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I'm really showing my age here by relating my memories about this place. I'm referring to the old GI Joe's that was in an enormous GI tent near the old Union Ave and N. Vancouver Ave. in North Portland. I remember going there with my dad and seeing what seemed to be acres of army surplus stuff. It was everywhere! I was particularly fond of the barrels of British "Jungle Carbines" at $10.00 each or the barrels of M98 German Mausers for $15.00 each. There were piles of bayonets from Great Britain, Germany, the US and other places. There were even a few barrels of Japanese type 38 & 99 Arisaka wannabes for $8.00 each. I had never seen boots as big as the ones that were available! There were overcoats, packs, US helmets, web belts, GI cans, machetes. You name it and it was there and it was really cheap! So much fun for a little boy to touch and look at.
My dad was an NRA member and got the monthly American Rifleman magazine. On the back page there would be advertisements for guns. My dad bought two 1911A1's inNRA "good" condition for $10.00 each. When they arrived via US mail they were brand new! He also got two .30 Cal Carbines for $20.00 each that were also new. Yup, everything was done by mail and the postman joked when he said he couldn't put them in our mailbox. What great memories those are to me. I still remember the one advertisement for a 20MM anti tank gun which had the caveat "no ammunition available."
My dad was an NRA member and got the monthly American Rifleman magazine. On the back page there would be advertisements for guns. My dad bought two 1911A1's inNRA "good" condition for $10.00 each. When they arrived via US mail they were brand new! He also got two .30 Cal Carbines for $20.00 each that were also new. Yup, everything was done by mail and the postman joked when he said he couldn't put them in our mailbox. What great memories those are to me. I still remember the one advertisement for a 20MM anti tank gun which had the caveat "no ammunition available."