You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!!!
Fred Harman's "Red Ryder" Registered Trademark
Yeah, what memories in the legendary 650 shot Red Ryder Repeater.. Wood stock, coal black barrel and a dependability beyond compare. It really is the stuff of legend. Created in 1938 and a childhood dream every since. I still have mine in the basement somewhere, I will get "her" out as soon as Chrsitmas comes around.See,it seems that Santa is bringing my son this weapon of legend... at first I wasn't so sure that Santa should bring this powerful weapon of heroes home for the holiday....but then I got to thinkin'...........
I was a bit older than my son when I received my Red Ryder from my Godfather on Christmas. Of course my mom wasn't so sure about this aquisition and I am sure it took some persuading on my Godfather's behalf.....But there it was. Any other Christmas present I received that day did not all matter so much, I just wanted to get home and master the art of firing my Red Ryder. It came with little targets and after a while and thousands and thousands of BB's later. I ventured out, on my bike with friends with my Red Ryder strapped across my back. Of course it became too irresistible not to shoot at birds and squirrels etc. Eventually it escalated into an all out battle with my group of friends with their own BB guns. We were armed with football helmets and catchers breast protectors and elbow and knee pads, with a tin trash can lid for extra protection....I will never forget the sound of the BB's hitting that "shield" PA-tiiinnnnnnnnng!......
Yeah....those were the days, Cowboys and Indians, War..... of course with these events came injury... My days with my Red Ryder came to an abrupt stop when my "buddy" shot me in the elbow and I had to go and have the BB removed by "Doc". Does this mean I had bad parents for letting me patrol the neighborhood with a BB gun??? NO! It was different times, a lot less things for parents and kids to worry about... there was a sense of freedom in our neighborhoods not all that long ago. There was once a sense of relief in my childhood neighborhood that it was defended by a gang of twenty or so kids on their Huffys with Red Ryders at the ready.
Of course there are going to be rules when my son receives this glorious specimen of weaponry...He will only shoot it with me and the birds can rest easy as well..... I've done it all with my Red Ryder and learned from it..and what fun. Sign of the times??? The Red Ryder even comes with safety goggles now...as well it should. Every boy deserves this right of passage...What memories....What Americana!
Who could forget this timeless movie based on this weapon ??? Watch Right Here!!!
I can't wait for Santa!
Thx LT..............
Ah, yes, my childhood experience with the old BB gun came to an abrupt end as well. I guess shooting your little brother in the shoulder at point-blank range as he's coming out of the bathroom will do that to you. Hell, I thought the gun was empty! Talk about a long 3 hour wait for the parents to get home and for us to break the news to them, I was shaking in my boots....scared f***ing shitless. Our BB guns were fun while they lasted though.
Husband got the son a BB gun when he was elevenish. He could only use it when his dad took him up 'to the dirt'. He would also set up targets in the basement. Umm...kid, if you hit the water heater, the gun is mine.
He was more excited to get a paintball gun though. Great target practice on peoples with nothing more than a few nasty bruises. I'm thinking of going to play with him before any ticks are hatched (I hate ticks) and before he leaves for school. I shall tape a sign on him that says 'rock n roll hippy' and let 'er rip.
*laughs self silly*