The old days

[todd allen]

I remember snagging a couple of deals off of the DGJ ads. You have to be quick and decisive, because often, when you're mumbling and murmuring about the price, another buyer is doing the same thing.

[John Allen]

Since there were no photos on the old Shotgun News and Gun List, sellers had to write the description of the guns. This lead to some VERY creative writing. Having been on both sides of that I have to laugh at some of the things I read and wrote.

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by John Allen

Since there were no photos on the old Shotgun News and Gun List, sellers had to write the description of the guns. This lead to some VERY creative writing. Having been on both sides of that I have to laugh at some of the things I read and wrote.

John, you wrote good descriptions "back then," and caused us to ride to Nashville to purchase three guns from you (before the internet). BTW, I still have those guns and have enjoyed them greatly for many years.

[Big D]

In Columbus, dinner at the Claremont Motor Lodge was always a treat. Waitress "Perry" would take orders from 6-7 rowdy gun guys with no paper - just mental - and never made a mistake. It was a show. She always got tipped very heavily

[Bill Murphy]

Best ad writer in Shotgun News was Tom Gibbons. "Never a screw turned."

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Best ad writer in Shotgun News was Tom Gibbons. "Never a screw turned."

Bill, I still have some of Tom's ads that I saved for reference, AND I bought some guns from Tom. I wish I'd known you back then for advice!

[todd allen]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Best ad writer in Shotgun News was Tom Gibbons. "Never a screw turned."

That reminds me of a gun writer who once wrote something like:
"That guy put the screw in screwdriver"
I have used that since.

[Larry the Gun Guy]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Best ad writer in Shotgun News was Tom Gibbons. "Never a screw turned."

And always ended some of the ads on the best Foxes with "WHAT A FOX''!

You could clearly hear this through the pages of the ad. These were the days when an imagination was vivid and well developed. Memories...

[John Allen]

There were some real characters in the business back then. I remember dealing with a gentleman from Connecticut who spoke very pompously. I would call him about a gun he advertised and he would answer "I shall ascend to the gunroom and find it". He would then describe the gun in very flowery over the top terms. I bought a couple from him just to see what the hell he was talking about. Great fellow but just weird. I can't remember his name.

[Bill Jolliff]

I vividly remember one of the first gun shows I ever attended and that was on March 24, 1968, up here south of Rochester NY at Vince's 50 Acres Party House.

Near the door where you came in was a Parker DHE in 28 gauge priced at $1350.00. Holy Crap, you can almost buy a new car for that much money.

I did buy at that show, a late style 12 gauge Fox AE grade, SN 33743, for $225.00. I got it from Henry Grillo who was from the Utica area, who I got to know very well over the years.

In September of that year, 1968, I bought an early style 12 gauge A grade Fox, SN 7983, from Glen Appleby from Galeton, PA for $175.00. I still have that gun and have put around 20,000 rounds thru it in the last 10 years, mostly with my low recoil 1/2 ounce 12 gauge loads.

I had that AE12, SN 33743, a long time. Traded it, plus another 15 guns or so plus some $$ to Bill Jaqua on August 4th, 1976 for an exceptional 16 gauge Fox.

Boy O Boy, I wish I could do some of that again.