RonRC
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- Sep 2, 2011
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I've read here and on other forums about boys getting their first gun at 9, 10 or 11 YO. Guns weren't forbidden in our household, but they weren't discussed or even thought about. My father explained that he had his fill dealing with firearms while in a heavy weapons platoon that landed at Anzio, Italy and fighting their way to Naples and Rome. He carried either his M1 Garand, a BAR, or the tripod or ammo for an 81 mm mortar. We did discover many years later that he had a .38 snubnose revolver, but we never saw it.
When I was about 17 yo, a buddy asked me if I wanted to go dove hunting on some Pennsylvania farms. I wanted to, but did not have a shotgun - or any gun for that matter. He let me use his 20 ga Harrington & Richardson single shot shotgun. I didn't get any doves, but I did enjoy being out in the fields and shooting. This was the first firearm I ever shot! I knew that I had to have some sort of firearm and ended up with a well used, M38 Turkish Mauser carbine in 8mm Mauser (if my memory serves). A family friend and former Marine (Lenny) took me to a range on a regular basis to shoot the Mauser and some of his rifles. I loved shooting. But, I wasn't allowed to bring the Mauser home, so it was stored at Lenny's house.
Now, we have to time travel to 10 years later. So many events had transpired over that 10 years. I went to university for 2 years and dropped out. Was drafted in 1967. Went back to college in 1969. Graduated college in 1971 and left Pennsylvania for Virginia. I was now married and lived on someone's farm/estate just outside Charlottesville, VA. There were some copperhead snakes that had taken up residence in a rock wall near both the house we were living in (the caretakers cottage) and the estate owner's house. Their kids would run up and down along that wall and my wife and I frequently would see the copperheads on the wall or driveway, blocking our way. I decided that a shotgun was needed.
On a visit back in Pennsylvania, we were invited to a party. Who is at the party? My old friend who had taken me out dove hunting. He mentioned that he had a shotgun he wanted to sell. At his house, he brings out the shotgun. IT WAS THE HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON 20 ga RIFLE THAT WAS THE FIRST FIREARM I EVER SHOT OVER 10 YEARS EARLIER! I bought it on the spot. I still have that shotgun that was the first firearm I ever used!
A photo of the H&R Topper 158 from the net. I'll take a photo of mine when I have a chance.
Ron
When I was about 17 yo, a buddy asked me if I wanted to go dove hunting on some Pennsylvania farms. I wanted to, but did not have a shotgun - or any gun for that matter. He let me use his 20 ga Harrington & Richardson single shot shotgun. I didn't get any doves, but I did enjoy being out in the fields and shooting. This was the first firearm I ever shot! I knew that I had to have some sort of firearm and ended up with a well used, M38 Turkish Mauser carbine in 8mm Mauser (if my memory serves). A family friend and former Marine (Lenny) took me to a range on a regular basis to shoot the Mauser and some of his rifles. I loved shooting. But, I wasn't allowed to bring the Mauser home, so it was stored at Lenny's house.
Now, we have to time travel to 10 years later. So many events had transpired over that 10 years. I went to university for 2 years and dropped out. Was drafted in 1967. Went back to college in 1969. Graduated college in 1971 and left Pennsylvania for Virginia. I was now married and lived on someone's farm/estate just outside Charlottesville, VA. There were some copperhead snakes that had taken up residence in a rock wall near both the house we were living in (the caretakers cottage) and the estate owner's house. Their kids would run up and down along that wall and my wife and I frequently would see the copperheads on the wall or driveway, blocking our way. I decided that a shotgun was needed.
On a visit back in Pennsylvania, we were invited to a party. Who is at the party? My old friend who had taken me out dove hunting. He mentioned that he had a shotgun he wanted to sell. At his house, he brings out the shotgun. IT WAS THE HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON 20 ga RIFLE THAT WAS THE FIRST FIREARM I EVER SHOT OVER 10 YEARS EARLIER! I bought it on the spot. I still have that shotgun that was the first firearm I ever used!
A photo of the H&R Topper 158 from the net. I'll take a photo of mine when I have a chance.
Ron