1963 was a very good year!

[Gordon]

I graduated high school, still could shoot and hunt on East Coast all the time. My parents and relatives held a few guns for me (large caliber hand guns and valuable antiques) but this is pretty much what my battery was at the time. From top: Marlin 39A with Weaver B-4,Marlin 336 .35 Rem.,Ithaca 37 featherlite 20ga 28" mod.,Ruger Mk 1 .22,S&W model 34 .22, and a very nice "The Mallard" .410. And what I "grew out of" on top is an Original Sheridan 5mm pump up (that rocks!)

 

[Gordon]

We didn't live in fear of crime back then!

 

[Preacherman]

Are those the guns you actually owned back then, or replacements that you've bought over the years? Nice collection for the time!

 

[06]

First post here-Nice collection. Graduated in '63 also and we used to keep our guns in the PUs back window at school for hunting afterwards-and occasionally sneaking out of school to hunt. No one ever thought one thing about it-often the teachers would stand around with us to swap hunting lies(er exploits). Preacherman, are you from a "squirrelly" background? Either way I am headed to Gulfport in July on a Disaster Relief Team mission. Are you near to that AO? If so please give me a shout. Like the site-looks great. Have lurked for many moons but have left my "first love" and looking around. 06

 

[Gordon]

The Marlin 39a and the .410 are original as are the pistols. The Ithaca is just a few weeks new to me, but was made in 1959 and the 336 is a 61 I've had a few years The originals of those two are long gone.!

 

[Ala Dan]

"Oh what a night, December 63"-

Yes, it was a very good year as I turned 16 years old. Still far too
young for handguns, but I had an old Winchester model 67-A .22
long rifle, bolt-action, single shot rifle that I could nail squrriels
with head shots all day long~!

 

[Malone LaVeigh]

You could buy an Italian milsurp by mail order...

 

[Gordon]

Except Johnson's right hand man, er hood, used a .270!

 

[AirForceShooter]

I enlisted and found my way to the First Air Commando Group.
Totally changed my life for the better even if it almost did get me killed on a few occasions.

AFS

 

[Hazwaste]

I agree, a very good year...

I was born in 1963.

 

[ball3006]

Naaaaa......'62 was better......

My very first gun purchase was that fall when I went to college and bought a Ruger standard auto for 25 bucks, holster included. I still have and shoot it.......chris3

 

[Gordon Fink]

You could buy an Italian milsurp by mail order …

And the way was paved for the Gun Control Act of 1968.

Ironically, you can still buy Italian surplus rifles by mail order … sort of.

~G. Fink

 

[gopguy]

I was born in 1963.....seem to have a weakness and buy guns I know were made in 1963 including a Colt Python and a Colt Official Police made in 1963. When I saw a Walther P1 marked 4/63 last year I had to have it....as I was born in April...its a sickness.....but I am not complaining......

 

[Joey2]

I graduated in 1962 in a small town in Ohio. We use to hunt rabbits behind the school. During hunting season we use to bring our shot guns to school and keep them in our lockes until school was out.

We use to walk through town carrying, heaven forbid, a GUN! No one batted an eye.

 

[grampster]

In '63 I was two years out of high school and in year 2 of my police cadet training. I had a Ithaca Featherweight Mod 37 in 12 gauge that I bought brand new in 1959.
I swapped it and an NRA obtained M-1 carbine for an Ithaca XL 1000 semi auto in 20 gauge that had two barrels, one for small game and a deer slayer slug barrel. I think that was in '67 or '68.
I've regretted that swap ever since. I shoulda' just bought the 20 and kept the other two.