Your first firearm

[Harry Reed]

My first was a Marlin 336 lever rifle in .30 .30. Bought it on closeout at J C Pennys. I think they were shutting down their gun department. Had to get my dad to go with me because I was only 16. Still have it.

[Craig Larter]

A Ithaca model 49 .22 single shot in 1962. I asked my dad for a bb gun and he gave me the .22. I couldn't believe I got a real rifle instead of a bb gun. First shotgun was 1963 a Browning A-5 16ga that belonged to my Uncle Harvey who was completely paralyzed by a stroke at a very young age. He also gave me a deer mount from a 12 pt buck he had killed in the early 30's in the Adirondacks. My parents actually trusted me with the guns in my bedroom----imagine! One day after school I thought I was home alone and a big crow had settled in a tree outside my bedroom window. I whacked him with the Browning but to my surprise my mom was home. I was in big trouble---grounded for a few weeks and the guns were locked away for a few months.

[Angel Cruz Ortiz]

That's pretty good spanish "Swabie", I hope you hunting birds now.

The first gun I bought was a Winchester Model 70 in .270, I got it back in 94, used but in excellent condition. The first time at the range the recoil kicked my butt(shoulder) and I have not used it since. Still in the safe in excellent condition. I'll stick to my 30-06.

[Ben Rawls]

Mine was a Remington 341 my father had bought in the 30s. I came to me by default. We always had gun around and nobody thought anything of kids riding their bikes with a 22 across the handlebars. My oldest friend and I used to ride our bikes out to an old sand pit and shoot whatever. We may have been 12. I still have the rifle as well as a Rem model 12 given to my father by the owner of the American Chickle Company (Adams Chicklets). He was a close friend in the 1930s. My brother was the one who had "gun fever". He spent every waking moment at the house of our neighbor 2 houses down-a gunsmith. John still has a 1941 Remington 513S he bought for $30 in 1955 from Ed Cole. It has both a Lyman peep and a Weaver scope on it mounted so either can be used. My father gave him an LC Smith 20 ga (1906) for his 14th birthday. It cost $35 in 1957 and was bought from the original owner.

[George Lander]

My first gun was a Remington Fieldmaster Model 121 .22 caliber s,l & lr (which I still heve) purchased by my Dad from S.B. McMaster Sporting Goods in Columbia, SC for my 6th birthday. With it I became a dead-eye in murdering empty beer cans. Not long after came a 16 gauge single barrel H&R which I soon traded for a Parker 10 gauge hammergun (which I also still have) along with a box of Super X shells. I later came to own his Fox Sterlingworth 12 gauge that he acquired thru McMaster (and which the research letter attests to) in the 1920's. That was the only gun, to my knowledge, that he ever owned in my lifetime. I had it completely restored before he passed & gave it back to him. My Dad was born in 1896 and served with General Pershing & Captain Patton on the Mexican Border prior to WW1 in the 11th Mounted Cavalry.

Best Regards, George

[WilliamJanelle]

Mine was a Montgomery Wards 12ga S x S, still have it in my safe. It was given to me by my great uncle Pete on my 12th birthday. He was an avid hunter and my parents were a little nervious about the gift. My uncle explained "give him a gun and get him in the woods hunting an you'll never have to worry about him". He was a wise man.

[George Lander]

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[Sam Ogle]

In the early 1950's; my Grandfather took me to a neighboring cattle ranchers home, where we borrowed a single-shot 16 gauge and 4 or 5 shells: He had me shoot it at a coffee can which I hit, and he said "You're ready." He took me duck hunting to a swamp, letting me out at one end while he drove to the other end. Someone had said "You gotta lead those Widgeons a box car if the wind's behind them." So, a lone duck came by with the wind, and I shot....the fore-end came off in my hand, the barrel went up in the air, and I'll be danged: the duck dropped like a stone. I am in my 70's now, but will always remember that first shot at a bird.
Sam Ogle, Lincoln, Ne

[bob weeman]

First gun received was a single shot Reminton 22 bolt action. You loaded the round and then had to pull back on the striker on the end of the bolt to cock it. I did have use of all the old family guns though. First deer hunt was with a stevens 311 12 guage. Buckshot in the right barrel and a slug in the left. My dad made me carry it open until I saw a deer. Graduated to my great grandfathers 1873 38-40. Almost a smooth bore with a horrible barrel. First gun purchaes....Springfield 1903 re-chambered to 30-338....luckly I lived through that one as it was my first time re-loading....I was 14....could only find load data for 4350 powder....could only find 4320......first shot blew the primer completelty out of the casing.....second shot threw the scope completely off the rifle. Should have looked at the casing from the first shot before shooting the second! Thank god those old Springfields were sturdy!

[ParkerBoy]

Other than a Daisy Eagle BB gun that I got for my 8th birthday......My first purchase was a 9 shot .22 revolver that I bought from a friend in 1961. He brought it to school in a brown paper bag and it went home with me the same way. We were in 7th grade. We still keep in touch, but he has a "bad" character flaw now.......he likes Winchester 101s. I keep telling him, "barrels do not belong on top of one and other!"

Things were different back then!