I bought a collection of 1968 American Rifleman’s a while back, and finally got around to thumbing through most of them. Someone spilled shellac or something on them, so it is a tedious process prying the pages apart. It’s pretty interesting to see how much some things have changed so much. and other things not at all. If you updated the hairstyles and eyeware, and substituted Iraq for Vietnam, there would be very little difference between the 1968 magazine and this month’s issue.
The struggle to keep the gun-controllers in check has not changed one iota. The debate on the effects of gun control vs. crime rates is included in every issue….and the same cities are cited (DC, Chicago, Philly, etc). Interesting to note that homicides seemed to number in the 30’s / year back then. There is even an editorial blaming TV and movies for the increase in violence (The movie “In Cold Blood” is used as an example.
John Dingle (R-Michigan) is featured throughout the issues. Same Dingle or father?
Knee-jerk reactions to unfortunate events are the same (1968 assassinations vs. Columbine).
Even the ads are not THAT much different. I was surprised to see an ad for the Dremel - I had no idea they were around in ‘68. Weaver seemed to dominate the scope ads though. The neatest ads are the whole page ads for military surplus rifles (Century Arms). Mauser 98’s, and Swiss K 31’s at 2 for $34. Lot’s of semi autos under $50. There is an ad for land in Montana, Idaho, and Oregon – 200 acres of forested land for under $2000. Makes me wish I had a time machine!
There were ads for some very interesting air rifles and shotguns as well. One ad featured a Crossman C02 shotgun, and a skeet kit designed for it. I’d never seen that. I’m curious to know if anyone here ever had one.
One thing really stood out to me; there were a ton of women and children pictured participating in shooting events and activities. Far more women, and entire families in fact, were prominently featured in the magazine back then. They need to work on bringing that back.
The struggle to keep the gun-controllers in check has not changed one iota. The debate on the effects of gun control vs. crime rates is included in every issue….and the same cities are cited (DC, Chicago, Philly, etc). Interesting to note that homicides seemed to number in the 30’s / year back then. There is even an editorial blaming TV and movies for the increase in violence (The movie “In Cold Blood” is used as an example.
John Dingle (R-Michigan) is featured throughout the issues. Same Dingle or father?
Knee-jerk reactions to unfortunate events are the same (1968 assassinations vs. Columbine).
Even the ads are not THAT much different. I was surprised to see an ad for the Dremel - I had no idea they were around in ‘68. Weaver seemed to dominate the scope ads though. The neatest ads are the whole page ads for military surplus rifles (Century Arms). Mauser 98’s, and Swiss K 31’s at 2 for $34. Lot’s of semi autos under $50. There is an ad for land in Montana, Idaho, and Oregon – 200 acres of forested land for under $2000. Makes me wish I had a time machine!
There were ads for some very interesting air rifles and shotguns as well. One ad featured a Crossman C02 shotgun, and a skeet kit designed for it. I’d never seen that. I’m curious to know if anyone here ever had one.
One thing really stood out to me; there were a ton of women and children pictured participating in shooting events and activities. Far more women, and entire families in fact, were prominently featured in the magazine back then. They need to work on bringing that back.
