I loved my cap guns and rifle. But the best present ever was a bazooka that shot a blue plastic bomb about 15 feet. There were a lot of arguments about who actually got blown up.
The best one among others that I had was a 50 caliber machine gun o a tripod that I set up on the front porch and shot at cars going by,the need of the barrel had two red plastic barrels that went in and out making the sound of firing as you depressed the buttons while holding the handles.
Also had a toy rifle that had actual two piece cartridges,a brass piece with a spring inside,a plastic slug which you inserted into the brass casinos and it would be held together by clips on the slug.
You inserted them into the rifle and I would set up my army guys and shoot them down,there is no way in hell that would be allowed today.
Also had a remco army tank that shot plastic projectiles,oh boy I long for the good old days,Roy Rogers,THE lone Ranger,Hopalong Cassidy,just look at the time in the country then and now without toy guns,but with real guns.
It’s not the guns,it’s the people who have been sold a phony bill of goods and they don’t even know it!
Only the people who are older can relate
I had cap guns at a very early age and then a BB gun followed by a Model 67 Winchester .22 bolt action SS Shot rifle when I was 10 or so. I would take it out and play with the squirrels and take them home for dinner. I still have the Winchester, it’s the most valuable firearm I own.