View Full Version : Back When Gun Rags Were More Than Rags...
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/SteyrAUG/00000000416.jpg
Yes it was 1981 when I decided I WILL ONE DAY OWN AN UZI. And several years later I did in fact buy a Model A carbine. And thankfully, eventually a real deal SMG. This was also back when firearm magazines didn't completely suck. They weren't all article after article of fanboys droning on and on about Glocks or 1911s. And it wasn't simply manufacturer advertisements presented in the guise of an objective review.
And it was guys like Hackathorn, Cooper and Kokalis doing the writing. And it was glorious.
But it wasn't merely intelligent articles and honest reviews that made magazines such as SOF one of the best things going. It was a lot of the other content.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/SteyrAUG/SOF1.jpg
And THAT ladies and gentlemen is how you promote your convention.
And who can forget the advertisements.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/SteyrAUG/SOF3.jpg
Yes where else could you get a 12 inch section of 3" PVC with screw caps for the bargain price of 19.95? Adjusted for inflation that would be about $48.00 today. And don't forget to look into making your own body armor, that seems like a totally safe thing to do.
And you are gonna need a cool ass T shirt so everyone knows you are the real deal hard core type.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/SteyrAUG/SOF2.jpg
Somehow "Give me your hearts and minds or I'll burn down your damn huts" says it all.
And plenty of other stuff to buy.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/SteyrAUG/SOF4.jpg
For only $79.00 (about $200 adjusted for inflation) you can trick out your Mini 14 "A Team" style. You are also gonna need an M-43 style SS cap, a Jivaro Blowgun (awesome deal for only $9.97) and a Commando watchband.
Honestly those Jivaro Blowguns actually did kinda rock, I wish I had bought 12 more.
And every now and then they'd actually advertise something of serious substance.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y145/SteyrAUG/SOF5.jpg
Btw if you are wondering, back in '81 that FN LAR retailed for $2,000.00, which adjusted for inflation is about $5,139.95 and that is why almost nobody you knew back in the early 80s actually had one. Especially when you could buy a HK 91 for about $350.00, which of course explains why everyone DID have the HK 91. And it sorta makes those $3,000 pre89 FALs on Gunbroker seem like quite the deal.
Love it, great gun rag even though that quality pre dates my extensive buying of gun rags.
1. Blow Guns are straight up AWESOME...just remember the Clinton policy, don't ever inhale:)
2. Derived directly from 1., that gun rag/blowgun reminds me also of another extinct great commodity and that was the classic Army Surplus stores that I went ape shit in as a kid. I still prob. have various blowguns, Nazi paratroop regiment's knife that folds more like a butterfly than a traditional folder does, the infamous Gas masks(covered all the bases...had the U.S., Chinese, Soviet's, etc.), one more for sentimental value...the uber badass ninja throwing knife set and a few ninja stars for good measure. Damn I love those stores and your mag is cut straight outta that same mold imo.
Wow, I actually remember every one of those ads. Even the one for the little Nazi cap and "commando watchband".
What is up with that broads toes?! :fie:
variablebinary
02-19-11, 04:40
What is up with that broads toes?! :fie:
Sick. Imagine playing footsie with that on a chilly Utah night.
http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2010/9/10/ba40a757-0ede-4dc2-ba8d-a8b806980bdd.jpg
I think I still have that one issue with the Uzi as well! Holy shit do I remember those days. I was only a teen, but I was at the Readmore bookstore thumbing through all the gun mags back then.
I had a friend who was a little older and he used to give me his used SOF mags when he was done.
I went to the SOF convention twice when it was in Vegas. Despite what anyone says, the demos and the guns and gear for sale were awesome. This predates the SAR Show and other stuff out there.
Rmplstlskn
02-19-11, 07:43
So it was SOF, Gung Ho and the such that corrupted all your minds of mush back in the day, making you the war-mongering gun freaks that you are today.... (joke intended, for the sarcasmly-challenged)
I'm in good company then...
