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I love reading how people were introduced to firearms. I was about 10 and it was a lever-action 22. Brand unknown. I loved the
feeling of hitting those cans and working the lever. First shotgun was a Savabe-Stevens 311. Yep a double side by 12gauge.
It was my grandfathers until he gave it to me at 12. I hunted rabbit with him unti he was 88 years old. And it is in the closet
ready to go to this day. He was 5'2" and had cut about 3 inches off the stock and refinished it. Great for a young guy but kinda
cramped as I grew older. However, I will not ever change that stock. Kicks like a mule through the 30" barrels!! Now, my first pistol
experience was a 1943 Walther P-38. Dad was a corpman in WW2 and brought it home. Had original magazines and holster. We
shot cans, gourds, and believe it or not, rats at a local dump. It is hard to hit a rat at 50 feet with a 9mm running fixed sights!
First centerfire rifle was the venerable Winchester 30-30. Hooded iron sights and all. Took my first deer with it at 14. The
Winchester got sold by my uncle, the Walther disappeared when my dad passed away. I suspect a cousin inherited it from
my aunt as the story is told. But the memories are there and my love of firearms was carefully cultured on back porches in
the hills of Virgina as I listened to the menfolk talk as we cleaned, oiled, and prepared for the fall season. As a result I cannot
stay away from the following: Good leather items, mink oil, bourbon, cigars, and lever action rifles. Oh, and a baseball game
coming over an AM radio on a late Saturday afternoon!

I hope this brought back memories for other as well as making me smile as I type and sip on my Knob Creek Single Barrel.

JB