Moffett Field, CA Naval Air Station. I joined the Navy in 1963 when I turned 17 and was stationed at Moffett Field as a P3 Aircrewman. After 4 years active duty I went to college, got my degree and became a Navy Pilot and again was stationed at Moffett Field.
Store Brand Rifles from 50's, 60's, Wards, Western Auto, etc.
- Thread starter jds holler
- Start date
One story I like to tell about traveling on a airline with firearms back around 1964. I flew on United Airlines to San Jose,CA in 1964 when I was being stationed at Moffett Field. I carried my 30-06 I previously posted about and my 12 gauge shotgun onto the airplane with me and placed them in the overhead storage above my seat. The overhead on that airplane was just a shelf and not a enclosed overhead storage like we have now. Times have sure changed.
Last edited:
KMart
Gold $$ Contributor
You are no better looking now, but at least you have hair!
I started with what Sears and Wards had at the time in the 1960s , My dad and I would check them out everytime we went to town .First rifles we bolt 22s and 22 mags . I remember my first shotgun ,Ithaca 37 featherweight in 20 gauge...He did not have all the money that day,seemed it took a few paychecks but it was not long before I was killing ruffed grouse and tree branches. Back then I would carry it down to town on my summer fishing trips "just in case "...you could buy as many shells out of a box you wanted.I would budget my money between fishing tackle,coke,a stick of pepperoni, and shotgun shells.
butchlambert
Site $$ Sponsor
Being an Air Force dependent it was easy to see. One of my friend's young son was a P3 pilot, but he is in a new one now. I think it is a P8 maybe.
I don't think you could have a better life than a military dependent.
hogpatrol
Gold $$ Contributor
First shotgun was given to me by my dad at age 16, a J.C. Higgins 16 gauge bolt action, mag fed. Killed a lot of pheasants, rabbits and squirrels with that gun. First one I purchased was in '63, a Sears .22, tube fed auto loader. Took it to high school for a public speaking class and did a takedown and reassembly demo. As some have posted, times sure have changed. Today, that'd be SWAT and film at 11. Had it after I was married but had to use it to pay part of the rent one month. Not sure but IIRC, some of the store bought brands were made by High Standard.
jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
You will notice a common thread, that runs through this --- thread.
Back in those days, we boys (and maybe some girls), typically got our first firearm at around age 12. Firearms of all types could be purchased damned near anywhere, and most of us worked to earn the money to do so at a very young age.
There WERE NO GUN SAFES, and most mud rooms had a rifle leaning by the back door. In any given home, a firearm was probably no further than twenty feet away at any given time. Most folks never locked the back or even the front door when they left the house.
I'm not going to say that there was no firearm accidents, or that there was no gun crime -- there was. But I'd bet that it was waaaayyy lower than it is now. (per-capita)
I'm fortunate to live in a similar world even now, but I wish the rest of the country still did also. jd
Back in those days, we boys (and maybe some girls), typically got our first firearm at around age 12. Firearms of all types could be purchased damned near anywhere, and most of us worked to earn the money to do so at a very young age.
There WERE NO GUN SAFES, and most mud rooms had a rifle leaning by the back door. In any given home, a firearm was probably no further than twenty feet away at any given time. Most folks never locked the back or even the front door when they left the house.
I'm not going to say that there was no firearm accidents, or that there was no gun crime -- there was. But I'd bet that it was waaaayyy lower than it is now. (per-capita)
I'm fortunate to live in a similar world even now, but I wish the rest of the country still did also. jd
When I was in middle school, so 12-13 years old. We road the bus about 8 miles to school. There was a Ben Franklin 5 and 10 close to the school. We would go in after school and buy 22 and shot shells then get on the bus for home. Once we got home, we would take our bicycles to go hunting.
You are correct in that the P8 is replacing the P3.
Fast14riot
Gold $$ Contributor
Different era, likely I'm of the age to be most of you guys' kid, but I also got my first rifle of my own at 12. Now nearing in on 40, but not yet, I still have my first rifle and have refinished it a few years ago. Not a store brand, it's a remington 582, but I can still relate to many of the stories from 30-40 years before my time. Except for taking a rifle to school, I did grow up in CA and vividly remember the 1989 Cleveland school shooting just a mile away.
I've been told I've been born 30 years too late, lol.
Still shoot my glenfield M60, and wouldn't hesitate to buy another store brand even now.
I've been told I've been born 30 years too late, lol.
Still shoot my glenfield M60, and wouldn't hesitate to buy another store brand even now.
muleystalker
Silver $$ Contributor
Glenfield was Marlins cheaper no frills line, no gold trigger, cheaper hardwood stock with no checkering or sometimes a stampede grip with acorns and squirrels. But as far as function they worked great, my first .22 bolt gun I bought myself at age 10 was a Glenfield, I wanted the marlin sitting next to it on the shelf but didn't have the extra cash. It shot just as good as my brothers Marlin.
The makers for Sears, Montgomery Wards and other stores changed every so often, it just mattered when the contract was up and who put in the best bid for the new contract. I now Husqvarna made rifles for different companies, my buddy had a .243 made for I think Sears that was a Husqvarna, they also made them for Charles daly for a while.
muleystalker
Silver $$ Contributor
Lots of places sold Glenfield side by side with marlins, its their cheaper brand, K-mart carried them, Value Giant Drug stores, JC Pennys, and lots of other stores. But they did manufacture and stamp for a house brand also. I bought my first .22 Glenfeild at JC Pennys.
muleystalker
Silver $$ Contributor
I had an old Noble 12ga pump that my uncle gave me, it shot nice but then the bottom plate on the bolt broke and I couldn't find a new part, I ended up giving it away as I got tired of hauling it around after several moves.
http://www.nramuseum.org/
Has a list of who made the off brand firearms.
STORE BRAND CROSS-OVER LIST
http://www.nramuseum.org/gun-info-research.aspx
Has a list of who made the off brand firearms.
STORE BRAND CROSS-OVER LIST
http://www.nramuseum.org/gun-info-research.aspx
Last edited:
SSL
Gold $$ Contributor
Dad had one of those Noble pumps when I was in my 20's. He was a fair shot, but never seemed able to hit with it. I finally set up a big sheet of newsprint stock on my backstop and we patterned it. The center of the pattern was a good 18" left and 12" high. Taking the barrel off, I proceeded to "tweak" it by placing it in a convenient fork of a tree and applying judicious pressure to bend it gradually in the right direction. After several tries it produced a pattern nicely centered at 40 yards. Guess that is the true meaning of "Shade-tree 'smithing"! Worked well for him for a few years but he really never liked it. After a couple heart problems and increasing shoulder issues, I talked him into a Charles Daly semi-auto that I had found for a very good price. Auto combined with a thick pad really soaked up the recoil and the gun was considerably lighter than the old Noble.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.