Gil Hebard Guns
A few pages from the 1970 catalog.
Had we only known then what we know now
Masterbuck54
A few pages from the 1970 catalog.
Had we only known then what we know now
Masterbuck54
Iconic Gun Store's that are OOB
- Thread starter mmaher94087
- Start date
A few pages from the 1970 catalog.
Had we only known then what we know now
Masterbuck54
Yep.
I didn't really know him, but my Dad did. I had been to his gun store a few times back in the day. He was probably one of the best sources of knowledge for Bullseye shooters, and a real great guy.
OP
mmaher94087
Member
"Pony Express in Van Nuys." I forgot about them. Marty M., care to comment?
I just thought of Jerry's Sport Shop in Mountain View, CA. I wanted to purchase their S&W stain glass sign.
I just thought of Jerry's Sport Shop in Mountain View, CA. I wanted to purchase their S&W stain glass sign.
Dicks Gun Room Cayahoga Falls, Ohio. Closed a couple of years ago. Worked there in the 70s part time. I cannot remember ever wanting a firearm and them not having it. Unbelievable floor stock. 30,000 $ and down. But no Junk. Miss Dick and Chuck.
hivel37
US Veteran
Old Shops
Dinn Brothers in Bay City, Texas.
A hole-in-the-wall shop on main drag
back in 60’s that kept a young handloader
supplied with powder, primers, and bullets.
Another was Grant Ilseng’s in Houston.
Dinn Brothers in Bay City, Texas.
A hole-in-the-wall shop on main drag
back in 60’s that kept a young handloader
supplied with powder, primers, and bullets.
Another was Grant Ilseng’s in Houston.
Old Corp
Member
Hill's Inc. in Raleigh NC.
Started as a Harley dealership back in the 30's in the downtown area.
In the 50's moved out to US1 and began sporting goods and boats.
Later changed to guns, reloading supplies, hunting and fishing on one level. Another section was Schwinn bikes and Toro mowers. That actually meant something at one time.
Very large stock of guns for the time and place.
My parents used to indulge me, as a young gun geek, to go into the store and examine and explore. At age 12, my Dad got me a MEC 600 JR shotshell loader and this business was the only one for many miles that sold loading gear.
In 1974, age 16 I actually got a job there and thought I was in heaven. This store was very well known from many counties around and recall many of the very flush customers coming there and getting nearly everything they'd need for hunting trips to Alaska, Canada, Africa, etc.
The manager became like a 2nd Dad to me and mentored me on many aspects of shooting and handloading.
Owner died some years ago and his kids mainly viewed the place as a bother. Closed and gone now. But will always be in my memories and some that I very much value.
Started as a Harley dealership back in the 30's in the downtown area.
In the 50's moved out to US1 and began sporting goods and boats.
Later changed to guns, reloading supplies, hunting and fishing on one level. Another section was Schwinn bikes and Toro mowers. That actually meant something at one time.
Very large stock of guns for the time and place.
My parents used to indulge me, as a young gun geek, to go into the store and examine and explore. At age 12, my Dad got me a MEC 600 JR shotshell loader and this business was the only one for many miles that sold loading gear.
In 1974, age 16 I actually got a job there and thought I was in heaven. This store was very well known from many counties around and recall many of the very flush customers coming there and getting nearly everything they'd need for hunting trips to Alaska, Canada, Africa, etc.
The manager became like a 2nd Dad to me and mentored me on many aspects of shooting and handloading.
Owner died some years ago and his kids mainly viewed the place as a bother. Closed and gone now. But will always be in my memories and some that I very much value.
Attachments
SC_Mike
Member
Pretty much just the local Western Auto and Hardware. Growing up as a kid I remember seeing .22 rifles and ammo laying on the shelves in the aisles. They even sold used .22 rifles out of a wooden barrel at the end of the aisle.
Reminds me of Pat McManus' Grogan's War Surplus in Blight Idaho:
"On the lot next to the store, Grogan had carefully arranged the rusting wreckage of a dozen or so military vehicles in such a way as to conceal what had once been an unsightly patch of wildflowers. Most interesting of the vehicles was a Sherman tank."
A great read.
Reminds me of Pat McManus' Grogan's War Surplus in Blight Idaho:
"On the lot next to the store, Grogan had carefully arranged the rusting wreckage of a dozen or so military vehicles in such a way as to conceal what had once been an unsightly patch of wildflowers. Most interesting of the vehicles was a Sherman tank."
A great read.
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BearBio
Member
Western Surplus in Inglewood=bought my Super Blackhawk there in 1976.
My first shot gun came from Davis. A Remington 11-48 16ga. That's been close to sixty years ago and I still have it.
