Toys TOYS

Johnny Seven Gun

There comes a point in every little boy's life when he decides, in the style of John Rambo, he wants (read has to have) a toy gun. And there comes a point in every parent's life when they have to decide whether it's morally right or wrong to go buy their kid a toy gun. And it seems that 1964 was the year most parents decided to abandon their morals, for the Johnny Seven OMA (One Man Army) Gun was the best-selling boys' toy that Christmas.

The Johnny Seven OMA (not to be confused with the far simpler Johnny Eagle Rifle of the 70s) had to be the biggest toy machine gun you could get back then, and more than enough to make you throw down your spud gun. In fact, it wasn't far off full-size! When fully assembled it weighed 4lb and measured an impressive 3ft long, at least. It also came with a raft of seven functions (hence the name Johnny Seven). All of the firing mechanisms were attached to the main rifle - the pistol (based on a design for a real 1950s gun, no less!) inserted from the bottom to provide the rifle grip (the pistol also held caps for authentic firing sounds). The Rifle function shot 12 white bullets one at a time via a bolt action spring mechanism through the silver barrel. Three different rockets (The green Anti Tank, Anti Bunker and the red Armour Piercing fired via spring-action on the main barrel. The Grenade Launcher was on top of the gun. Johnny Seven also featured a bipod that provided stability for the various rockets and grenade. The stock could be removed to shorten the weapon while in the Tommy Gun mode. Now seen as a collector's item, the Johnny Seven OMA has been known to fetch over £300 fully armed on eBay!

It really was the hot shot of its time. And if all those functions weren't enough for you, Deluxe Reading (who also produced Johnny Lightning Cars and the Crime-buster Gun) went on to produce a range of accessories under the Topper Toys umbrella for the Johnny Seven OMA, including spare ammunition to replace all those bullets you lost over the next-door neighbour's fence. To enhance the experience you could purchase a helmet and a pair of walkie-talkies.

These days, toy guns aren't particularly en vogue, and little boys turn instead to Indiana Jones whips and light sabres when attacking their annoying little sisters. Much less intimidating, admittedly, but less likely to get you a night in a police cell, too.


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Do You Remember Johnny Seven Gun?

Do You Remember Johnny Seven Gun?

  • Anonymous user
    on
    I bought my husband one for his 65th birthday. He had dreamt of owning one as a little boy but it was just too expensive. I way I could post a photo. He was so chuffed. It’s hanging on his workshop wall now. It stops customers of a certain in their tracks! Lol. He’s also got a Chopper up there … he didn’t have one of those either.
  • Stephen7
    on
    I never had a Johnny Seven though I dearly wanted one. I remember my friend, Jonathan Devine's birthday party where he was given one. I would certainly buy one now if I could.
    • Anonymous user
      on
      You can Stephen but like then they're very expensive a complete set is around £300 but all the same it was my dream to have one then and I'm still thinking about it now lol
      • Anonymous user
        on
        Me and my. Friend were walking through the woods near his house just exploring. And found the bottom attachment pistol in some mud. We cleaned it and basically only the skring is a bit rusted but else pretty good condition. We're. Going back to see if there's more next time
  • Anonymous user
    on
    (Me again it cost £5.00 at the time ) I remember my dad and mum stated to me when i seen the johnny They could not afford to buy me it. I was disappointed but hey Christmas morning there it was what an excited child I was. this would have been 55 years ago I think,cant remember when the johnny came out does anyone remember the year. I was talking to a friend he said he had one so i looked online and there it was.
    • Anonymous user
      on
      Lucky boy I'm 55 so it must have been the toy of the year but it really was out of the range of my parents back in those days I was happy with what I got and I thought maybe next year lol now on eBay and other sites a complete rifle is around £300 talk about inflation
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I remember my dad and mum stated to me when i seen the johnny They could not afford to buy me it. I was disappointed but hey Christmas morning there it was what an excited child I was. this would have been 55 years ago I think,cant remember when the johnny came out does anyone remember the year. I was talking to a friend he said he had one so i looked online and there it was.
  • Anonymous user
    on
    Wonderful. Never thought I'd see this again. I had one for christmas, I knew it was coming and couldn't sleep the night before. Turned our back room into a war zone and defeated every enemy I could find (lamps, chairs, cabinets). Friends were dead jealous. It was thrown out along with my scalextric, and now they are 350 quid on Ebay? Hmmm, christmas is coming again...!
  • PhilipA
    on
    I always loved guns and armies. My dad encouraged it. This was 1964, I was 9. I was WW2 crazy. This was the first real gun (ie it fired bullets) he bought me. Never thought I'd see it again. It was BEAUTIFUL! This was when I learned I could shoot straight, hit targets and loved guns... Great days! The next time he went and bought me a .22 air rifle. we had a big garden. I was always shooting. But this Johnny 7 was where it all began. Thanks Dad! I'm now 60 he passed in 1993 at 81. Great guy my Dad...
  • Anonymous user
    on
    My husband is 56 and this is the only toy he remembers from his childhood. Whenever we have those 'do you remember' chats he always goes on about his Johnny Seven gun!!
    • Anonymous user
      on
      The advertisement for it is on YouTube lol
  • Anonymous user
    on
    my god this takes me back i was forever telling my own kids about johnny 7 gun i had got at christmas in the 60s was my best ever xmas as a young boy,i am now 57.and it still takes me back to playing with it,happy days,what a gun,peter .w.glasgow uk
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I got one for christmas 1965, it was one of the best gifts I ever recieved! Last year cleaning out my father-in-law's house I came across a Johnny Seven missing the bullets, gernade and armour piercing shell but still in good condition, what a memory!
    • Anonymous user
      on
      Even with those missing people still play at good price at least £100 then they try and collect the bits. I did it with a Chitty Bang Bang car slowly we built it and based on E Bay prices if I sold it I'd make a clear profit of £100
  • Anonymous user
    on
    I wanted one of these in 1964. The price was £5.