Every day for this entire year I will post a old school printed gun advertisement.
- Thread starter Miami_JBT
- Start date
Yeah, love that flat top 3 screw Blackhawk .44!
Do you notice how often the ads have "Dept. codes" built into their mailing addresses?
These informed the marketing people which ads in which magazines customers were responding to. So, the Ruger ad says "Dept. AR 2". That's February American Rifleman.
Or sometimes a company would have a number of mailboxes, like 300-302-304 Main Street. A different mailbox would appear in each ad. Pop told me to always use the addrss from the ad in the American Rifleman so the NRA would benefit.
Ads: 1959
These are from Guns & Ammo 1959. What a great issue. Several how-to articles and an African safari article with game maps and handy Swahili phrase guide.
1) Weatherby Rifles. They used to call this style "Space Age".
2) Colt. Anybody got $125 for a SAA or Python?
3) Detroit bullet traps were really well built.
4) Hollywood turret presses are still highly regarded.
The last pic is not an ad. It's from a lengthy article on how to build your own chronograph. It's a vacuum tube powered, point-to-point circuit. Pretty impressive!
These are from Guns & Ammo 1959. What a great issue. Several how-to articles and an African safari article with game maps and handy Swahili phrase guide.
1) Weatherby Rifles. They used to call this style "Space Age".
2) Colt. Anybody got $125 for a SAA or Python?
3) Detroit bullet traps were really well built.
4) Hollywood turret presses are still highly regarded.
The last pic is not an ad. It's from a lengthy article on how to build your own chronograph. It's a vacuum tube powered, point-to-point circuit. Pretty impressive!
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AJ
US Veteran
AJ
US Veteran
To bad SOG is out of business..........As are many/most of the old time Milsurp Dealers.
1961
These are from GUNS Magazine, 1961
-The first three are of the two-page centerfold spread. First, the whole ad, then one each of the left and right pages. I like how each of the rifles in their "Collectors Corner" are just under $10!
-Next, another great Weatherby ad. The NRA published an excellent history of Weatherby's early days.
American Hunter | A History of Weatherby: ‘Tomorrow’s Rifles Today’
It's well worth reading. One thing often overlooked, Weatherby were the first to offer all of their rifles in a true left-hand version. This exemplifies the extent to which Weatherby understood customer service.
-Last, classic Sako rifles as imported by Firearms International.
There were so many other great ads, I may have to use the same issue tomorrow!
These are from GUNS Magazine, 1961
-The first three are of the two-page centerfold spread. First, the whole ad, then one each of the left and right pages. I like how each of the rifles in their "Collectors Corner" are just under $10!
-Next, another great Weatherby ad. The NRA published an excellent history of Weatherby's early days.
American Hunter | A History of Weatherby: ‘Tomorrow’s Rifles Today’
It's well worth reading. One thing often overlooked, Weatherby were the first to offer all of their rifles in a true left-hand version. This exemplifies the extent to which Weatherby understood customer service.
-Last, classic Sako rifles as imported by Firearms International.
There were so many other great ads, I may have to use the same issue tomorrow!
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ajgunner
Member
One of my favorites.
Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch over animal rights etc., please read what it says. Guessing this could possibly still be in a museum somewhere.
Before anyone gets their panties in a bunch over animal rights etc., please read what it says. Guessing this could possibly still be in a museum somewhere.
AJ
US Veteran
From American Rifleman January 1960. I think the heyday of ads in gun magazines was the 50's, 60's and early 70's. Milsurp was getting big in the 50's on until the mid 70's to mid 80's it seemed, then there was a resurgence with the Russian milsurp.
I have a 40X and a 513T in one of my safes. I use Redfield International Mark 8's on two of my rifles. Sure do wish I could buy them for $39.00, the last one I bought cost me $350 on Ebay.
I have a 40X and a 513T in one of my safes. I use Redfield International Mark 8's on two of my rifles. Sure do wish I could buy them for $39.00, the last one I bought cost me $350 on Ebay.
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Germany 1982
AJ & MooMoo,
You both featured a couple nice Remingtons! I started with a 513T in junior smallbore at the DuPont Country Club in Delaware.
The 788 was just discontinued when my Dad joined DuPont Sporting Goods/General Products.
I was just sitting here enjoying a nice Hefeweisen, and thought I would dig up an old Deutsches Waffen-Journal from 1982.
1) Rolf Fishlein is a very respected German gunsmith. Here you can see his take on the cut-down S&W big bore snubnose in 45 Colt. He is still in business.
2) The Manurhin MR-73 in service and match grades.
Black powder (Schwarzpulver) is tremendously popular in Germany:
3) This modern "target grade" matchlock replica is an ancient design. Interestingly, many German shooting clubs are old enough that they were in existence when the matchlock was a new invention!
4) The Hege replica of the Jean Siber percussion target pistol is out of production, but still highly sought after for MLAIC competition.
5) The quintessential German muzzleloading Schuetzen rifle, here offered as a modern high grade replica.
AJ & MooMoo,
You both featured a couple nice Remingtons! I started with a 513T in junior smallbore at the DuPont Country Club in Delaware.
The 788 was just discontinued when my Dad joined DuPont Sporting Goods/General Products.
I was just sitting here enjoying a nice Hefeweisen, and thought I would dig up an old Deutsches Waffen-Journal from 1982.
1) Rolf Fishlein is a very respected German gunsmith. Here you can see his take on the cut-down S&W big bore snubnose in 45 Colt. He is still in business.
2) The Manurhin MR-73 in service and match grades.
Black powder (Schwarzpulver) is tremendously popular in Germany:
3) This modern "target grade" matchlock replica is an ancient design. Interestingly, many German shooting clubs are old enough that they were in existence when the matchlock was a new invention!
