This thread is mainly for those born in the 70s or earlier, but everyone is welcome to join.

[44MOshooter]

My Dad was an avid quail/bird hunter, had bird dogs before me.
So I grew up with firearms all around me, and started quail hunting when I was 7 years old w/ a Stevens model 94 410 with tenite stock.
9 years old my parents bought me a Remington 1100 20 ga. for quail hunting and other small game hunting.
The first firearm I purchased was a West Point Savage 487T 22lr. semi-auto rifle. I was 9 or 10? and bought it with my paper route money. I also bought my first deer rifle, a Remington 742 woodmaster 30-06, I was 10 or 11years old?
My Mom had to sign for both guns back then.
And when I was 10 years old my parents had a H&R Sportsman model 999 under the Christmas tree. I also had and still have a Universal 30 carbine that I acquired in 1974.
So yes I grew up around firearms and couldn't imagine not having them around.
I managed to hang on to all the above firearms, except the Remington 742

Born 1964 last year of the Boomer generation

My Dad took his vacation the first opening week of quail season, that's how avid! haha

We went to grandma and grandpa's house every weekend, where 2 of my cousins and I hunted every weekend together.
We hunted anything and everything in season, we were only 9-12 years old and had miles and miles to hunt, really good times.

 

[Michigan Jim]

I am another old feller, my Dad was a Hunter, mostly deer & ducks. He also hunted squirrels, rabbits and before they dried up in the Ozarks, turkeys.
Memories,

There was a hall closet in our home that had drawers on the bottom half and the top half open but covered with a curtain. Behind the curtain, not Oz but something more magical and appealing to a young kid, Dad's rifles and shotguns.
Learned do not touch without Dad's presence at an early age.

Don't have a clear recollection of each but his favorites included Winchester and Marlin lever guns. Later in life he switched to Remington pump and semi rifles. The only shotgun I can remember was a Remington model 31 12 ga with a poly choke.

The drawers held ammunition, cleaning kit a handgun or two and his prized knife. A birthday present was sent to him from my Sister who was in Germany with her Army Husband. Stag grips with folding blades in the handle. No name of manufacture on it. After Dad died from injuries received in a car wreck my two Sisters and I had to clean out his house before selling it. My No. 1 target was finding his hunting knife. I was about to give up on finding it. His house had washed away in a flood a couple of years earlier and figured the knife was on the bottom of the river with his guns.

I looked at a coat rack in basement and saw his hunting coat hanging there. The knife was in the pocket. Stayed with me until my house burned. I was able to dig it out of the ashes.

Was in an antique mall one day and saw an exact copy of his knife. When I looked at it there was a manufacturer's name on it, Henley. I bought the knife, my Dad's name was Henley.

I gave that knife to a son of a friend, the boys name was Henley.

My Dad was friends with several State Troopers that would stop by the house for coffee or a meal and these Officers along with Television and Flims fueled my interest in handguns & law enforcement. The first S&W I remember was a . 45 acp revolver issued to rural mail carriers. I was hooked on the brand the first time I fired it.

The family learned pretty quick that any event in my life that might mean a present had to look no further than a gun store.

One my Dad gave me was a K22. A lot of snakes and a few other varmits fell victim to it. I sent it off to be Armolyed. It was even better after that and them one day in a moment of stupidity I let it get away.

I often wonder where that K22 is today and hope who ever owns it is enjoying it as much as I did.

I was blessed by a Mother who gave me the gift of reading, which in turn gave me knowledge of our Lord & Savior and also led me to a love of history. I was blessed by a Dad who gave me the interest in firearms, law enforcement and the knowledge that in America Guns & History are intertwined forever.

Love your story, I too reached "Old Timer" status and enjoy reminiscing of the good old days. Mine was growing up in the country in the 40's & 50's.

