Register
Log In
Home
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
Offline
Our new Member dannyboy shared some Serial Number info today, and I want to share a portion of his email:
"Message: i'm second owner of pistol pac that contained a receipt dated
6-30-1979 with first purchasers name from Garstang's Appliance and
Furniture in Belle Missouri."
This is not the first of these messages that has shared the original sale of a DW from a hardware store, appliance store, department store, etc. My first was from a sporting goods store with a very small gun counter, with even less handgun selection.
I can remember a time about 15 years ago that I visited a very small, locally owned "Main Street" hardware store in my (not small) city in CT. Right next to the key making machine was a very small glass counter displaying three S&W revolvers for sale.
In these days of the Gander Mountain/Cabela's/ Bass Pro Shop/ LGS with 2000+ guns on display, I guess all of these "not" gun stores are pretty much gone.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
March 27, 2009
Offline
to go backwards and have them everywhere again would be nice!! Thanks for the share!
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 9, 2009
Offline
My father in law has a shotgun to this day that was purchsed used at a Western Auto in our local town, The store is long gone, but I do remember picking out my first bicycle in that store as an eight year old. I don't know if they were still selling firearms when I was bicycle shopping, but those were some fine years.
SMF
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
Moderators
November 17, 2008
Offline
My first deer rifle ( Marlin 336C- 35 Rem) came from a small town hardware store that did not even display guns. You just asked and they went in the back and got out what you wanted to see.
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
May 17, 2010
Offline
Soap Box, Ballot Box, Ammo Box
in that order.
4 Monson Model 15's
1 Palmer FB 15
1 Rossi 357 Model 92 (lever)
1 CZ 75B
Supporter
Moderators
January 24, 2009
Offline
I remember a small family owned hardware store in Hurricane Utah, around 1976, that had a small gun counter. I loved that store.
I almost had my dad convinced back then, to go in halvsies with me for a Winchester lever gun...but my own shooting history of terrorizing any moving (and non-moving) thing with my BB guns slammed the lid on that idea.
Supporter
Range Officer
Range Officers
May 2, 2009
Offline
I'm a big fan of the "hardware guns"... I have many stamped western auto, Revelation, Sears, Wards, Ted williams, K-mart, JC higgins, Ranger, etc...
I not only enjoy tracing them back to their true manufacturers, Win, mossberg, etc, But I also like picking them up for pennies on the dollar.
Nothing better than looking at a Revelation 310 shotgun for 99 bucks right next to the $225 mossberg 500 and knowing they are the exact same gun.
SHOOT
Supporter
Range Officer
Range Officers
May 2, 2009
Offline
Now I'm having fond memories….
This was one of my favorite "projects"…I still have the gun. I picked up this absolutely beat Sears Ted Williams 20 Ga auto (Win 1400). Wrong buttstock on it, barrel poorly chopped, cracked forend, bad camo job, and serious rust on barrel…
.
So apart she came… time for some fun…
Just to show some before/after pics… Her's the misfit buttstock…
And the horrible barrel chop job…
And after all was said and done… a nice 20 ga semi that runs great.
Initial investment on the beater was $84.80 in 2007.
SHOOT
December 26, 2010
Offline
Nice job Shoot. Looks good.
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
Offline
My first handgun was a Harrington & Richardson model 949 in .22LR (9-shot revolver). Purchased at the local (privately owned, not national chain) hardware store when I was 16 years old. If I remember correctly it cost $39,95.
-Mike
March 25, 2008
Offline
Did anyone ever get a gun through the S&H green stamp stores. I still have a marlin 22 model 80c bolt action clip feed walnut stock micro groove barrel. My mom got this in the 60's when I was in my teens. It is still in mint condition, and shoots sweet. What ever happened to the good old days. to much politics and goverment control and welfare!
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
Moderators
November 17, 2008
Offline
Man my tongue is still green from licking all the stamps, just never bought a gun there. I did get my first Bow and Arrow set there. The neighborhood squirrls had to stay on their toes back then.
LB
Wisdom is merely the realization of how little one knows, therefore I am wise.
Supporter
Moderators
Dans Club
February 22, 2009
Offline
Green stamps, Blue stamps; yuck. I'm w/ you LB, that just brought back "fond" memories of making books of stamps for Mom.
Ace Hardware in DeRidder, LA still sells guns and ammo; I guess it takes us a little longer down here to get w/ modern times.
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
May 17, 2010
Offline
The only store ( other than WalMart) that sells guns in town here is an independent, though I would not call it small.
http://www.surpluscityusa.com/about/
I still shoot there ( often) and get my reloading stuff when I dont do a group buy off the net.
The city police use thier range was well.
Other than the one large BassPro, I think most guns in the area are bought and sold at small places, though they are not hardware stores. We have both a True Vlaue and an Ace here, neither sell guns. I suspect that actually very few guns are bought at Walmart here, as the counter people while friendly, don't really know any more than the checkout girl up front ringing up milk and eggs.
Soap Box, Ballot Box, Ammo Box
in that order.
4 Monson Model 15's
1 Palmer FB 15
1 Rossi 357 Model 92 (lever)
1 CZ 75B
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
Offline
WOW, this really struck a chord!
S&H Green Stamps? Monkey Wards? Sears? Ace Hardware?
Now I know where the Drug Cartels are getting all their guns!
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
Supporter
Range Officer
Dans Club
Range Officers
Members
July 2, 2011
Offline
A few years ago I was eating in a small diner in the the middle of the Texas Hill Country. The owner/counterman/cook walked by and I saw what appeared to be a small semi-auto in his hip pocket. Commented on it and he pulled out a cute little Beretta .25 (or .32 don't remenber). I jokingly asked him how big a tip I needed to leave to take it with me. He said $80.00 would get it done. Sold it after I got back to the big city for $150.00.
I'm pretty sure you can find a gun to buy most anywhere in TX. 
BTW,
GO BLUE!!
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
November 27, 2011
Offline
I finally caught up with this post. Garstang's was the local furniture and gun store in that part of the world. I remember that the furniture was on the left and the gun counter on the right. They were great people and would show you whatever for however long it took. In 77 my dad took me in there and bought me a browning semiauto 22. I still have that rifle and I'll estimate I've put 20k of rounds through it. Always got a brick of long rifle for Christmas. I remember having to buy bullets at Western Auto though because he was the only guy who would sell them to a kid. The other posts inline here bring back some memories of JC higgins and makes me want to hit a few farm auctions and look for a bolt action Western Field shotgun.
Supporter
Range Officer
Moderators
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
December 4, 2011
Offline
I posted info on to the serial # email but just noticed I missed something. On the origional box is a small sticker that says "K's Merchandise Mart", apparently the store that sold the gun back in 1981. A google shows that the store was an appliance, dept. type store in Illonis area, went out of business in about 2000. Just thought I'd mention it here FWIW.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
April 25, 2008
Offline
I bought my first two handguns at a K's Merchandise Mart in Champaign, Illinois back in 1984...a Ruger MKII Target and a Colt Python Target in .38 Special. Drooled over many guns there.
The Savantist
1 Guest(s)
