C. 1960 HUBLEY FIGURAL PANTHER HEAD PROTOTYPE CAP PISTOL: FROM HUBLEY WORKER

Description

A very appealing & extremely rare Hubley panther (or puma, or mountain lion, or cougar) figural handle toy cap pistol. The front section of our gun is diecast metal & also the handle on our gun is hollow diecast metal. This toy is thought to be a prototype. It was made by the Hubley Toy Company of Lancaster, Pa. circa 1960 or so. It is thought to probably be a Hubley designer's prototype which is believed to have never gotten in to general production.
Whether this is an extremely rare prototype or an extremely rare production item we cannot say with absolute certainty. But, it is clearly certain that this is one of the all time top notch rarities in the cowboy toy cap gun field. We have searched very long & very hard & can establish that very few other examples are known. There are two other varieties known in collections with this same type animal handle. Both of the other varieties in collections are also thought, by the owners, to be prototypes. It is our personal opinion that the cap pistol we are offering is also a prototype.
Both of the two other known varieties are different from ours. One of the two other known variant examples has a totally different & larger & more simplistic design to the front of the gun & it has a handle that looks like ours. The other different known variant example has a much less detailed (but similar designed handle) & has the same ornate version as ours on the front of the cap pistol. The length of this cap pistol is 6 1/2 inches & the height is 3 1/2 inches. The weight is 5.1 ounces.
This toy was owned by a Hubley worker who obtained the toy while he was working at the Hubley Company. He never played with the toy & retained it carefully sequestered & out of any direct light until he recently parted with it. The cap pistol was never played with & has only very slight wear to the hand painted hollow diecast handle. The plating on the front of the gun is all present & is very bright. The finish is much brighter than we were able to show in the pictures. The toy is in sound working condition & appears to have never fired a cap.
The toy is in fabulous all original condition with no damage, no repairs, & no touch-ups of any kind. A nearly impossible item to find! One of the most highly illusive & sought after rarities in the realm of cowboy related toy cap pistols! In over 50 years of being interested in Hubley toys this is the one & only example we have ever had a chance to acquire & it is fresh from the estate of a Hubley worker.
Please examine the photos closely & purchase based on your own judgement as to condition & value.
This item is inventory #9115.
Shipping is free to addresses in the U.S. & this item is only being offered for sale to addresses in the U.S.
NOTE: In compliance with eBay rules this antique TOY cap pistol has been plugged with a blaze orange plug. This replica gun contains the colored markings required by law, including a permanently attached orange plug. This antique TOY cap pistol was NOT made to fire a projectile & it CANNOT be altered to fire bullets, or ammunition, or lethal projectiles of any kind. This antique TOY cap pistol is located in the United States & it will only be sold to residents of the United States & shipped to addresses in the United States. This antique TOY cap pistol can only be sold to buyers above the age of 18. All of the pictures in this listing have been taken & uploaded by me & are NOT stock photos. This antique TOY cap pistol is shown as a whole in its entirety in several different views. We have carefully adhered to all eBay requirements in listing this item.