Who was responsible for your ongoing interest in Firearms?

Who was responsible for your ongoing interest in Firearms?

  • Your Mother

    Votes: 10 2.3%

  • Your Father

    Votes: 176 40.9%

  • Both your Parents

    Votes: 27 6.3%

  • A Friend

    Votes: 44 10.2%

  • A Government Entity

    Votes: 31 7.2%

  • Other

    Votes: 142 33.0%
  • Total voters
    430
Me, Myself and I

My Dad had a revolver and a shotgun and I never saw any of them fired. I've always had a love for finely tooled machinery. I had plenty of toy guns and a Daisy 1894 BB gun that I shot a big tube of BBs every few days through. I remember my first 'modern-looking' gun was a Man from Uncle gun, too.
 
Dad got me into guns, he had quite a nice collection going for a while. Then one of my cousins decided to end his life with a handgun, and my mother ordered all of dad's "out of the house." He kept one .22lr revolver, and his rifles. It wasn't till I was in my early 20's that I was inspired by a buddy of mine to pursue guns.
 
I checked "friend" because of my pal Petey, who thought that a guy who appreciated Czech motorbikes might like some Czech handguns to go with them. I shot them a little, and enjoyed the craftmanship of carefully made machines, but even then I did not develop a real interest in guns.

Then Minnesota passed its "shall issue" carry law. With a permit, no more hassle (relatively speaking) and no more delayed gratification. A guy could put his money down and take home his purchase. I bought a S&W revolver, a 5" Model 60. Had I known what I know now, I probably would have bought something else, but at least I realized the depth of my ignorance, and set out to educate myself, which led me to join this forum.

Of course, I looked at others, too, but this is the one I kept coming back to. The gentlemanly tone, and the depth and breadth of the knowledge here are incredible. This forum done more than any other source to foster and develop my interest in and knowledge of firearms.
 
Fishslayer said:
Growing up in Los Angeles I became very interested in guns from maybe 6 or 7 YO. I spent summers at my grandfolks house in Salina, Kansas. Grandpa was the ticket agent at the Union Pacific Depot until he retired. We would fish the local rivers & lakes until it got "too stinkin' hot."
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Hey Fishslayer, I don't suppose one of those lakes was Kanopolis, was it? ;) For us that was the best part of visiting Kansas in general!

As for the interest in firearms, definitely my dad. He initially bought a revolver for my mom to use for protection when he'd be away at work due to certain circumstances at the time. It was decided if a gun was to be in the house/camper then we were to learn safety and handling ASAP. He was the one responsible for teaching us and taking us out for practice and started me at about 6. (had a pellet gun prior to safely learn/demonstrate the safe handling aspect). Those trips to the desert and shooting with him are some of my best memories. They go along with learning to pilot the boat and ride motorcycles. He taught me all the fun stuff that I still love doing today! :) My mom may have been the reason for the first gun to enter the home but my dad instilled the interest/teaching of firearms that has stayed with me to this day.
 
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I was self motivated. My Dad was a farmer and owned a Winchester 62 and a single-shot exposed hammer shotgun. Mom had a brother shoot his eye out with a BB-gun. Parents weren't shooters at all.

I started with cap pistols and Daisy Red Rider, then the Model 62 and a bolt action 410. Handguns were never in my childhood. Once I turned 18 and made my own money I've been on the slippery, gun-nut slope ever since.
 
My Grandfather introduced me to hunting, camping, fishing, shooting, etc... at a very early age. Without a doubt, his influence sparked my interest in firearms.
 
My father taught me at the age of eight the fundamentals of gun safety and to respect their potential dangers if misused. My father took me out for target shooting and hunting every chance he had.
 
Got the customary .22 rifle from my uncles and tolerant parents at age 10. A friend's much older brother had a Ruger .22 autopistol which I was allowed to shoot and salivate over. I promoted one of my own when I was about 16. Dad was a WWII vet and Border Patrolman, and my mother was raised in Chicago during Prohibition, so they took it all in stride.

Read a copy of Jeff Cooper's "Fighting Handguns" and really liked his good commonsense writing and sense of history. Saw my first 1911 not long afterwards and it was love at first sight. My Dad borrowed one for me to try out on Easter, 1959; a year later my parents bought it for $25 and gave it to me for Christmas. Among the photos of us shooting it is one of my mother holding it out there at arm's length, no earmuffs (not then invented) and shooting those old hardball loads! I still have that old gun.

