Questions for the old-timers

[Marcus99]

These were before my time but I've always wondered what the climate was like back then. Has anyone been around long enough to remember before these pieces of legislation?

Late 2012 Panic Buying

• Was it like this in 1994 and 1986?

Before the '94 AWB

• Was the '94 AWB a surprise or did a lot of gun owners see it coming?
• I've heard it was the AWB that actually increased popularity of AR's/AK's/etc. How common were they before the ban?

Before Hughes in '86

• Were FA's sold on the shelf right alongside everything else, or were they tucked away in the VIP room so-to-speak?
• How common was FA before the number was capped in May of that year? Meaning, if you had an AR was it pretty much a given that you'd send in the paperwork to make it FA, or was it still a small group of folks who were into that?
• I've heard that once people heard about Hughes in April there was a scramble by manufacturers that nearly doubled the registry. Since gun forums weren't around in those days, was there any type of a collective effort by gun owners to register as many MG's as possible? For instance, where guys cranking out lightening links and such during the one month period?
• What was going on in the media at the time; was there any widespread criticism of Hughes or an effort to prevent it from taking effect?
• How backlogged was the ATF following Hughes? I.E., for how many months (or years) after May 19, 1986 was the bureau processing paperwork for registration of new MG's?
• How did MG prices change 1 day/1 week/1 month/1 year/3 years/etc. after Hughes? Did prices just immediately skyrocket?

Before 1968 GCA

• Did gun stores serve any special purpose besides simply selling guns? It's my understanding you could order through the mail and conduct interstate sales without an FFL before the '68 GCA, so where gun stores more or less prominent back then?
• Before the import restrictions imposed by the '68 GCA was it possible to basically order any foreign gun, be it semi or full auto, and have it shipped to your front door?

I also have a few questions on the 1934 NFA but I figured there's no one on NES that old

 

[perry1386]

Interesting question, I've kind of wondered these myself, but I don't fall into the required category of citizen to be able to answer...aka I'm too young.

 

[GunGrey]

well back in the good ole days, damn youts like you wouldn't be wrecking the gun clubs with ya gawd dang evil assault rifles. only crazy people had those guns back in the days, and we didnt have it quite so easy as you. if we wanted to set up a stand we had to walk in 5 feet of snow and mud up range and back again.

Also we didnt have these highcapcity magazines you folks have now we had clips and they only held 8 rounds. we was more ci-vi-lized than the youths these days we had no need for 17 round magazines we had magazines that would hold 10 rounds and that was enough for us. We was also more carfull then you young whiper snapers, we would load only 4-5 rounds in a magazine cause anymore would cause the gun to go automatic.

 

[TY43215]

Used to be able to order shotguns and ammo from the Sears Catalog

 

[Twigg]

I grew up with a.22 and was a shotgun hunter (aka: FUDD) since the '70's. I wasn't surprised by the Klinton AWB and since I didn't own any black killy rifles, didn't care either.

Now I know what indifference can do.
Another federal ban WILL BE A PRECURSOR TO A CONFISCATION. If that happen's it's game over, no chance for recovering the Republic.

Before '68 I remember my Dad ordering shotguns through the Sears catalog.

 

[Palladin]

Pre '68, IIRC, long guns and handguns could be purchased mail order or locally. FA was still regulated by the NFA of 1934 and sold face to face with the accompanying tax.

Prior to Hughes, FA could be purchased by anyone with a green card and the tax $. As the bill was about to be signed manufacturers stepped up production, as the quantity of FA in circulation was to be frozen.

The '94 AWB was Clinton giving into the Brady clan, from the day he was running for office everyone knew he'd go for it. The NRA pushed for the establishment of the NCIS electronic check vs the 5 day waiting period and the GOP inserted the sunset provision.

As I said IIRC.

 

[MaverickNH]

Can't say I've ever heard the story of smoke-filled rooms before the '94 AWB. Makes you think about how there is all the controversy about the Founding Fathers' and States' ratification debates surrounding the 2nd Amendment, when we can't well explain what happened less than 20 years ago...

 

[Rancho]

My sister bought my brother inlaw a 742 woods master at caldors back in 69 or 70..

 

[bullseye]

I had to click on this link, now I feel old, wait I'm not, well some days I am. I remember my dad getting firearms from the mailman. He would bring a box and my dad would open it with him there. They used to shoot together at the old pit. I used to get on the bus with my 22 and bring it to school for the rifle club practice, had to bring it to the office where it stayed until school was over with, then down to the range for some fun. We would walk home with our guns over our shoulder, in the bag of course, but those were fun days.

 

[Gman021]

Was wondering this exact things a day or two ago.

I wonder how much a full auto m16 went for back in the early 80's

 

[MaverickNH]

Was wondering this exact things a day or two ago.

