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

[pisarski]

orange county shooting and traning at the end of Jeffery in Irvine went there Wednesdays and Sundays great place to shoot

[FalconLair]

Weatherbys in South Gate.
Western Auto in Bell.

Weatherbys in South Gate, i remember passing by that place all the time on Firestone Blvd, always seeing that big stuffed polar bear they had in the window

[FalconLair]

Bought my first handgun at South Bay Guns on Main St. in Carson while home on leave from boot camp. It's long gone now, I believe. My brother says they got pinched for doing some shady gun dealing.

I passed by that place ONE time, went in, and ended up buying my 2nd handgun there, a Browning Hi-Power 9mm Belgium, in 1988, still have it, less than 500 rounds thru it, one special firearm...sad to hear its gone too

[soopafly]

if memory serves me right, didnt a worker get killed in that shop back in the 90's? Maybe it had changed names to "Larry's Guns" or something like that?

You might be thinking of the small shop on Artesia Bl, just west of Bellflower Bl, a couple doors down from the car wash. I remember that it was the owner that was killed during an apparent robbery. After that, the shop closed down.




RNJ in Carson was a fave of mine back in the day.

[NOTABIKER]

my dad took me to a place in the 50s that i think was the weatherby store. he had a old eddystone chambered in 300 weatherby mag. i think it was in south gate. it had a giant stuffed bear as a display.

[MMA]

Redondo Beach: Lawrence and Co. I bought a number of pistols from them.

Back in the 80's a guy tried to rob it and was shot dead.

best line from the article:

"It really wouldn't be too wise to walk into a gun store wearing a ski mask and gloves," Cameron said, noting that there is a "good chance somebody in there has access to a gun and knows how to use one."

[MMA]

You might be thinking of the small shop on Artesia Bl, just west of Bellflower Bl, a couple doors down from the car wash. I remember that it was the owner that was killed during an apparent robbery. After that, the shop closed down.

I went to that place a few times, but can't remember the name. He sold a lot of blackpowder stuff, including powder horns he made himself, IIRC. There were two doors to go through to get into the place, and he had to buzz you in the second door. The security measures didn't work; he buzzed in the killer.

sad day when he was killed.

[Jeepers]

i seem to remember lots of gun shops in s.cal in the 70-80's, heck they even still had a killer gunshows back then 3 or 4 buildings with GUNS! ...lol

cant remember the name but right down the street from my mums shop on holt was a lil shop that was stuffed wall to wall i used to like to browse ....

but i miss "M&I surplus" the most from the 70's , miss being able to walk in a store and buy deactivated sten lamps and zooka tubes .... current preppers have nothing on the survivalists stores of the 70's ....lol

[Aldemar]

I remember a place in Valencia called Going Great Guns. It was a one person shop. Forgot the owners name. Bought my first new gun there in 82 - a Smith & Wesson 669. Wish I still had it.

[Cnynrat]

Cliff's Gunsmithing on 17th in Santa Ana
Arrowhead Outdoor with Chris, Franky, and Wes, miss that place bad
B&E was good, but Bob could be a bit of a prick to deal with
B&B, Westminster was always good
Stanley's, used to go there with my old man back in the day
Fed Ord was great too

You guys remember getting the Recycler on Thursdays to go through the gun adds? Good times for sure.

Just a little trivia, Cliff is my wife's cousin. He's relocated to Cedar City UT along with most of the inventory from his shop and his machines. He's got a web site set up for on-line business (Cliff's Gunsmithing), but I'm not sure how active he is anymore.

[Homefry]

I worked at The Brass Rail and knew the original owner---1975--1982. Joseph O'Connor owned the shop after it moved from down on LaBrea where Pink's Hot Dogs is now to 1136 1/2 N LaBrea. Thise were the days, my friend! Joe and Tom Crosser and the crew.

[SMarquez]

+1 on stanley's in Santa Ana. I bought my first pistol there, or I should say my Dad bought it for me.

I didn't see anyone mention Fed Ord in El Monte.

I bought a Garand there plus a ton of evil accessories such as folding stocks and flash hiders for 10/22's and M1 Carbines.

Fed Ord!! I bought an awesome Swedish Mauser there for $69 off the rack. And bubba'd it. I hate to admit it but confession is good for the soul.

[SMarquez]

Fowler's Guns in San Gabriel burned up in the late 90's.

[dustoff31]

Fowler's Guns in San Gabriel burned up in the late 90's.

Yes it did. But I though it was early '90s. Anyway, I bought a NIB M1A from them a couple of years before the fire. $550.00 out the door.

I wonder if the 4473s burned too?

[JustEd]

Honoring an old friend:

Balboa Guns, San Francisco

Alan S. Weil gunsmith and proprietor.

retired int he 60's but maintained a smiths shop in his basement for friends.