Company History

The history of Parris Manufacturing Company is a very interesting one. At the start of World War II, when draftees by the thousands were being sent to the Army and Navy training camps, there were no rifles available for training purposes.

Parris Manufacturing Company, already an expert in woodworking, was asked by the Department of Defense to make dummy training rifles for new recruits to use until real rifles could be made available. More than 2 million of these training rifles were made for the Army and Navy and the Company earned the coveted Army-Navy “E” Award for its contribution to the war effort.

After the war was over, the company switched its production lines over to manufacturing toy rifles and pistols. These toy guns were made with the same skill and care that the company had used in making the Army and Navy training rifles. Parris Manufacturing Company officials did not want to manufacture only military toy guns, so they quickly added frontier and cowboy style rifles, pistols and pistol holster sets. All replicas in the company’s line are based on a rifle, musket or pistol that played an important part in our country’s history.

To commemorate the Civil War, Parris produces replicas of a Civil War musket and pistol. The company also manufactures replicas of a Davy Crockett rifle, Kentucky rifles and pistols like weapons carried by frontiersmen– Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. Parris also manufactures replicas of guns used in American Revolution.

In our Western line, Parris produces high-quality die cast cap pistols and Western rifles. Our new cap gun line “Cowboy Collection” shoots plastic ring caps and is made of die-cast metal that looks like real antique metal and quality plastic that looks just like real wood. All our Western toy gun replicas are vintage 1800 era.

Parris continually expands its quality made toy product line. In 2019, Parris rebranded itself to the present Parris Toys to show their focus and diligence in bringing their customers that best toys.

Parris has its corporate offices and distribution center in Savannah, Tennessee, in the foothills of the Shiloh National Military and Pickwick Landing State Parks.

Take a trip down memory lane!