Guns & Outdoors Forum

I’m unpacking more old boxes today and found this beauty. I think I got this when I got my first Guns and Ammo subscription in 1978. I was 20 years old and knew very little about guns. Still in college so no money to buy anything back then, but the pages of the magazine guided me to learn and get to know what types of firearms I’d be wanting in the future.

Back then writers were actual writers and not marketing copyright monkeys. Lord I miss those folks…. I also miss the old forum and the good times we had. Oh well, all of life is just phases…

Petersen Publishing. . . Back when Los Angeles was merely weird. . .

Some of it's still there. I drove out to Richard's Microfit a few years back to pick out a stock blank. Definitely has some of the 1950's-1970's old California vibe with the business info painted all nice on the exterior stucco.

Before L.A. County chased it out, the Great Western Gun Show in Pomona was a thing to behold.

I don't clearly recall when Jeff Cooper and Co. bailed for AZ.

Never knew Col. Cooper was from CA., learn something new every day. Just drove by Gunsite Academy site not too long ago.

Reminded me that his page “ Thought from the Guru” (I think that was the title), and pat McManus’ back page of Outdoor Life were my favorite monthly reading when I was a young man. First pages I read as soon as the mags arrived.

O have a G&A 'challenge coin' floating around here somewhere. I think Marshal Dan sent that to me one time as a 'thanks' for being a moderator

I think Thell Reed, the Col. and some others did their "Leather slap" competetions in the hills near what used to LA.

Admin wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 3:52 pm O have a G&A 'challenge coin' floating around here somewhere. I think Marshal Dan sent that to me one time as a 'thanks' for being a moderator

That’s pretty cool! Certainly miss the Marshall.

A while back I found an old Made in USA Sharpfinher knife that had Guns and Ammo inscribed onn the metal plate on the handle scale. Another gift from a looooooong ago subscription n my younger years. Passed that one along to another member who is a big fan of that knife design.

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 9:47 pm

Admin wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 3:52 pm O have a G&A 'challenge coin' floating around here somewhere. I think Marshal Dan sent that to me one time as a 'thanks' for being a moderator

That’s pretty cool! Certainly miss the Marshall.

A while back I found an old Made in USA Sharpfinher knife that had Guns and Ammo inscribed onn the metal plate on the handle scale. Another gift from a looooooong ago subscription n my younger years. Passed that one along to another member who is a big fan of that knife design.

Those knives were made in USA by Old Timer and did set a precedent for ergonomic design. I’ve had my sharpfinger for almost 50years I believe. It has been a terrific product. I bought it from Campmor when they had the tiny newsprint b&w catalog. I don’t remember if it was a “super-special” deal.

if I’d known that I could have had a spare for a subscription I would have singled up in a heartbeat.

Japhy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2025 12:02 am

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 9:47 pm

Admin wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 3:52 pm O have a G&A 'challenge coin' floating around here somewhere. I think Marshal Dan sent that to me one time as a 'thanks' for being a moderator

That’s pretty cool! Certainly miss the Marshall.

A while back I found an old Made in USA Sharpfinher knife that had Guns and Ammo inscribed onn the metal plate on the handle scale. Another gift from a looooooong ago subscription n my younger years. Passed that one along to another member who is a big fan of that knife design.

Those knives were made in USA by Old Timer and did set a precedent for ergonomic design. I’ve had my sharpfinger for almost 50years I believe. It has been a terrific product. I bought it from Campmor when they had the tiny newsprint b&w catalog. I don’t remember if it was a “super-special” deal.

if I’d known that I could have had a spare for a subscription I would have singled up in a heartbeat.

You could have, back in the early ‘80s back when the magazine was worth reading

Now the crazy part was that I sent the money for my subscription and I never got the knife. But I was like pitbull with a bone and that was at a time when long distance calls still cost a lot of money.

I kept calling G&A HQ in CA from New York and listening to every poop excuse until someone sent me the damn knife, long after the promotion was over. That knife probably cost me $50 in long distance charges

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Mon Feb 10, 2025 5:41 am Never knew Col. Cooper was from CA., learn something new every day. Just drove by Gunsite Academy site not too long ago.

Reminded me that his page “ Thought from the Guru” (I think that was the title), and pat McManus’ back page of Outdoor Life were my favorite monthly reading when I was a young man. First pages I read as soon as the mags arrived.

A lot of the Gunsite origins were in SoCal. Jack Weaver was an LA County Deputy. Cooper was born in LA; graduated from UC Riverside. As I recall, much of their early work was done in the San Bernardino Mountains - possibly Big Bear, which I think was where Cooper was living for much of that time. I suspect he like the mountain climate, but not the CA politics and ended up in Prescott as a result.

Yeah. . .Patrick F. McManus. I mostly read his stuff from his collected works books rather than the magazines, but yeah - seriously funny stuff that vibrates a lot of my "been there, done thats". Not sure how a guy like me - born in '71 - can identify more with the Silent Generation (too young for WW2 and Korea; too old for Boomers) than Gen X, but here I am.

At one point I had all of MCManus books, I think my son has them now but if I cam't find them I' re-buying them all. If there's a better representation of Americana through the eyes of a young boy hungry for outdoor adventure I've never read it.

Not sure how a guy like me - born in '71 - can identify more with the Silent Generation (too young for WW2 and Korea; too old for Boomers) than Gen X, but here I am.

Well Slug us boomers will hang out with anyone

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2025 3:25 pm At one point I had all of MCManus books, I think my son has them now but if I cam't find them I' re-buying them all. If there's a better representation of Americana through the eyes of a young boy hungry for outdoor adventure I've never read it.

"My family and I were members of the Landed Aristocracy of Northern Idaho - we owned the wall our backs were to"

Hey Mods, is the guy in the middle or the guy on the left the one that pulled the plug on the G&A forum?

Chiro1989 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2025 5:00 pm IMG_4913.jpeg
Hey Mods, is the guy in the middle or the guy on the left the one that pulled the plug on the G&A forum?

Who cares, fudge em.

Might have an opportunity someday to thank then for their support.

Good ol’days. Found this while cleaning my photo albums…

I remember sending BC info about some powder that his brother left him along with some Dillon equipment.

PFD45 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 06, 2025 4:58 am I remember sending BC info about some powder that his brother left him along with some Dillon equipment.

He was a very good man with a rather twisted love for strange news. I would have loved to read his Google search history

I kept this screen shot because I almost passed out laughing when I read Scott’s reply.

The quote at the bottom from Dan Johnson is pretty funny too.

The Marshall was one of a kind