Strange to today's society-places you bought guns from - Page 2

Hal · January 8, 2014, 09:07 AM

Woolworth's, in the (local) mall, had a freaking huge gun department!

I believe the sporting goods manager or the store manager there had to have been a gun nut of some kind.
Easily 20% of that store was devoted to guns.
They had rack after rack after rack of some surplus bolt action military rifles.
I don't recall what they were, only that they had a bunch of them and they were pretty cheap.

There were other Woolworth's stores around, but, none had anything even close to the one in the mall.

Aaron1100us · January 8, 2014, 09:32 AM

@ Kev. $1000. Put another $900 into it and now it looks like this.

2ndsojourn · January 8, 2014, 09:49 AM

Back in the late 60's, my dad bought 2 WW2 Mausers (matching #'s) for $19.95 ea, & 2 Mauser barrelled actions for $7.99 ea from K-Mart. I have one of the rifles and my brother still has the barrelled action. My dad apparently sold the others somewhere aalong the way.

Edit: Oops...I see this is supposed to be handguns?

dssajj · January 8, 2014, 09:59 AM

Purchased a Ruger single six from Walmart back in the 80's.

aarondhgraham · January 8, 2014, 10:37 AM

Aldens was one of those catalogs that sold anything and everything,,,
They has more than half a dozen pages of military surplus rifles,,,
And 3-4 pages of ,military surplus pistols and accessories.

Heck, you could even buy a French 20mm anti-aircraft gun through them,,,
But no ammunition for it like for the rifles and pistols.

I bought a British .303 from them for $19.99 and a buck or two postage,,,
I bought a crate (carton) of FMJ ammo that ran about 4 cents each,,,
All delivered to my door by the U. S. Postal Service.

I literally wore the ink off the pages drooling over all the different rifles.

Italian Carcano carbines for $14.99,,,
Mom and dad wouldn't let me order a pistol,,,
But I remember the revolvers going for about $20 to $25 bucks.

Those were the days my friend,,,

Aarond

.

wgsigs · January 8, 2014, 10:38 AM

It's been a few years ('80s?), but my late father-in-law used to pick up a lot of his gun stuff, including reloading supplies, at Longs Drug Store in Nevada.

He also had a Marlin(?) .22 rifle he bought from Western Auto for $50 when they were shutting down. I was at the range with him when he was out-shooting a kid with an expensive Kimber .22 with it. Obviously, the quality of the shooter is more important than the quality of the firearm when it comes to accuracy.

Kev · January 8, 2014, 11:56 AM

Those in fact were the days!
I have an old ad for S&W 38/44 for $15.00 or some nonsense from Sears.
I'd love to be able to send a check by mail and get a brand new S&W for 15.00 (plus P&H of 0.25 cents, lol)

spacecoast · January 8, 2014, 01:01 PM

I think a lot of small town hardware stores still carry guns and ammo. Last year I bought a Marlin .22 rifle at such a "we have everything" True Value store in NW Pa. They actually have an excellent selection of ammo in fairly obscure calibers and take pride in stocking such. I love to give such stores my business when possible.

Fox1 · January 8, 2014, 01:25 PM

Last year I bought a shotgun in a Menard's parking lot.
Found out about it on a Facebook page for people wanting to buy/sell/trade firearms.
I didn't think it was unusual but my wife sure did.

There is a meat locker/butcher shop in a small town in my area that also stocks and sells all kinds of firearms and shooting accessories.

eldermike · January 8, 2014, 02:16 PM

I almost purchased a handgun from a car trunk back in the 70's, but I didn't go to the sale and glad I didn't. I was working nights at a gas station while going to college. One of the guys had purchased some guns for a low low price and said that this sale would be going on again and gave us the location and time. Turns out it was being watched that night. The guns came from a truck robbery months eariler in another state. They were being sold from car trunks up and down the east coast...I have always had a sense called "to good to be true" and followed it.

**Mike Irwin** · January 8, 2014, 02:37 PM

Few years ago I bought a Smith & Wesson 25-5 from an undertaker in Oklahoma.

He said that, after years of questions from widows about what to do with their deceased husband's guns, he finally got his FFL and started listing them online for them.

