A nostalgic look back..1997 Century Arms Catalog..

[JER]

dolk- I remember walking past (not so old at the time) military firearms, laid out on blankets at our local swap meet. Mausers, 1903's, all manner of war trophy Japanese rifles, British surplus, etc....This was WAY before the 1968 Gun Control Act....Now THAT was a Long, Long Time Ago, in a Galaxy Far, Far Away...lol. I bought my first milsurp at Western Hardware, in So Cal, back in 1970. It was a Turked GEW88, sold (of course) as a "Commission Mauser". Well, my friend Bruce and I took this thing out to the nearby canyon, taped a target to a tree, and shot a bunch of old military ammo at it. I was amazed that the rounds zipped right through the 20" dia Cottonwood tree. Went back to Western Surplus to get more ammo, and the guy manning the counter said "This is probably too hot for you to be shooting- it's machine gun 8mm". Man, I was so ignorant...BUT I did get a cool Swiss saw-tooth M1914 Pioneer out of the "barrel 'o bayonets" for $6.00...still have it...

[bunkysdad]

When I was a teenager my dad had a 20.00 Carcano carbine. We bought some 6.5 Carcano ammo and went out to the country and busted cinder blocks with it. Everybody thought it was a piece of crap but I liked it. And besides it busted cinder blocks like a champ.

[Darryl]

My first (my very own) hunting rifle was bought in 1968. My Dad and I went into the local gun store and in the middle of the store was maybe 8 fiber barrels of milsurplus rifles. All marked "$15...your choice". Everything you could want. I went through all the barrels and picked the "purdiest" one there. Didn't matter what the others were. It was an Enfield NO5 "jungle carbine"in 303. Perfect stock and I think it may have been replaced in a arsenal, but not positive. Took it home and took off the stock. Bought a really nice walnut stock ...... but was lucky I didn't cut anything up or re-blue it. That was my main hunting rifle for 3 years till I got my lever Winchester (that weighed 1/2 as much!!!). That Enfield kick, was loud and could put a jurt on your shoulder, but it was heavy. Iron sights only. Couldn't afford a scope at the time.

When I was married later on, my Dad brought out a old bag, and in it was the original stock! It's been wearing that stock every since. (anyone need a walnut sportster stock for a NO5? ).

I have every firearm I have ever own....still. I have never sold a firearm. Back then, you could get some great deals at under $20,.....but who had $20 extra back then!

Dolk

PS, I started shooting in a club in San Leandro, CA when I was 9 years old. 22's (1961 or 2).

[bunkysdad]

Heck I don't even have 20.00 extra now!

[mproko]

Lol at 60 bucks for a Johnson. I read through this saying to myself why didn't I buy guns back then. Then I realized I was 10 years old in 97.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Do the math, $60 was a hell of a lot of money 60 years ago, assuming that paper is mid 50's then that's $533 in todays money. Not much considering the thousands the M1941 brings today, but back then collector value was low on these, it was still a modern firearm, few people would spend that kind of money on something that was always regarded as an oddball design, not at that time..

[Junk Yard Dog]

In '97 the $200 Garand was history, but at $400 it still wasn't bad, and you could buy all the 91/30's you wanted for under $50, carbines also.

[mproko]

For comparison gold was $36 and change an ounce in 1960 so agreed on the metric of $60 being a lot of money then. I guess the key is to buy things that have potential to be collectable even if they aren't at the time and hope you guess right. I wonder what a run of the mill 91/30 will cost in 20 years.

[JER]

Collecting old guns has definite benefits, aside from holding history in your hands, the fun of shooting them, talking about them, etc.. Didn't think about it when I started, but investing in them is what is called a "well known secret"...Now.