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Early in 1963 Daisy partnered with
the U.S. Jaycees to launch what was ultimately to
become the nation’s largest and most far reaching
youth Shooting Education Program. To date the grass
roots program has taught more than 10 million young
boys and girls the fundamentals of safe gun handling
and marksmanship. It concludes each year with the
Daisy/Jaycees International BB Gun Championship
Matches (IBBGCM). The first of these was held
in July, 1966 in Vandalia, Ohio and will celebrate
its 45th anniversary in Rogers,
Arkansas in 2010.
Today the concept has expanded to
include cooperation with such groups as the Boy
Scouts, American Legion, NRA Junior Clubs, high
school JROTC units, the Royal Rangers, 4-H, and USA
Shooting, the governing body of US Olympic shooting
sports. This year’s annual IBBGCM will attract over
400 5-meter BB gun shooters, 100 10-meter sporter
pellet rifle and pistol marksmen, plus coaches,
parents and family members.
The 60s also witnessed the
introduction of Daisy’s highly successful Spittin’
Image line of air guns patterned, to the smallest
detail, after famous firearms. The first and best
selling of these was the Model 1894 built on the
lines of the famous Winchester 94 carbine. Other
such notables included the Model 26 Remington
Fieldmaster and .45 Colt Frontier revolver.
No mention of the 60s would be
complete without reference to the V/L Caseless
Ammunition system. The V/L was and is, to this day,
a totally unique gun utilizing super heated air to
ignite a propellant affixed to a .22 caliber bullet
that required no brass casing. Named for its
inventor, Jules Van Langenhoven, the gun and ammo
were first announced to the public on August 20,
1962.
The Daisy Museum’s collection contains several
Spittin’ Image examples, V/L guns and ammunition and
a wall which salutes the company’s history as the
leader in shooting education.
1880 ║ 1890 ║
1900 ║
1910 ║
1920
║ 1930 ║
1940 ║
The War Years
1950 ║
1960 ║
1970 ║
1980 ║
1990 ║
2000 ║
The Museum
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