As for parking lots, I've never actually bought a gun in a parking lot, but I've made final transfer for several guns in a parking lot.

Up until a few years ago Bon Ton or Boscov's (can't remember which, now) was still selling handguns in their stores in Central Pennsylvania. Never bought one, thought.

When I was a very little kid there used to be a chain of stores called Joe the Motorist's Friend, and their stores sold the tail end of the World War II surplus that had come in prior to 1968.

I was probably 5 or 6 (1970, 1971 or so) and I remember racks of rifles amid car parts and the like at the store in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania.

Dc777 · January 8, 2014, 03:13 PM

About 15 minutes from my house in a small town in south Alabama there is a hardware store that has a sporting goods section. I bought a pistol for my dad there about a year and a half ago. I've been going to that store since I was a little kid with my grandfather. That family owned store has a way of getting their hands on anything you want when their competitors can't.

KyJim · January 8, 2014, 04:30 PM

My first shotgun was an H&R Topper, Jr. 20 gauge my parents bought me from Sears one Christmas. I bought my first handgun from a little country store. The owner, an FFL dealer, had about a half dozen handguns in a box he brought out when I asked about buying one.

noelf2 · January 8, 2014, 05:04 PM

KyJim

Quote:

My first shotgun was an H&R Topper, Jr. 20 gauge my parents bought me from Sears one Christmas.

Same EXACT scenario for me. Still have my Topper Jr., do you?

Bought my first gun at Ace Hardware in Bolivar Missouri, and I was 15 years old (well, it was a muzzleloader).

KyJim · January 8, 2014, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Still have my Topper Jr., do you?

I do. Haven't shot it in forever, though.

biohazard313 · January 8, 2014, 05:31 PM

do it best hardware by my place up north in michigan have ammo still. they had guns up to a few years ago.

my first .22 and shotgun came from there

Kev · January 8, 2014, 06:46 PM

Thanks for sharing guys

Hal · January 8, 2014, 08:20 PM

Actually - come to think of it - those two nickel High Standard Sport Kings I have were both bought at the same Golf store.
They sold golf clubs and guns.
No other sporting goods.

Auto5 · January 8, 2014, 09:27 PM

Before Abercrombie & Fitch became a metrosexual clothing store, they sold high end hunting, fishing and outdoor gear. I used to go admire the stunning rifles and shotguns they had in the case (some of which were priced higher than a car). I never did buy a gun there, but later on I bought a shooting vest and leather shell pouch for trap shooting. The strangest place I ever bought a gun was a church. Well, not the church exactly, but the rectory connected to the church. One of the priests was selling it for the family of his deceased brother.

bledsoeG19 · January 8, 2014, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Bought my first gun at Ace Hardware in Bolivar Missouri, and I was 15 years old (well, it was a muzzleloader).

Boliver is not far from the hardware store I mentioned

Kev · January 8, 2014, 10:32 PM

It makes sense A&F sold fine weapons.
I'd picture wealthy hunters off to the dark continent purchasing at A&F.
I did a quick search on this and it seems as of 1963 they offered high end products such as this Holland & Holland, yours for 36k

http://www.gunsinternational.com/HOL...n_id=100400259

armsmaster270 · January 9, 2014, 02:38 AM

Bought a 410 shotgun with wooden case at a garage sale in the mountains for 20.00. Also Raleys markets sold British .303's for 39 or 49 dollars in the 50's.

gc70 · January 9, 2014, 02:41 AM

In the '60s, one of my older cousins had a small-town (population <400) general store - he had groceries, clothes, hardware, toys, some jewelry and watches, a soda fountain ... and guns.

Tipsy Mcstagger · January 9, 2014, 02:57 AM

I can't say I've bought a gun from there but there is a Liquor/Gun store where I'm from that I used to go into and they definitely had both. I don't think they still sell guns there anymore and probably let their ffl lapse and I think they were grandfathered in. So, I don't think they'll be selling guns there again.

Tejicano · January 9, 2014, 05:24 AM

I bought my first registered NFA item - select fire MAC-10 SMG - from a bait & tackle store. The owner used to stock guns but sold off his inventory and kept his class-III license.