 

[rustic39]

I was born in January, 1939. We always had a couple of guns around the house - my Dad's Eastern Arms 12-gauge single-shot, that he'd bought as a youth (early 1920's), a Winchester single-shot 22RF, and a 22 semi-automatic (don't remember the maker). I grew up shooting the 22's; I was a scrawny kid, and 12-gauge was above my pay grade. About the time I was twelve, Dad started collecting guns - largely obsolete military, and some sporting as well. I still have most of them...I'm eighty-six, and have to address what to do with them; I don't want to leave them for my wife to deal with.

 

[Riposte1]

How did you get into shooting?

I was born in Jan. 1951 - my Dad taught me to shoot and firearms safety when I was four.

• Were guns always around in your home?

Yes, though not many. For the first three years my Dad had a P-38 he had bought for $10, then he traded it even for a 1911a1.

• Did your fathers or grandfathers own or carry?

Yes. My paternal GF died when I was 18 months old, but my maternal GF was a rural mail carrier - he always had a revolver handy, sometimes he carried it in his bib overalls - it was just a .22, I had the impression it was for snakes and 4 legged vermin. I received that gun on his death. He was a WW-I veteran.

My Dad was a WW-II vet and often had a gun but he didn't carry one daily except for a few times where he worked for the Army and had to pick up expensive stuff in a big city.

My uncle, Dad's brother, was a Korean War vet and became a cop in CO after he got out - he carried a 5" S&W 27 (likely a "pre-27") he was killed by a drunk driver in 1963 and all his guns were stolen from his house (he lived alone).

• What was your first gun, and what was the first you really wanted (even if you never got it)?

My first actual firearm was a Revelation Model 150 (it is a store brand made by Mossberg) - Got it when I as 9 years old, I still have it.

The first gun I really wanted and had to save up for was an M1 Carbine - I bought that when I was 14 and my Dad, who hadn't really shown much interest in anyting other than .22s, bought me some dies and a bullet mold and he really helped me out getting into handloading and we cast thousands of bullets over the years (he had a sideline of auto body work, when he started you used solder to fill in the dents you could not beat out).

The second gun I bought myself was a Remington Rand 1911a1 - not because I wanted that specific gun but because I wanted a centerfire handgun and it was cheap. I was 15 at the time and back then, pre '68 GCA - if the store would sell you a handgun it was legal - but my Mom had to drive me to the store and I suppose they figured if it was OK with her it was OK with them

Good topic, fond memories!

Riposte

 

[Arm]

Raised in the city that William Penn is known for, I was born in 1946....never fired any pistol, revolver or rifle until 1963....that's when I joined the Army was trained and went off to that paradise called Vietnam.....glad the Army taught me to shoot. Came home in '67 in time for the holidays Have been shooting ever since. I enjoy it but the eyes are not what they once were...LOL

 

[Mr.Cip]

Thanks for sharing your story.

For those who don't know what an H&R 199 is, here are a few photos. It's a Harrington & Richardson small-caliber revolver (most often in .22). It was mainly made for plinking, target practice, and general recreational shooting, not as a police or military gun.

The H&R 199 was my first revolver. I had great times shooting that top break. I sold it after a few years to buy a Ruger Mark 1. I miss that revolver I should have never sold it.

 

[Chipsdad]

I was born in northern Michigan in 1952. Dad always hunted rabbits with his Winchester model 12, everything else too. I asked to shoot that every day we hunted. Since I was five years old, Dad said if your Mother found out,she would shoot both of us. Finally at the age of six, my Dad gave in, I had to swear never to tell Mom. That 12ga knocked me on my butt. Two things happened that day, I didn't ask again and Mom never found out. Next step was a Stevens single shot 410, then moved up to a Noble Westernfield 12ga, and a Fox double 20ga. Dad never owned a handgun, never wanted one. Over the years we have owned many different types but the Winchester 12ga will always have a place in my gun cabinet.

