Back when I was in Jr. Hi School, in Denison, Texas, 1959 to 1965, there was a locally owned store, Barrett's Cut Rate Drugs. It was sort of a mini version of what Wal-Marts would be. Had a nice sporting goods department in the basement of the building with a nice collection of handguns, rifles, shotguns, reloading equipment, etc.
They had crates of 98 Mausers, in German marked crates with the Nazi symbolism sprayed over with black spray paint but were still visible. They sold for $18.95. Were in very good condition, as I recall. (but what did I know? I was'nt even ten yet) I'd saved my money up from lawn work in the neighborhood and wanted to purchase one of them.
In those days most kids my age were familiar with the TV series, "Combat" and a few other regular weekly series of WWII television shows. I watched all I could and knew I wanted one of those Mausers.
My Dad, (having been a battalion surgeon for the Timberwolf Brigade, in the ETO), looked at me when I asked if I could buy one with my hard earned money, and replied, "No". I asked, Why?, (he had a bunch of rifles and pistols from the war, as well as his deer rifles and shotguns and .22 rifles). He said that those rifles, (the Mausers), were only good for one thing, killing or wounding men. and I was not going to get one.
I guess it was a visceral dislike of that particular weapon due to his having to try and save so many men that been shot with it through all the battles his unit underwent. I couldn't argue with him as I was also young and he was my hero.
But I still wish he'd have allowed a wide eyed, eager young gun nut to be, to have gotten one.
We'll never see those days again. And that, in and of itself, is sad.
