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While in the Air Force stationed at King Salmon, Alaska, I bought my first Ruger through the Base Exchange for $39. It was a handsome 22 Single-Six (no mag cylinder) with black grips. Just a few weeks after I bought it, the big earthquake hit (Good Friday, 1964) so I never got a chance to shoot it before reassignment to Marquette, MI. I packed up all my stuff and being fearful that someone would steal my new gun, I tucked it away in a box of pictures then had the crate sent to Michigan.
The earthquake caused considerable chaos so it was at least 6 months before I got my hold baggage. Having forgotten about packing the gun in the box of pictures, I figured someone stole it. That box of pictures followed me for 37 years before I retired and moved back to my hometown.
One day I was sorting through some boxes and decided to open the one marked "Alaska Pictures". There was the Ruger, not a mark on it. I still have it and still haven't fired it. I figured the gun must have been in stock at the Base for quite a while because it was actually made in 1959. Talk about being ecstatic!
The earthquake caused considerable chaos so it was at least 6 months before I got my hold baggage. Having forgotten about packing the gun in the box of pictures, I figured someone stole it. That box of pictures followed me for 37 years before I retired and moved back to my hometown.
One day I was sorting through some boxes and decided to open the one marked "Alaska Pictures". There was the Ruger, not a mark on it. I still have it and still haven't fired it. I figured the gun must have been in stock at the Base for quite a while because it was actually made in 1959. Talk about being ecstatic!