I wonder how much a full auto m16 went for back in the early 80's

Me and two other guys took out low interest (2.3%) student loans in '81 and debated investing in precious metals, mutual funds or M16s. We went with mutual finds, which did us well, but with $7k each, we would have made a killing if we mothballed M16s until today...

When us "kids" (at 23yr old) knew we could scam the system for profit, you know the famed 47% has it figured out.

 

[jdesro]

My father is in his early eighties, and has been an avid shooter his whole life. Two stories he has stick out most to me.

The first is that, just prior to the GCA '68 becoming law, there was a bit of panic and confusion among the ill - informed as to what exactly that law would do. He says he knew of a few people - and heard of others - that were nervous of what would happen if they owned certain firearms. He says many perfectly legal pistols and rifles ended up at the bottom of the Connecticut river because their owners thought they would somehow be in big trouble if they had them.

Another story is of his first firearm purchase. He was 14 at the time, and bought a single-shot 12 gauge from a friend, I believe. The only way for him to get home at the time was to take the city bus - so that is what he did. A 14 year old kid boards a bus with a shotgun over his shoulder, and in those days, not a single **** was given by any of the other passengers - no one bats an eye. He rides the bus to his stop, and walks the rest of the way home, carrying the shotgun the whole time. No SWAT team called, no dogs were shot.

 

[Palladin]

Was wondering this exact things a day or two ago.

I wonder how much a full auto m16 went for back in the early 80's

$2 grand. 1985. Vietnam vintage, unfired. I was "this close" to grabbing it at a gun show and was talked out of it by then wife

 

[Palladin]

Another story is of his first firearm purchase. He was 14 at the time, and bought a single-shot 12 gauge from a friend, I believe. The only way for him to get home at the time was to take the city bus - so that is what he did. A 14 year old kid boards a bus with a shotgun over his shoulder, and in those days, not a single **** was given by any of the other passengers - no one bats an eye. He rides the bus to his stop, and walks the rest of the way home, carrying the shotgun the whole time. No SWAT team called, no dogs were shot.

1979 I walked out of Ivanhoe's in Watertown, just outside the square, with a mossberg pump in my hand. No box, "here's your gun, $120 new". Walked down the street to my car, past cars at the traffic light. No one gave a shit.

 

[Rob Boudrie]

How common was FA before the number was capped in May of that year? Meaning, if you had an AR was
it pretty much a given that you'd send in the paperwork to make it FA, or was it still a small group of folks who were into that?

Small group because of the NFA issues and, in MA, green card requirement. The big difference was price. Back in 1985, a registered AR15 autosear was about $200, and a HK94 converted to MP5 full auto (HK did not sell full autos to civilian scum, but there was a thriving legal conversion business) by one of the big names like Flemming would run about $1700.

 

[Baystatesuks]

Around here, you could buy a hammer, nails and a shotgun and be out of the hardware store in under 5 min. Can't say I ever recall seeing an AR on the shelf anywhere for purchase though.

Thanks for making me feel old now.

 

[enbloc]

These guy's were good until about 1985...

 

[bullseye]

So weren't the barrels of M1 carbines that Woolworths use to sell for I think 50-75 bucks, each.

 

[basscatfrank]

I don't consider myself an old timer but there are three things that I like to remember: my .22 from Sears, buying my first 12 ga from Lechmere Sales in Cambridge, and a small hardware store near my house that revolvers in a glass case. To me they looked just like the ones the cops on tv had.

 

[Palladin]

Sears in Cambridge & Kenmore sq both had a large gun selection, Colmans' in Woburn 4 corners was great! Bob Smith's sporting goods in downtown Boston had a great selection of guns!


Christ, I'm dating myself.....

 

[Yiogo]

I can remember. I don't like to but I can. I grew up on a farm in a small MA town near the MA/NH border. I now live in NH. I remember my older cousin(8 years older) taking me pheasant hunting...right out the front door. Birds everywhere. This was back in the 60's. He'd shoot his 22 and let me take some shots. Fun. Nobody cared. I remember he just pulled his car over one day and we shot his guns. No one cared. I remember my Dad stepping out by the hen house and showed me how his GI (?) 45 shot. No one cared. People in MA now care about what you shoot and where you shoot it. What with all the gun laws you'd think crime rates would be lower now. They are not. In the town where I live in NH the crime rate is negligible. Guns are easier to buy and CC licenses are easier to get. Go figure. It's just a correlation. I know it and not a causation. Open carry is legal though I've only seen one person do it. I did not move originally because of my interest in firearms but I am glad I did now. In a way it kind of pains me to see the condition MA is in because there will always be a special place in my heart for my home state. I am saddened by it all and I fear it will get worse in MA and everywhere in the US. Vote wisely. Yiogo

 

[bob68]

Used to be able to order shotguns and ammo from the Sears Catalog

dont forget the montgomery/ward catalog, going into a western auto store and buying .22 cal and shot gun shells, also the local hardware stores that carried hunting and fishing equiptment (even ammo). i could buy my own ammo at age 14 and there were no fid cards. i never had to buy any guns because there were plenty stored in a small closet off of the pantry. now those were the days. we will never see them again.

bob

 

[Rancho]

I can remember bringing a 20ga shotgun to school on the bus for show and tell in the 70's and don't remember anyone even batting an eye at it.

