I just received my first "gun" back from the repairman. It's a Sheridan "Blue Streak" 5m/m air rifle that I bought and paid for myself in 1961 when I was 13. I had it for about 6 months when the rivet holding the pump actuator broke. Somehow I kept up with it all these years and finally sent it for repairs. I still had the original can of pellets with about a hundred or so pellets still in it. The gentleman repaired the rivet, but also did a lot of other work including cleaning up the metal. He did a great job and it looks really nice. I remember all the fun I had shooting it until it broke and then I was stuck shooting my twin brother's "Silver Streak" when he felt generous enough to share. I can't wait to get it to the range.
I've always told people the first gun I paid for myself was a Model 70 Winchester .243 in 1964. I put it on layaway at a store called Globe Discount City with my Dad and paid it out over 3 months. Now I realize my first gun was not a firearm at all, but was still a serious weapon. I shot lots of rats and a quite a few rabbits with it.
KAHR PM40/Hoffner IWB and S&W Mod 60/ Galco IWB
NRA Endowment Member, TSRA Life Member,100 Club Life Member,TFC Member
My Faith, My Gun and My Constitution: I cling to all three!
For those of you who aren't familiar with Sheridan Air Rifles they were very solidly made multi-stroke pump style air guns; accurate and powerful. For the price they beat the Benjamans and Crossmans of the time. You could get a scope for them, but I could only afford the regular sights, which were fully adjustable. They shot a hollow based cylindrical 5 m/m (.20 cal) projectile at about 700 fps with the maximum 6 strokes recommended in the manual. My "Blue Streak" has a push down safety on the rear of the receiver. That was changed to a cross toggle safety a year or two after I bought this one in 1961. My brother had an earlier model "Silver Streak" that had a straight bolt. Ours were Model C form what I can tell from some data I found, but the only designation on mine is "Blue Streak 5 m/m" and "Sheridan Products, Inc. Racine, Wisconsin - Made in USA. I am going to get my buddy to chronograph mine when I shoot it.
KAHR PM40/Hoffner IWB and S&W Mod 60/ Galco IWB
NRA Endowment Member, TSRA Life Member,100 Club Life Member,TFC Member
My Faith, My Gun and My Constitution: I cling to all three!