January 8, 2014, 10:37 AM	#30
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Aldens mail order catalog,,, Aldens was one of those catalogs that sold anything and everything,,, They has more than half a dozen pages of military surplus rifles,,, And 3-4 pages of ,military surplus pistols and accessories. Heck, you could even buy a French 20mm anti-aircraft gun through them,,, But no ammunition for it like for the rifles and pistols. I bought a British .303 from them for $19.99 and a buck or two postage,,, I bought a crate (carton) of FMJ ammo that ran about 4 cents each,,, All delivered to my door by the U. S. Postal Service. I literally wore the ink off the pages drooling over all the different rifles. Italian Carcano carbines for $14.99,,, Mom and dad wouldn't let me order a pistol,,, But I remember the revolvers going for about $20 to $25 bucks. Those were the days my friend,,, Aarond . __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

January 8, 2014, 10:38 AM	#31
wgsigs Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 222	It's been a few years ('80s?), but my late father-in-law used to pick up a lot of his gun stuff, including reloading supplies, at Longs Drug Store in Nevada. He also had a Marlin(?) .22 rifle he bought from Western Auto for $50 when they were shutting down. I was at the range with him when he was out-shooting a kid with an expensive Kimber .22 with it. Obviously, the quality of the shooter is more important than the quality of the firearm when it comes to accuracy. Last edited by wgsigs; January 8, 2014 at 10:49 AM.

January 8, 2014, 02:37 PM	#36
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,642	Few years ago I bought a Smith & Wesson 25-5 from an undertaker in Oklahoma. He said that, after years of questions from widows about what to do with their deceased husband's guns, he finally got his FFL and started listing them online for them. As for parking lots, I've never actually bought a gun in a parking lot, but I've made final transfer for several guns in a parking lot. Up until a few years ago Bon Ton or Boscov's (can't remember which, now) was still selling handguns in their stores in Central Pennsylvania. Never bought one, thought. When I was a very little kid there used to be a chain of stores called Joe the Motorist's Friend, and their stores sold the tail end of the World War II surplus that had come in prior to 1968. I was probably 5 or 6 (1970, 1971 or so) and I remember racks of rifles amid car parts and the like at the store in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

January 8, 2014, 09:07 AM	#26
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,564	Woolworth's, in the (local) mall, had a freaking huge gun department! I believe the sporting goods manager or the store manager there had to have been a gun nut of some kind. Easily 20% of that store was devoted to guns. They had rack after rack after rack of some surplus bolt action military rifles. I don't recall what they were, only that they had a bunch of them and they were pretty cheap. There were other Woolworth's stores around, but, none had anything even close to the one in the mall.

January 8, 2014, 09:32 AM	#27
Aaron1100us Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2011 Posts: 235	@ Kev. $1000. Put another $900 into it and now it looks like this.

January 8, 2014, 09:49 AM	#28
2ndsojourn Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,416	Back in the late 60's, my dad bought 2 WW2 Mausers (matching #'s) for $19.95 ea, & 2 Mauser barrelled actions for $7.99 ea from K-Mart. I have one of the rifles and my brother still has the barrelled action. My dad apparently sold the others somewhere aalong the way. Edit: Oops...I see this is supposed to be handguns?

January 8, 2014, 09:59 AM	#29
dssajj Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Northeast Kansas Posts: 68	Purchased a Ruger single six from Walmart back in the 80's.

January 8, 2014, 11:56 AM	#32
Kev Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2013 Posts: 661	Those in fact were the days! I have an old ad for S&W 38/44 for $15.00 or some nonsense from Sears. I'd love to be able to send a check by mail and get a brand new S&W for 15.00 (plus P&H of 0.25 cents, lol)

January 8, 2014, 01:01 PM	#33
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	I think a lot of small town hardware stores still carry guns and ammo. Last year I bought a Marlin .22 rifle at such a "we have everything" True Value store in NW Pa. They actually have an excellent selection of ammo in fairly obscure calibers and take pride in stocking such. I love to give such stores my business when possible.

