So Cal... This is an old timers' thread... gun shops from days gone by

[danez71]

B&B Guns in I think in Garden Grove.

[I Swan]

Don't forget Cliff's on 17th St. I think he closed in 2006? No guns sales in Santa Ana for some time now. That was the last one.

Last gun shop in Santa Ana I am aware of was Rhodes Pawn like on 4Th street. I think they had issues with the ATF and they no longer sell guns as of about a year or so ago. The defunct T&A armory closed down about 2 1/2 years ago I believe they were in Santa Ana as well.

[smle-man]

Blue Star Arms in Newhall. The guy was a bit of a jerk but he had great prices and great stock on hand. I think he moved to Las Vegas.

[I Swan]

Cold War is sort of still around just name changes and other tomfoolery going on as is usual with them.

[Sam Adams]

Bought my first firearms at Leach's Sporting Goods on Carson St in Hawaiian Gardens. The Grant Boys in Anaheim near Magnolia and the 91.

[golfish]

Jeffs sporting goods on Valley. I'm not sure if that's San Gabriel, Rosemead or Montery Park.

[50 Shooter]

There were three gun stores on parthenia National, Northridge Int. and one other that I can't remember. Bought an HK91, 94, SPAS 12 and AK from National back in the 80's, the HK's were less then $600 out the door. Pretty sure the SPAS-12 was about the same price and the AK was about $200 or less.

Didn't B&B close because the two brother's hated each other? I remember the NoHo owner had to talk over everyone, pretty much so that no one else could talk. He would give his opinion about everything and how it should be done! They had a lot of stuff but his rants got old, it seemed like every time I was there he was going on about something.

[I Swan]

Jeff's sporting goods is still around they just moved somewhere local recently. B&B had other issues but yes the brothers had a problem. I remember an ad in Shotgun News where one brother disavowed the other brother. Something about how he did not speak fo him or his portion of the business.

I mainly did business with the OC location I got piles of guns for prices that even with inflation were unbeliveably cheap on the used guns. I went multiple times a week this was mainly in late 90's until time they went belly up.

Wasn't overly sad to see them go they started raising the price of the used guns and I stopped shopping there befause the Asian manager disrespected me. Real smart to piss off a customer who he and his family bought about 25 guns there in 2-3 years.

[Eat Dirt]

Here in Hemet

We had Jim Cain Sporting Goods
Great Small town shop / I remember going there with my Grandpa

They even had a one lane indoor shooting range in the shop !!

You like it .... You could try it

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Great thread! The old Turners in West Covina (not at the present location) was great. They had Colt Sporters and HBAR's, and I clearly remember IMI UZI's too.

I bought tons of the Norinco yellow box 7.62x39 more than 20 years ago there and I still have some.

I bought my first handgun (Ruger P89) at a small Mom & Pop type gunshop on Valley Blvd in Walnut, cannot remember the name.

Bought my first 'tactical' guns at Tuan's in Rowland Heights. A stainless Mini 14, 870 HD, and a Inox 92F all on the same day as a present to myself

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I have heard from several sources that B&B got screwed when LAPD returned all the guns after the shootout and refused to buy them.

According to the legend, they set up a special display with all the "actual guns used in the NoHo shootout by LAPD" at huge markups and blew them out quick.

Slightly off topic: There is a super cheesy docudrama made about the NoHo shootout. When they run into B&B one of the officers says

"I can't believe people are allowed to buy this stuff.."

I yell at the TV when I see that. If I am not mistaken, all gun stores have been chased out of the LA city limits since then.

[golfish]

Jeff's sporting goods is still around they just moved somewhere local recently..

Wow!! We used to get all of out little league team gear from them back in the 60's-70's

I still have a Buck knife (model 119) that my Grandmother bought for me from them, had to be 1971-73.

[golfish]

I recall "The Lock, Stock and Barrel" that was behind the Northwoods Inn (San Garbiel) I was dreaming about a shotgun for Christmas, looked at a DB, exposed hammer .410.... I don't recall the price but I know it was too much. I did get a new Ithica model 66 for xmas that year...

[Hilldweller]

B&E Guns in Cypress was my personal favorite.

Wasn't that on Lincoln across from Forrest Lawn? If so I did a LOT of business there. Think the owners name was Ziskin or something like that. Nice guy. Used to hang around a lot in the back room and yak/tinker. Was a great small place in a strip mall.

B&B in Westminster was always a fun trip. Sales people could be a bit pissy though.

B&B in Westminster next to the mall...

Man this thread is hard to read. All the memories are making me tear up. I remember all the old surplus stores. Not just little stores but HUGE Army Navy surplus shops. I would wander through them all day and lose myself in the smell of canvas and gunmetal. Theyre all gone now. All of them. The only gun shop I can remember that is still around is The Stockade next to Westminster PD. But there are literary NO MORE Army Navy surplus. Im gonna go cry now and beat my step kids

I hear ya man !!! ME TOO !!!

There was a black powder gun shop in OC (forget the name) in a cluster of shops (rock shop, hobby store, etc) where I bought my first BP gun.

Jack First in Lancaster...got my youth license there as a kid.
Now owned by some other yahoo.
Shame that.

I drove from Cypress to Lancaster with my Colt SAA to have Jack fix it and blue it. (don't ask I let it rust - stupid kid) I remember that place and Jack fondly.
BTW - in 1994 he moved to Rapid City, North Dakota and opened a shop there. Jack was an Iwo Jima veteran and a heck of a nice guy. Knew all there was about single action army pistols. He was 88 in 2010, don't know if he's still with us.

Damn, I have to stop now. Remembering a free state brings tears to my eyes....

[JLM Ranger]

I remember Lock, Stock and Barrel! I forgot about that store. I mainly shopped at B&B in North Hollywood.