 

[flagaman1950]

Born in east Texas in 1950. Raised by my mom and grandparents as dad worked overseas for 20 plus years. Only home for three-four weeks every other year. To the best of my knowledge grandad had a knickerbocker double barrel 12 gauge, an S&W 32 WCF revolver and an S&W chiefs special. All I ever saw him shoot was snakes, armadillos and such. He did buy my first gun at about 8 years old. A single barrel 410. First handgun around 14 years old. It was a 380 Astra. Wish I still had the shotgun. Learned to shoot on my own, gun safety too, but that was a bit slower on the up take. Hunted mainly deer, quail, doves. and occasionally a squirrel or two.

Don't hunt anything anymore, mainly just collect. No high dollar rigs, but just older good solid guns. Do have to shoot an occasional snake, skunk, armadillo, etc. as they are tough on the chickens. Latest edition to my modest collection is a Winchester 94 made in 1955.

 

[Buford57]

Child of the 50s. We lived at the edge of a small town. The woods started across the road. My dad's bolt action Springfield .22 rifle leaned next to the door and was used to dispatch vermin such as feral cats and porcupines that got into the dogs. It was the only gun in the house at first. He had traded 2 weeks of driving tractor for it when he was 14. I shot it for the first time at age 5 at the town dump. Dad always shot rats there whenever we had non-burnable trash. He supported the fore end and the target - a brown glass bleach jug- was only about 20 feet away, but I aimed and pulled the trigger and was hooked. When I was about 10 he won a 12 gauge JC Higgins pump in a raffle. The Christmas I was 14 there was a Springfield .22 bolt of my own under the tree. The next spring I started working and that fall started hunting. Dad looked the other way if I pilfered a few .22 cartridges but insisted I could only borrow the shotgun if I bought my own shells.

One gun I always wanted but never got around to acquiring was a Remington rolling block. One turned up at the LGS a few months ago, but I'm into deacquisition mode. The Sharps will have to do.

 

[HuntFish918]

Born in 1958.
First gun I was allowed to shoot was a 22 semi auto pistol...probably a Ruger...around age 5 with my Dad and his friends.
I remember watching them shoot a metal five gallon paint can full of water with a 300 Weatherby!
Even though all my friends had BB guns, I was never allowed one.
"They're only good for putting your eye out! When you're old enough, you'll get a REAL gun."
My first gun was a new Cooey Winchester Model 370 single shot in 410 bore at age 10.
Always wanted a lever action 30-30.
Got a used Marlin 336 at age 11 and went on my first deer hunt that fall.
Have not been unarmed since.
Yes, guns were always around the house.
No, neither my Dad or either Grandfathers carried, but yes they owned centerfire and rimfire rifles, shotguns and pistols.
After mowing lawns all summer, along with my paper route, I earned enough to buy a new Remington 870 Wingmaster 20 gauge.
They were on sale for $99.99 at TG&Y.
I was 14, so my Mom had to drive me into Tulsa. She told me she was not helping me pay for it.
I plunked down my hundred bucks and the salesman said, "you need two more dollars."
I was heartbroken.
It was my introduction to taxation.
I went back outside to the car, almost in tears. Yes, Mom spotted me the $2 and I went back inside and purchased my first gun!
It was eventually stolen, along with several other shotguns from my truck parked outside after returning home from a freezing, unsuccessful hunt.
Did I mention that I hate thieves?
While earning my bachelor of science in photojournalism at Oklahoma State University, I enrolled in an elective class called archery and rifle. There is, or was, a small bore range under the basketball court in Gallagher-Iba arena and that's where we shot .22s three times a week. They said there used to be an OSU rifle team and that's where they practiced.
About 20 year ago, looked in the safe and realized all my weapons were black plastic. Sold off all but two and began earnestly collecting old Winchesters and S&W 5 screws. Had a 686 and new in the box 629 fall into my lap. Then I was lured into the WWII surplus market.
Need to sell all that stuff and go back to concentrating on Winchesters and Smiths...