Between the military and law enforcement guns have provided me a hobby and a livelihood and a way of life. It's been fun, and everybody in the clan is a shooter of one kind or another. They all hit up Grandpa the handloader when they need ammo.
 
I think I was born with an ingrained love for guns that was bound to come out at some point. I believe that we are all born with characteristics from both parents but also with some original and unique characteristics all our own that didn't come from anyone.

Neither of my parents had any particular interest in hunting or guns. Certainly not like I have. I never thought much about it but even as a small child I had a strong attraction for and interest in guns. I only had occasional opportunities to "plink" but never got any training or real experience until my military years. Small arms training from the Navy and the Marine Corps only whetted my appetite.

Back in civilian life I pursued the passion/fever as resources permitted. At first that was not much. Over time I got my feet under me and was able to add some nicer things to the pile. Now 11 years into my retirement and on SS and a small pension I'm at the point of negative growth. Now I'm just trying to hold onto what I've spent a lifetime accumulating.

I guess what the military gave me was exposure. Which fed the fire and then just like water flowing downhill things just naturally progressed. Time brought more and different guns and broadened my experience and thus my abilities. Now I have a modest assortment and I love and enjoy it but I gotta say the the trip was a great part of reaching this destination. I am jealous of the youngsters just starting out. Jealous of all the "firsts" they have in store for them in their futures.
 
I'm sorry I've been away from this forum for quite a while. I've been trying to learn how to just pick up a guitar and play it for so long I almost forgot about this post. I'm also getting into crafting guitars and repairing them. So many other things happened too, such as life in general. I'm so impressed at how this post grew and it's inspiring to say the least. Now I have to take the time to read all your posts. Thanks so much everyone. Bless You All. :) and Keep On Shoot'in.
 
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Another grandfather who introduced us to bb rifle, at very early age. Huge treat going to grandparents house, and shooting bb gun in basement. Probably best memories of growing up. Then 22's, then bought us a shotgun when we turned 12 to go small game hunting.

Course he also started putting a little whiskey in the Shirley temples he made us at the bar, just to quite us down on the ride home ya understand.
 
Walkin' Jack said:
I think I was born with an ingrained love for guns that was bound to come out at some point. I believe that we are all born with characteristics from both parents but also with some original and unique characteristics all our own that didn't come from anyone.

Neither of my parents had any particular interest in hunting or guns. Certainly not like I have. I never thought much about it but even as a small child I had a strong attraction for and interest in guns. I only had occasional opportunities to "plink" but never got any training or real experience until my military years. Small arms training from the Navy and the Marine Corps only whetted my appetite.

Back in civilian life I pursued the passion/fever as resources permitted. At first that was not much. Over time I got my feet under me and was able to add some nicer things to the pile. Now 11 years into my retirement and on SS and a small pension I'm at the point of negative growth. Now I'm just trying to hold onto what I've spent a lifetime accumulating.

I guess what the military gave me was exposure. Which fed the fire and then just like water flowing downhill things just naturally progressed. Time brought more and different guns and broadened my experience and thus my abilities. Now I have a modest assortment and I love and enjoy it but I gotta say the the trip was a great part of reaching this destination. I am jealous of the youngsters just starting out. Jealous of all the "firsts" they have in store for them in their futures.
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Your always welcome to try my big collection of five out. Hopefully by the end of this year--IF all goes well on a colectables sale in late Oct? hopefully ill be adding three more by the end of the year. Their names be: Heritage (Rough Rider) Winchester and hoping to add the .22 Cal MP-38/40 to the collection too.
 
Scrapper said:
I'm sorry I've been away from this forum for quite a while. I've been trying to learn how to just pick up a guitar and play it for so long I almost forgot about this post. I'm also getting into crafting guitars and repairing them. So many other things happened too, such as life in general. I'm so impressed at how this post grew and it's inspiring to say the least. Now I have to take the time to read all your posts. Thanks so much everyone. Bless You All. :) and Keep On Shoot'in.
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If you squeeze the trigger just right? you can make your firearms into musical instruments--no need for guitar lessons. :D
 
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