Jensen's in Tucson, the original location on Pima. Started to go downhill in the early 90s-I had already moved away. I think the kids that took over had something to do with the end of the business. Great store in the 70s and 80s. Bought my first S&W, a model 13, there in 1977.
Old TexMex
Member
Joe Millers in downtown Corpus Christi. It was a gun shop and liquor store. Closed when Downtown CC died mid ‘60s.
“Shrimp and Guns” in Aransas Pass, closed when the gulf boats all moved to Nicaragua in the 80’s.
“Shrimp and Guns” in Aransas Pass, closed when the gulf boats all moved to Nicaragua in the 80’s.
Back in the 40's and 50's in Mill Valley, Calif, it was the......
Green Frog Grocery.
A gentleman had a license and he would order weapons for my father.
As I grew up, we would walk into the sporting goods store that was across the street
from the GF and pick up our new weapons.
Ah.........
the good old days.
A shake of the hand, cash on the table and a free box of ammo.
Quite different , today !!
Green Frog Grocery.
A gentleman had a license and he would order weapons for my father.
As I grew up, we would walk into the sporting goods store that was across the street
from the GF and pick up our new weapons.
Ah.........
the good old days.
A shake of the hand, cash on the table and a free box of ammo.
Quite different , today !!
Sportland Guns (originally Wammes) in downtown Bellefontaine Ohio. Big shop that replaced Paul Wammes earlier small shop on the east side of town. Always had a great selection of new and used, lots of accessories. Could always find something neat there, they were also into distribution and often had some great police trade in guns to separate me from my money. After the owner died in a car wreck the retail store closed and they became just a distributor (Acusport) and recently that went out of business too (sold out to Ellett Brothers and looks like that is closed now too). A real shame they didn't keep the retail store open, nothing like it left in the area anymore.
Warshal's Sporting Goods in downtown Seattle.
Kaufman's Sporting Goods in Astoria, Oregon. I purchased an '03 Springfield from Hank for $50 in 1966, about 3 weeks pay for an E-3 back then.
Hank suggested a load with the 150gr Hornady and IMR 4064. That proved to be a great load. After using up the first can, Hank said I could save a dollar if I purchased a pound from his bulk drum in the basement rather than buying a new one pound can. I left the store with a brown paper bag of 4064 and an extra dollar in my wallet
Kaufman's Sporting Goods in Astoria, Oregon. I purchased an '03 Springfield from Hank for $50 in 1966, about 3 weeks pay for an E-3 back then.
Hank suggested a load with the 150gr Hornady and IMR 4064. That proved to be a great load. After using up the first can, Hank said I could save a dollar if I purchased a pound from his bulk drum in the basement rather than buying a new one pound can. I left the store with a brown paper bag of 4064 and an extra dollar in my wallet
Grannicks in Greenwich Ct. A gun store above a pharmacy, run by the same family.
My first intro to EBR’s, though that had everything from Charter Bulldogs to Colt Pythons.
Talk about a fun shop. Long gone. The pharmacy remains. Being Greenwich, all high end clothing stores took over the main drag.
My first intro to EBR’s, though that had everything from Charter Bulldogs to Colt Pythons.
Talk about a fun shop. Long gone. The pharmacy remains. Being Greenwich, all high end clothing stores took over the main drag.
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usmc2427765
US Veteran
The original Alexanders Gunshop in Houston,Tx, it was located on Milam street and had everything from a Dance Brothers Revolver to Adolph Hitlers stationary. The owner died in about 1969 and the business was sold. Great old time gunshop.
Bought lots of Smith revolvers at these stores:
The Grant Boys (aka Grants for Guns) in Costa Mesa, CA.
The Stockade in Westminister, CA.
And my favorite, Cheshire & Perez, in Monrovia, CA.
All closed down now...
The Grant Boys (aka Grants for Guns) in Costa Mesa, CA.
The Stockade in Westminister, CA.
And my favorite, Cheshire & Perez, in Monrovia, CA.
All closed down now...
ancient-one
US Veteran
Gibson's Discount had a little bit of everything plus a good sporting goods section. They were in several cities in OK and I don't know what other states. I bought my .243 Winchester rifle from them along with lots of Hornady HBWC, powder and primers for my 38 Spec. handloads.
Frontier Gun Shop, Lafayette, Ca. Back in the 50's I kept Kurt Hasse in business. Kept a running tab that I paid off each payday.
Ray's Hardware, Jackson Armory, both in Dallas. Collectors Firearms, Fountain Firearms, both in Houston. Trail Creek Trade in St. Louis Mo is a great collector shop! Simpson's Firearms in Galesburg Ill. is one of the very best collector shops with over 12000 guns on hand at any given time. I have done business with all of these people and could not be more pleased.
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