Vintage El Depose toy cork gun. This is an antique toy cork or pop gun pistol by an unknown maker. Long overall with a 3 3/16? Brass tube barrel with a flared muzzle.
When the handle is pulled back, a shaft inside the barrel is retracted. The forward end of the shaft has a leather washer sized to fit tightly against the inside of the barrel. A cork would be inserted into the muzzle. When the handle is pushed forward quickly, the leather washer would trap & compress the air inside the barrel, & when enough pressure built up, it would force the cork out with a noticeable "POP".The frame part of the pistol looks to be cast pot metal. The right side is marked "DEPOSE" in cast in raised letters.
The right side is marked E. In cast in raised letters. The handle is two pieces of thin sheet steel crimped together. The leather washer has long ago dried up & it will no longer compress the air in the barrel.
The butt end of the grip shows a gap. The grip itself has a patina type finish. The only two noticeable flaws with this is the trigger guard looks like there was more to it but broke off at some point in it's life, the other issue is obviously the crack at the top of the barrel.. other than that, everything looks reasonable for a toy this old.
The survival rate on toys like this is near none. If you have any questions please ask!
This item is in the category "Toys & Hobbies\Vintage & Antique Toys\Other Vintage & Antique Toys". The seller is "2spiffyhippies" and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped to United States.