Thread: Calibre Choice in the 1970's

Originally Posted by Tahr

I was very fortunate to work in Tisdall's sports shop in PNth after school for 3 years from 1963. There was rack after rack of rifles (50 maybe?) and I oiled them with Youngs oil every week. I loved that job and was full time during the school holidays.

People could look at and handle all of the rifles.

The gun smith we used lived over on Main Street and I used to bike over there with guns to be repaired over my handle bars, and bring repaired ones back. No covers for them. Nothing said.

I can remember and see every rifle at Tisdalls like it was yesterday - and still smell the oil.

Yes, Schultz & Larsen in 7x61 & .270, Parker Hale in 308Norma Mag. BRNO's. Sakos etc. Lots of Savage lever actions because Tisdalls were the agents. My favourite rifle on the rack was the BSA Majestic, but I have never owned one. There were some exceptional military mausers in 8x57 - short carbine models. They looked brand new. They were agents for Anchutz too. Later when I was meat hunting I bought an Anchutz 308 for $199 new. One of my sons still has it and loves it.

I went on to own many rifles and hunting has been a passion ever since. The Manager (Jim Newman) was the first person to take me hunting - I never had a Dad so Jim took me under his wing. Jim took me up the Pari in the Ruahines and my first shot at a deer (missed) was with his BSA Hunter in 7x57. The Manager before Jim when I started was Ray Garner. Good people.

308 and .270 would ave been by far the most popular calibers, followed I think by 7x57.

Cool story and great memories for you. I believe my father use to have a part time (2nd job) as Tisdals in Palmy for a while too. He's coming up 79 in October, i wonder if you and him had an overlap at all.

He continued working part-time in various gun stores over the years. As a kid i remember me and my sister getting to stay up late on Friday nights, as Mum took us into town to pick dad up from his Friday night job at the Sportsman in Palmy North, we always use to stop at one of the takeaway shops in Main Street and get a couple of scoops of hot chips.

Maybe we only had one car at that point, even thou i pretty much always remember us having two (always had a Mini as a 2nd car back in those days) But thinking about it now, maybe Dad use to have a couple of beers after they knocked off hence why we picked him up. I must ask my parents next time im talking to them.