 

[isaactc]

My Dad was a Detroit "Cop" in the 40"s, 50's, and 60's. He was a homicde Detective for 11 years, before being promoted up the ranks. He carried a Colt Cobra which he kept loaded in his dresser drawer. One of my earliest memory's was Dad telling all of us that ANYTIME we wanted to look at it, he would drop what he was doing and sit in the bed and show us how he unloaded it. Then he would have us go through the ritual of loading and unloading it, making certain it was safe. He taught me to never point it in a direction where there might be a person. He even let me dry fire it at a target in the basement. When I was about 8 he took me to a range and let me shoot it. The recoil and muzzle blast were deafening. I had zero desire to ever "play" with that gun until I was 15. At 15 he took me to Griswold Sports in downtown Detroit and bought a Ruger Super Single Six for $50. with money I had saved from cutting lawns for 3 years. It started a love of revolvers I still have at age 73.

 

[mrs50sls56]

Born in 1950. Purchased my first gun in 1971; Ruger Mark 1 Standard for $49.50 Currently, mostly 3-screw Rugers with a few defensive S&Ws. The only Auto I own is a 5" .45 ACP that was a gift. I go into the store thinking Glock and always walk out with a Revolver.

 

[HuntFish918]

I'm 77 and got my first gun when i was 12...and I still haveit. My dad bought me a Winchester model 37 20 gauge shotgun to hunt small game with. About the only guns in our house were shotguns until I turned 17. Then a few centerfire rifles showed up (a .243 and a 308, then a 30/06) along with some reloading equipment. I no longer have any of those rifles, but I still have all the reloading equipment (plus much more) now. I'm still wanting (and don't have) a pre-64 model 70. I find the .300 H&H to be the one I think about the most, but I'm less particular about caliber than I am having the rifle.

My pre-64 Model 70 collection. You should come to Tulsa for the Wannemacher gun show and pick up one.

 

[Rick Leslie]

I was born in the waning days of 1959. Ruined my Mom's Christmas. By the 70s I was already burning up ammo at my Dad and Granddad's expense. I'll shamelessly borrow the format above.

• How did you get into shooting?
I was always drawn to firearms and pretty much anything mechanical.
• Were guns always around in your home?
Not until I turned 13 and snuck a German 22 SAA clone home. Dad said hide it until he could talk to Mom.
• Did your fathers or grandfathers own or carry?
Both used the tried and true 'back pocket snubbie' carry method. I think I was the first in the family to use a holster.
• What was your first gun, and what was the first you really wanted (even if you never got it)?
As mentioned above, got a 22 single action for Christmas at 13. Really wanted a centerfire so not long after I managed to swap for a 6 inch S&W M10 nickeled. Not ideal for target but it introduced me to reloading. But my first 'dream gun' was a Smith M19. Finally got one at around 17 or 18. By then Dirty Harry had made the M29 the most desireable handgun on the planet, so the 357 gave way to the mighty 44. Since then I've been through dozens of each and currently own neither. But I still have Great-granddad's old pre Model 10 with which I first learned to shoot.

 

[oldcop71]

Born in 53. Dad was a cop carrying a Colt snub of some sort, then a Smith model 15 Combat Masterpiece .38 up until his death on-duty. I still have the Smith. I assume he traded the Colt for it.
He bought a .22 rifle for my brother and I to share, and my first purchased gun was a Stevens 311 12ga double bbl. The rest, as they say, is history.

 

[Deadeye Dick]

I cut my shooting teeth on my older brother's K-22, Colt Woodsman and Hi-Standard Supermatic Trophy back in the mid 1970s. He traded the K-22 for a .44 Magnum that he later regretted. He eventually traded the .44 for his first 1911. He still has the Woodsman and a few more Hi-Standards. I'm not sure if he ever got a replacement for the K-22.

 

[TJm15.38]

• How did you get into shooting?
• Were guns always around in your home?
• Did your fathers or grandfathers own or carry?
• What was your first gun, and what was the first you really wanted (even if you never got it)?

I started shooting at about age 13 in the Boy Scouts. We did some informal competition at 25 yards with iron sight, single-shot .22's.