4) The Hege replica of the Jean Siber percussion target pistol is out of production, but still highly sought after for MLAIC competition.
5) The quintessential German muzzleloading Schuetzen rifle, here offered as a modern high grade replica.
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AJ
US Veteran
Some more great old ads. Like the ad for that Remington Model 31. Had milled parts I believe for $48. Wish I still had that book called "The Gun" by Larry Koller. bought it when I was a kid around 1964. Cost me $1.
A bit slow today getting my post up. Just been volunteering for canteen duties at my daughters school. (It's one of the only schools in the area where the canteen is run by volunteers/parents with money going to the P&C (like your PTA I think).
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Germany 1992
OK, some more from Deutsches Waffen-Journal, this time 1992.
1) Another WISCHO S&W exclusive. 617 and 686, the latter having a nice Nill grip. They are embossed on the sideplate with caliber and "Target Champion".
2) Morini 102E match .22. This has two very distinct features: an electronic trigger and a tubular magazine. The trigger is very nice feeling and lets you dry fire rapid fire practice for the Standard and Sport pistol match. The tubular magazine allows for the bore to be set lower and gives more freedom in custom shaping the grips.
3) Another precision blackpowder pistol, not quite as nice as the Hege Siber featured in yesterday's pictures. This one is by Armi Sport of Italy based on the LePage. These are commonly available today from Pedersoli.
4) Very cool repro of a KKW WWII smallbore sniper-trainer. These were originally chambered for .22 LR (of course) and also 4mm zimmerstutzen cartridge. The latter was used primarily if training was to be indoors. It is much smaller than a .22 short, made in CF and RF versions, typically loaded with a "rundkugel" (roundball).
5) An interesting ad for a German "Sporting Club" version of a Russian AK.
OK, some more from Deutsches Waffen-Journal, this time 1992.
1) Another WISCHO S&W exclusive. 617 and 686, the latter having a nice Nill grip. They are embossed on the sideplate with caliber and "Target Champion".
2) Morini 102E match .22. This has two very distinct features: an electronic trigger and a tubular magazine. The trigger is very nice feeling and lets you dry fire rapid fire practice for the Standard and Sport pistol match. The tubular magazine allows for the bore to be set lower and gives more freedom in custom shaping the grips.
3) Another precision blackpowder pistol, not quite as nice as the Hege Siber featured in yesterday's pictures. This one is by Armi Sport of Italy based on the LePage. These are commonly available today from Pedersoli.
4) Very cool repro of a KKW WWII smallbore sniper-trainer. These were originally chambered for .22 LR (of course) and also 4mm zimmerstutzen cartridge. The latter was used primarily if training was to be indoors. It is much smaller than a .22 short, made in CF and RF versions, typically loaded with a "rundkugel" (roundball).
5) An interesting ad for a German "Sporting Club" version of a Russian AK.
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1963
Those Beretta Olympic .22s were once very popular, now rarely seen.
From Guns & Ammo 1963
1) Remington XP-100. Super accurate and way ahead of it's time. I wonder how many were built into custom guns? The XP-100 was the favorite platform for custom unlimited pistols in IHMSA competition. Many benchrest shooters had winning rifles built with the XP-100 action. The Zytel nylon used for the stock was a DuPont product. There was a lot of cooperation between Remington and (parent company) DuPont. That helped make the Nylon 66 possible. Also, Remington ammo invariably was loaded with Dupont powders. Many cartridges offered by Remington were designed around the burn rate and loading density of specific DuPont powders.
2) You weren't gonna get much out of the lousy sights on the XP-100. Thankfully, the Bushnell Phantom was a reliable scope with proper eye relief for pistol.
3) Savage breaks the price/perfomance barrier in 1963 with a variety of belted magnums for the 110. And, Savage didn't forget us "Southpaws", either!
4) This was a relatively obscure but revolutionary product for the advanced (and wealthy) handloader: a hydraulic press for swaging and heavy duty case forming. Operated by footswitch, just watch those fingers!
5) G & A had lots of ads for handloading products and supplies. So, another plug for DuPont. I sure wish they held onto their gunpowder business. They made some great powders that are now long gone, ie: SR4759, Hi-Skor, #5, #6....
Those Beretta Olympic .22s were once very popular, now rarely seen.
From Guns & Ammo 1963
1) Remington XP-100. Super accurate and way ahead of it's time. I wonder how many were built into custom guns? The XP-100 was the favorite platform for custom unlimited pistols in IHMSA competition. Many benchrest shooters had winning rifles built with the XP-100 action. The Zytel nylon used for the stock was a DuPont product. There was a lot of cooperation between Remington and (parent company) DuPont. That helped make the Nylon 66 possible. Also, Remington ammo invariably was loaded with Dupont powders. Many cartridges offered by Remington were designed around the burn rate and loading density of specific DuPont powders.
2) You weren't gonna get much out of the lousy sights on the XP-100. Thankfully, the Bushnell Phantom was a reliable scope with proper eye relief for pistol.
3) Savage breaks the price/perfomance barrier in 1963 with a variety of belted magnums for the 110. And, Savage didn't forget us "Southpaws", either!
4) This was a relatively obscure but revolutionary product for the advanced (and wealthy) handloader: a hydraulic press for swaging and heavy duty case forming. Operated by footswitch, just watch those fingers!
5) G & A had lots of ads for handloading products and supplies. So, another plug for DuPont. I sure wish they held onto their gunpowder business. They made some great powders that are now long gone, ie: SR4759, Hi-Skor, #5, #6....
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Especially like the above Remington ad. Almost mouth watering pic of the 742-760. Actually ended up with it's 742 cousin the Remington Model Four in 270 Win. Love that glossy bluing and shiny finish on the walnut stock.
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