Rare Brass Never Fail Gopher Gun Patent 1922 .38 Caliber Blank

This is the “Never-Fail” Gopher trap gun manufactured by the J.R. Roper Co., San Leandro, Caifornia with an October, 17, 1922 patent date.  The original boxes they came in (not present with this example) has the statement “FOR THE POSITIVE DESTRUCTION OF GOPHERS, MOLES, SQUIRRELS AND RATS”.  The ingenious device operated with the use of a .38 caliber center fire blank cartridge which was loaded into a pivoting barrel with a top opening that when triggered would kill the offending rodent with the blast pressure.  Constructed of brass this example has had the trigger catch mechanism altered to no longer function as a trap.  The firing pin portion can still be set and will fire with downward pressure.  In very good overall condition the brass has a dark patina with some pitting on the iron barrel and a small break in the brass trigger pan.  A really interesting device.  Antique