Oh and I remember in the 80's going with my friend and his dad to sight a rifle in out on the power lines in Westboro behind diamond Chevrolet . Nobody seemed to care..

 

[caboose84]

If I recall correct the no new FA ban was a last minute add on to the FOPA of 1986, sort of an poison pill by the anti's.

 

[jarhead66]

There really weren't stores that sold only guns, they were just another item for sale. You could buy them at "The Western Auto" hardware, Sears and Roebucks, Kresge's, and a lot of Mom and Pop grocery stores. When we used to go back to Maine in the summer, the quickest way to get the kids out of your hair was to give each one a box of 50 22's and an old single shot and point them at the woods. 50 cents for a box of 50 22's in those days.

Prior to 1968 we bought a case of British Enfields (303 British). They came out of Burma. 12 rifles to a case and it worked out to less than $15 a rifle including the shipping. No government entity involved. No government entity had any knowledge of what you owned, nor did they have the right to even ask.

You used to be able to buy 6.5 Jap Arisakas from the back pages of magazines, much like they sell Viagra nowadays. When I was in Jr. High (not middle school) one of our more industrious German students had ordered a pen with a little bolt action .22 on the back of it. He shot himself in the hand with it in Geography one day. No lock down, no evacuation of the school or the county we just sat there and the nurse took him out. He was back in school a couple of days later. I think he did get detention though. Ah, the good old days.

 

[usp45ct]

I seem to remember ar-15s in the Want Ads for 400-450. but then I remember a bennelli M 1 in Rhein Mein airbase rod and gun club for about $400 and my 92f wad bought in 84 for $285 at the same rod and gun club in Germany

 

[Marcus99]

Awesome responses thus far. I wasn't really expecting story telling of the "good ole days" but this is great, keep it coming.

 

[soloman02]

There really weren't stores that sold only guns, they were just another item for sale. You could buy them at "The Western Auto" hardware, Sears and Roebucks, Kresge's, and a lot of Mom and Pop grocery stores. When we used to go back to Maine in the summer, the quickest way to get the kids out of your hair was to give each one a box of 50 22's and an old single shot and point them at the woods. 50 cents for a box of 50 22's in those days.

Prior to 1968 we bought a case of British Enfields (303 British). They came out of Burma. 12 rifles to a case and it worked out to less than $15 a rifle including the shipping. No government entity involved. No government entity had any knowledge of what you owned, nor did they have the right to even ask.

You used to be able to buy 6.5 Jap Arisakas from the back pages of magazines, much like they sell Viagra nowadays. When I was in Jr. High (not middle school) one of our more industrious German students had ordered a pen with a little bolt action .22 on the back of it. He shot himself in the hand with it in Geography one day. No lock down, no evacuation of the school or the county we just sat there and the nurse took him out. He was back in school a couple of days later. I think he did get detention though. Ah, the good old days.

I was born in the wrong era...

 

[TY43215]

There really weren't stores that sold only guns, they were just another item for sale. You could buy them at "The Western Auto" hardware, Sears and Roebucks, Kresge's, and a lot of Mom and Pop grocery stores. When we used to go back to Maine in the summer, the quickest way to get the kids out of your hair was to give each one a box of 50 22's and an old single shot and point them at the woods. 50 cents for a box of 50 22's in those days.

Prior to 1968 we bought a case of British Enfields (303 British). They came out of Burma. 12 rifles to a case and it worked out to less than $15 a rifle including the shipping. No government entity involved. No government entity had any knowledge of what you owned, nor did they have the right to even ask.

You used to be able to buy 6.5 Jap Arisakas from the back pages of magazines, much like they sell Viagra nowadays. When I was in Jr. High (not middle school) one of our more industrious German students had ordered a pen with a little bolt action .22 on the back of it. He shot himself in the hand with it in Geography one day. No lock down, no evacuation of the school or the county we just sat there and the nurse took him out. He was back in school a couple of days later. I think he did get detention though. Ah, the good old days.

I remember when Pete Dowd opened the Gun Room in Shrewsbury. Unique idea and well received. It was on the other side of the highway closer to Spag's

 

[Wade]

CMP was DCM and they gave a voucher for my Garand I don't remember paying for anything more than shipping and the class. I bought my first AK at MVP sports (polytech legend folder bayonet etc.) for less than $400. 1911's were plentiful and cheap my first was under $200. Then ARMCO that place was just great they were expensive but had everything you could imagine. Every small gun shop had something Middleboro Gun Shop had a SAW on the counter for years. There just wasn't the crazy interest because we could get what we wanted when we wanted. All this was as recent as the late 80's early 90's.