Other than a 5mm Sheridan Pump pellet rifle, guns were never around our house until my Dad bought my first rifle, a Ruger 10/22 in 1966. My parents and grandparents never carried guns.

After the 10/22 I got a real urge for a Browning Auto-5 in 20 gauge. I never got one, but saved up enough money while working in high school to buy a Savage/Fox Model B double barrel (Improved Cylinder and Modified). It was a great shotgun, but like a fool I sold it in college. I finally inherited a Browning Sweet Sixteen Auto-5 from my Father in Law after his passing. I still have it today and it is in great condition.

 

[quikdraw67]

Born in 1967

My Dad and older brother were into shooting, so it came naturally. Plus growing up in NE PA, deer hunting was like a religion. The schools were closed for the 1st day of buck season. So everyone I knew had guns of some sort. It was like having a car, or a TV. It just wasn't a a big deal, everyone took it as normal.

Yes, guns were always in my house growing up. I was taught they were not toys, and not to be touched.

Dad had a carry permit. Again, it was something we never thought much about. I still have his carry pistol, a Model 36.

My 1st gun was a Marlin 781 .22lr bolt action I got for Christmas 1979 from my older brother. I still have it, it still shoots great almost 46 years later.

I really, REALLY wanted a Colt AR-15 SP1 in the early 80's They were $424 at Sugerman's, and would go on sale for $399 every so often. I never talked my Dad into it. And they wouldn't let me spend my summer job money on one, that was for college.

Looking back, I would have been better off buying the AR

 

[PauldL]

Born in late '71
My dad was a Prison Warden & later on was over prisons in Western NC
He was also leader of the PERT Team at one time (Prison Emergency Response Team) and shot many, many PPC matches ( he even shot a perfect score once ) so many trophies from Chatlotte, Gastonia, Lincolnton, etc.... his Prison team won the NC State Championship out of all 100 prisons in NC (at that time - late 70's I think) he shot a model 19 with a Douglas Barrel & Bo Mar sights
So yeah, I was around guns and we had a few in the house - but not very many actually- an M1, his dad's Shotgun, and a 30-30 i believe
I think the first gun i shot was that shotgun and I think the first gun i ever remember wanting was a S&W 586 because I think thats the gun Mark Hamill had on the night the lights went out in Georgia - I think he was a Georgia State Trooper in that movie and I just remember thinking what a cool gun!
The first gun i ever bought myself.was after I completed law enforcement school (NCBLET) in '92 - I bought a Smith & Wesson 5905
Oh, later on we had a 25-06 rifle too
Oh and yes my dad's dad had a gun too. He was a WW 1 vet - fought in France
He was a better shot than my dad - at least thats what daddy always said
But, we ever hardly ever shot around the house or anywhere really
Daddy never bought any guns that I knew of while growing up
Back then it was more of struggle just to put food on the table - especially when your mom was a stay at home mom. We never talked gun either - ( I shouldn't say "never" we did - it was just rare for us too - I was into football, baseball and basketball and girls mainly )
I dunno, just different times back then.

 

[stude11]

Born way back in ;48. My family wasn't into guns, but my older brother was. I shot his Mossberg .22 a bit, but the first gun I ever owned myself was a model 14-2, 6"barrel. At the time, I worked at a rural dog kennel, and my boss insisted I have a handgun for protection, as I lived at the kennel. Bought this one from a CHP who was a customer. Story about it was, it was his duty weapon until a dark night traffic stop near Half Moon Bay. The "detainee" was a huge man, came bolting out of the car yelling and swinging a large wrench. The cop ultimately put 5 rounds into him but still had to handcuff him for transport to the hospital. The next day, he bought a new model 58, and I ended up with the .38. IIRC, I paid $100 for it; came wrapped in a towel...no paperwork, no registration, just like buying a dozen eggs from a farm stand. Those were different times, especially for California.
I still have it, along with 6 other S&W revolvers. (including a model 58...)