols and a snapper cowboy ready for action. Will someone open the door and put the caps back on the shelf? (Thank you). Jeff bird art features recycled , environmentally friendly materials. 12″ wide by 20″ high.
Texas
A cast iron Texas Ranger and a pin and badge set, which is surely a transparent attempt to encroach on the Lone Ranger franchise, watch over our die cast single shot cap guns whose amazing details reflect the die cast manufacturing technique. In this Jeff Bird Art piece, a Hubley Chief cap gun from 1955, a Hubley PAL toy gun from 1960, a Hubley Smokey cap pistol from the 1940′s and a beautiful Kilgore Star cap gun complete the assemblage. Encased in recycled plywood scraps. The box opens and the toy cap pistols can be removed and enjoyed. Jeff Bird creates recycled art from previously used materials. 16″ wide by 12″ high.
Tin Box
In the 1950’s inexpensive tin toys made a resurgence. The Jeff Bird Art tiny cap guns presented here are fine, working and well preserved examples of that art form. Cookies once came in tin boxes, this container transitioned into a holder for this piece. The box opens and the pistols can be removed and enjoyed. Jeff Bird Art uses recycled material
Hub
Hubley is the most prolific and renowned of all the toy gun manufacturers. This Jeff Bird Art – Western Motif- piece features the Hub cap gun design first fabricated in cast iron in the 1938’s and later reintroduced in a die cast toy gun version in the 1950’s. Both cap gun styles are presented here. The box is formed from scrap wood harvested from an ancient cabinet. The opening door operates with old hinges from that same piece. Three lawmen and the cap pistols they used to tame the wild west. Open the door and the components can be removed and enjoyed. Jeff Bird uses re-purposed materials and vintage collectibles to create his recycled art 10″ wide by 14″ high
Hot Spot
Before the popularity of the radio western took hold, many cap guns were marketed as generic toys. These extremely rare cast iron single shot cap pistols, offered by Jeff Bird Art, are from that era. A National spring-less cap gun design from the 1920′s, a Stevens classic cap gun from the early 1930′s and a Kenton HIO toy cap pistol (this one has a name and a patent date Sept 11, 1923 cast into it). Hard to find vintage Hot Spot caps, a cast iron lawmen, and kid building blocks all in the western motif, complete this assemblage. The frame, fashioned from a discarded child’s toy box, opens and the cap pistols can be removed and enjoyed. Jeff bird creates recycled art. 11″ wide by 20″ tall.
Cowpoke
(the display once know as “Cowboy.”)
Three generations of fun in one box presented by Jeff Bird Art! A 1960′s Hubley die cast Western cap gun with long horn handles, a 1950′s highly detailed Hubley Texan toy cap pistol also featuring the long horn grips, and a very popular 1970′s Actoy Pony Boy toy gun are presented on rusty hat hooks and mounted on the end of a substantial wooden box with a rope handle harvested from the roadside. Roll caps, horse-riding cowboy whistles and a gun slinging cowpoke can each be removed by opening the door crafted from a re-sized black metal picture frame. Jeff Bird Art uses salvaged materials in his recycled art. 18″ wide by 15″ high.
The Gambler
Pocket derringers cap pistols, dice, recycled Vegas chips, Presidential dollar coins and a mid-fifties lighter featuring a roulette wheel cover the dead man’s hand (Wild Bill’s Aces and eights). This Jeff Bird Art piece includes plywood and pine from the scrap bin and an opening cabinet allowing you to tuck a pistol up your sleeve. “You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em.” Jeff bird art encases vintage toy cap guns in recycled materials for his eco-friendly art. 14″ wide by 14″ high.