January 8, 2014, 01:25 PM	#34
Fox1 Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2008 Posts: 300	Last year I bought a shotgun in a Menard's parking lot. Found out about it on a Facebook page for people wanting to buy/sell/trade firearms. I didn't think it was unusual but my wife sure did. There is a meat locker/butcher shop in a small town in my area that also stocks and sells all kinds of firearms and shooting accessories.

January 8, 2014, 02:16 PM	#35
eldermike Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2013 Location: NC Posts: 545	I almost purchased a handgun from a car trunk back in the 70's, but I didn't go to the sale and glad I didn't. I was working nights at a gas station while going to college. One of the guys had purchased some guns for a low low price and said that this sale would be going on again and gave us the location and time. Turns out it was being watched that night. The guns came from a truck robbery months eariler in another state. They were being sold from car trunks up and down the east coast...I have always had a sense called "to good to be true" and followed it.

January 8, 2014, 03:13 PM	#37
Dc777 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2013 Location: South West, Alabama Posts: 609	About 15 minutes from my house in a small town in south Alabama there is a hardware store that has a sporting goods section. I bought a pistol for my dad there about a year and a half ago. I've been going to that store since I was a little kid with my grandfather. That family owned store has a way of getting their hands on anything you want when their competitors can't.

January 8, 2014, 04:30 PM	#38
KyJim Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 9,149	My first shotgun was an H&R Topper, Jr. 20 gauge my parents bought me from Sears one Christmas. I bought my first handgun from a little country store. The owner, an FFL dealer, had about a half dozen handguns in a box he brought out when I asked about buying one.

January 8, 2014, 05:31 PM	#41
biohazard313 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2013 Posts: 128	do it best hardware by my place up north in michigan have ammo still. they had guns up to a few years ago. my first .22 and shotgun came from there

January 8, 2014, 06:46 PM	#42
Kev Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2013 Posts: 661	Thanks for sharing guys

January 8, 2014, 08:20 PM	#43
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,564	Actually - come to think of it - those two nickel High Standard Sport Kings I have were both bought at the same Golf store. They sold golf clubs and guns. No other sporting goods.

January 8, 2014, 09:27 PM	#44
Auto5 Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2013 Location: Chicago suburbs Posts: 662	Before Abercrombie & Fitch became a metrosexual clothing store, they sold high end hunting, fishing and outdoor gear. I used to go admire the stunning rifles and shotguns they had in the case (some of which were priced higher than a car). I never did buy a gun there, but later on I bought a shooting vest and leather shell pouch for trap shooting. The strangest place I ever bought a gun was a church. Well, not the church exactly, but the rectory connected to the church. One of the priests was selling it for the family of his deceased brother.

January 8, 2014, 10:32 PM	#46
Kev Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2013 Posts: 661	It makes sense A&F sold fine weapons. I'd picture wealthy hunters off to the dark continent purchasing at A&F. I did a quick search on this and it seems as of 1963 they offered high end products such as this Holland & Holland, yours for 36k http://www.gunsinternational.com/HOL...n_id=100400259

January 9, 2014, 02:38 AM	#47
armsmaster270 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,951	Bought a 410 shotgun with wooden case at a garage sale in the mountains for 20.00. Also Raleys markets sold British .303's for 39 or 49 dollars in the 50's.

January 9, 2014, 02:41 AM	#48
gc70 Senior Member Join Date: May 24, 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,916	In the '60s, one of my older cousins had a small-town (population <400) general store - he had groceries, clothes, hardware, toys, some jewelry and watches, a soda fountain ... and guns.

January 9, 2014, 02:57 AM	#49
Tipsy Mcstagger Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2013 Location: South Texas Posts: 190	I can't say I've bought a gun from there but there is a Liquor/Gun store where I'm from that I used to go into and they definitely had both. I don't think they still sell guns there anymore and probably let their ffl lapse and I think they were grandfathered in. So, I don't think they'll be selling guns there again.

January 9, 2014, 05:24 AM	#50
Tejicano Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2013 Posts: 168	I bought my first registered NFA item - select fire MAC-10 SMG - from a bait & tackle store. The owner used to stock guns but sold off his inventory and kept his class-III license.