Rmpl
Cagemonkey
02-19-11, 07:48
The good old days of SOF. The Cold War was still raging. Reagan was president. The term "Assault Weapon" didn't exist. Machine guns were still cheap because new weapons could be registered into the pool, pre 86. Their weapon evaluations were no BS. The SADF were busy killing commies (Marxist guerillas and Cubans) in South West Africa (Namibia) and Angola. The US was fighting communist insurgencies in Central America. Gas was cheap and no one new what the National Debt was. We had a trade deficit with Japan and the only chinese made goods were made in British Hong Kong or Taiwan. I was a naive teenage kid who couldn't wait to join the Marines. PS, this month SOF's Gary Paul Johnson did an article on Bravo Companies 12.5" SBR and 16" Middy. I guess I keep my subscription for nostalgias sake and the hope maybe they'll bring back P. Kokalis along with Hackathorn.
Ugh, monkey toes!!!
I love the PVC pipe hideaway tube for $20. You can make the same thing today for $5-$6. It was probably 2 or 3 bucks back then.
The "commando" stuff must have been era code for "tactical" or "spec-ops."
VooDoo6Actual
02-19-11, 09:49
The Toes are a NO GO for me...
RogerinTPA
02-19-11, 10:54
Grew up reading SOF in high school in the late 70's. That mag was great. The toes on that woman is definitely a No Go!:no:
militarymoron
02-19-11, 11:28
I went to the SOF convention twice when it was in Vegas. Despite what anyone says, the demos and the guns and gear for sale were awesome. This predates the SAR Show and other stuff out there.
i went there once or twice as well - i remember looking at an MP5SD sitting on a table for $5K and thought 'man, that's crazy - who's going to pay THAT price?'.
i wish i would have.
also, i don't think i've seen so many guys with berets and moustaches in one place since then.
Sick. Imagine playing footsie with that on a chilly Utah night.
Ugh, monkey toes!!!
The Toes are a NO GO for me...
HOMOS everywhere.
lol
I think I still have that one issue with the Uzi as well! Holy shit do I remember those days. I was only a teen, but I was at the Readmore bookstore thumbing through all the gun mags back then.
I had a friend who was a little older and he used to give me his used SOF mags when he was done.
I went to the SOF convention twice when it was in Vegas. Despite what anyone says, the demos and the guns and gear for sale were awesome. This predates the SAR Show and other stuff out there.
Yep, great days.
Spending all day Saturday at the mall (remember when we went to those?) and much of it at the newsstand (another dead and gone institution).
I was even so lucky as to have a newsstand that sold malts and egg creams. So I'd have arm full of magazines such as SOF, Shotgun News, Warriors, Black Belt and Inside Kung Fu and a chocolate malt. Great times.
..... Nazi paratroop regiment's knife that folds more like a butterfly than a traditional folder does,...
....
======================================
Trident ,
I remember seeing those knives. I read years ago in some knife magazine that those knives were, "imaginary" knives because the Nazi never carried anything like that. Have you ever heard that before?
.
======================================
Trident ,
I remember seeing those knives. I read years ago in some knife magazine that those knives were, "imaginary" knives because the Nazi never carried anything like that. Have you ever heard that before?
.
I am pretty sure these knives were actually carried, nazi insignia, and writings are pretty accurate. This is a perfect example of why I am such a fan of German engineering.
Note: I am not a Nazi, nor am I affiliated with the group:D
http://i52.tinypic.com/25tuhp3.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/2moe5tt.jpg
http://i54.tinypic.com/1690mjd.jpg
eta..ucrt sent me a link that appears to dispel the legitimacy of this knife being actually used by Nazi paratroops.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantographic_knife
I still have a collection of the old SOF mags from about '80-'92/'93.
I really miss what that magazine was. What other magazine would send "correspondents" in to Afghanistan and smuggle out an AKS-74 AND 5.45x39mm ammo out and donate it to the CIA?
