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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.

A great story. I have a Daisy 99 Champion I need to get running again.

...and the last gun you buy could also be an air rifle?

You need to post some pictures.

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.

Wow! Thanks for the pictures. It looks amazing especially at the age it is.