When the Disneyland TV show aired a serial called Davy Crockett it was a huge success. Fess Parker played the frontiersmen who became a member of Congress and later died at the Alamo. Kids everywhere wanted coonskin caps like Davy wore. But, to many, the ultimate “must have” item was a replica Davy Crockett rifle. Sure some kids wanted cowboy guns but a Davy Crockett rifle was great for pretending to be a frontiersmen and soldier like the hero, Davy Crockett.
Davy Crockett nicknamed his rifle Old Betsy and he was purported to have killed 125 bears with it. This was a flintlock rifle with a long barrel and a kid could watch the visible hammer that fell when the trigger was pulled. A kid could load his Davy Crockett rifle with a paper cap that would give a satisfying bang as he/she pretended to fight for Texas’ independence.
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