When I was a boy growing up, whenever we visited Gramma in the city of London, (Ontario), we insisted on going to 'Collector's Corner" down by the Court-house & Jail at the end of Dundas street.

I remember there were boxes of 9mm Shot rimfire ctgs. for sale on the rack along with the guns. I remember that 2 boxes of ammo was about the same price as a Flobert 9mmm shotgun.

Also, there were muzzleloading rifles and shotguns, dozens of Trapdoor Springfield rifles for $10.00 to $30.00 depending on condition, along with other CF military and sporting rifles and shotguns of the mid to late 1800's - all there, all for $10.00 to about $175.00 tops for REALLY exotic looking European rifles and shotguns. There were barrels of WW1 and WW2 military rifles for sale and they were all in the #25.00 range.

This was the late 50's - we were merely fascinated kids - 8 or 9 yrs old, but we were learning about what would become our driving force, the gaining of knowledge and abilities with those very weapons.

I remember a pair of 10 bore Westley Richards barrels in the window, with the tops of the chambers blown out. There was a card with this in dark black large print - THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STICK THE BARRELS IN THE WATER TO SHOOT AT A FISH - DO NOT DO THIS.

the memories come flooding back to me.

Thanks for this thread - wonderful stuff.