JG, I grew up in Midland so we were at the Midland Gibson's a lot. They used to have a great toy section too. That is cool that you still have that rig. I'm guessing it's a .243. My first had a Weaver 6 power.

I can't drive through Kerrville without stopping at Gibson's. "If they don't have it, You don't need it".
Adios,
Gary

BX/PX…

Zoe’s Sporting Goods in Fredericksburg. He had everything!

Mursch's Sporting Goods in San Antonio.

Western Auto, Gibson's and White's Auto were staples. But, the best hunting and trapping store memories are from the General Store in Ben Wheeler, TX in the 1970's.

As a kid, Muleshoe, Texas, Grandpa negotiated the price of a used single shot 22 rifle in a hardware store down to $12. Early 1950’s. That included a box of 22 shorts.

Used to get powder (for fireworks) from the old guy in Olathe. Dip out a pound into a paper sack, cig hanging from his mouth. Got a nice high standard 22LR from him when I got old enough.

My step dad and his best friend bought the last 2 Marlin 30-30's Gibson's in Odessa had on the shelf when they were closing.

In 1975 Rosen Brothers Pawn Shop in Wichita, Ks. had a fair amount of hunting stuff but a great amount of shotguns and rifles. I looked at 8 of their Model 12’s before deciding on a beautiful 16 ga.

Grew up in Canyon... in the early 70's we were lucky enough to have both a Gibson's and a Western Auto. That's where we'd stock up on shotgun shells during pheasant season. And I'm sure dad bought my first Christmas shotgun and deer rifle at one of those 2 stores when I was 12 and 14 respectively. I remember seeing barrels full of British .303 Enfields for $29 at the Gibson's, still gunked up with cosmoline.

All the cheap gun prices reminds me of my neighbor. He bought an M1 carbine out of the back of, I think, Field and Stream or Outdoor Life for $10. It was the late 50's and they were selling the carbines issued in the Korean war.

My son now has the Springfield M1903 that my grandfather bought for $1.00 out of a hardware store barrel after WWI. My uncle carved a stock for it. I put a decent trigger in it and a decent scope on it.

Tony's in Longview was well worth the drive and Discount City in Jacksonville was another good one.

My brother still has hid Remington 7400 that he bought at JC Penney's
I recall visiting Gibson's in the early '70s when my uncle worked at the sporting goods counter. Cool store

We had a Mursh (sp) Sporting Goods here in San Antonio, it was a neat place. They closed the cool old store at Bandera and 410 and took a bigger spot in a new center, they didn't last long after that. I bought a box of .22 HPs there in '84. I still have the box and refill it with new bullets when it gets low.

Nagel's in San Antonio back in the 60's was My Dad's go to for guns and ammo.

Gasman's Archery in San Antonio back in the 70's Seems like it was just South of Nagels in the Olmos basin.

'Never went in, but I remember that BIG archery target sign out on the street.

Fed Mart
Walmart
Sportsman's Warehouse
Nix Guns (Lewisville)

I drove by the old Tony's building on Thursday, it is a clothing store of some kind. I remember Tony very well and have been called Banana Nose by him more times than I can remember. I remember there being a price and some letters on most everything in the store. He used a system, BLACKSTONE is what I think it was. He could look at the letters and read them as numbers to see what he actually paid for the item. He loved to deal and bargain with his customers.

Called everyone “banana nose” or “cousin” and everyone got the special brother in law price. Seems like he used to holler out “Monjeleeta Cocklaroacha” occasionally too (not even sure that is a word lol) and serenade the customers with a song!

Always had deep respect for the man, knew he was a marine and heard he had fought on Guadalcanal.

My favorite shotgun! Was lucky enough to convince my folks to buy me that and a couple years before a Remington 552 speedmaster BDL in the great Hunt and Whittaker store in Jackson Mississippi.

I forgot all about them.

Used to be gun store on Bandera St. in San Antonio (Texas Gun's? or Don's?) , it was next to a mechanics shop on the west side. The ramrod that run it was a real hard azz, hardly anyone went in there.

Grew up in Austin. From the time I was 10 you would always find me at the hunting and fishing section of the stores in my neighborhood.

Capital Plaza had Oshmans (have two of the guns from that store still today my dads 94 3030 and my S&W 1000 Christmas gift 1977) and Wards

Always bought shotgun shells at Sears in Hancock Center.

Best Products off 290

At Highland Mall there was JC Pennys and Joshkes

I bought my first gun with my own money around 1978, I was 13 and Gibson's had a add in the paper for Mauser 8mm surplus guns for $39.99, I begged my dad to let me buy one. I'm sure my dad had to do some kind of paperwork but I paid for it out of my pocket. I choose wrong and out of a barrel full I picked an 1888 Commission rifle that was chambered in 7.9mm and could not find ammo for it. No internet back then to figure out what would actually work, so it just hung above the fireplace.

Kmart always for boxes of 22