Or send their guys to El Salvadore, Rhodesia, South Africa, Angola, Lebanon......they lost a few guys doing it.
Robert K. Brown personally flew down to Guatemala to try to get Barry Sadler out and to a 1st class medic, but was unable to save him.
Welcome to Zangaro, Mr. Brown! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSH6J2KKRsA&feature)
The Dogs of War (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhDmSHEBfpU&feature)
Littlelebowski
02-19-11, 16:00
What is up with that broads toes?! :fie:
Let's see you say that after a few months deployed, EllTee.
I still have a collection of the old SOF mags from about '80-'92/'93.
I really miss what that magazine was. What other magazine would send "correspondents" in to Afghanistan and smuggle out an AKS-74 AND 5.45x39mm ammo out and donate it to the CIA?
Or send their guys to El Salvadore, Rhodesia, South Africa, Angola, Lebanon......they lost a few guys doing it.
Robert K. Brown personally flew down to Guatemala to try to get Barry Sadler out and to a 1st class medic, but was unable to save him.
Yep, I remember most of that stuff. Remarkable what they did when compared to other "journalists" and almost nobody noticed or gave credit.
There may have been some cheese between those pages, but there was also a tremendous amount of integrity. Sadly SOF today is a pale shadow if it's former self.
Welcome to Zangaro, Mr. Brown! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSH6J2KKRsA&feature)
The Dogs of War (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhDmSHEBfpU&feature)
One of my favorite movies from the same time period. Gotta love the Uzi with the starlight night scope on it. Every time it came on cable, which was pretty regular, I'd watch it. Between that and The Amateur I was pretty entertained.
RogerinTPA
02-19-11, 17:57
Besides Dogs of War, some of the best Merc movies I grew up on:
Dark of the Sun. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Rf_vulEuSw
Wild Geese. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4AQPQWyVrg
GermanSynergy
02-19-11, 19:08
I have alot of the same back issues. Definitely a unique publication. The articles on Bosnia in 92-95 were pretty darn good.
I still have a collection of the old SOF mags from about '80-'92/'93.
I really miss what that magazine was. What other magazine would send "correspondents" in to Afghanistan and smuggle out an AKS-74 AND 5.45x39mm ammo out and donate it to the CIA?
Or send their guys to El Salvadore, Rhodesia, South Africa, Angola, Lebanon......they lost a few guys doing it.
Robert K. Brown personally flew down to Guatemala to try to get Barry Sadler out and to a 1st class medic, but was unable to save him.
Yeah, things have definitely changed. Nowadays all I see are articles about why the newest piston gun is the "rage" and then regurgatated AR articles until you are blue in the face.
Then when you bend over another article comes out and trumps that one! Ha- fooled you.
Of course there are the multiple pics of the commandos clad in Multicam with gadgets and stuff that most of us can't buy.
One of the best memories I had of the SOF convention was meeting Al Mar and being invited to the Al Mar Invitational shoot up in Lake Oswego. It was my first time and I ended up winning first place in the out of state contestant category.
I received a very nice Al Mar folder, that was later stolen by a douchebag (I am still looking for you).
I remember peddling some souvenirs from the first Gulf War to some militaria collector for a good price.
I still have a collection of the old SOF mags from about '80-'92/'93.
I really miss what that magazine was. What other magazine would send "correspondents" in to Afghanistan and smuggle out an AKS-74 AND 5.45x39mm ammo out and donate it to the CIA?
Or send their guys to El Salvadore, Rhodesia, South Africa, Angola, Lebanon......they lost a few guys doing it.
Robert K. Brown personally flew down to Guatemala to try to get Barry Sadler out and to a 1st class medic, but was unable to save him.
A little off topic, But the Barry Sadler you mention, was that the same Barry Sadler who was a Green Beret in Vietnam, and recorded a record, or and I confusing this person with someone else?
Heartland Hawk
02-20-11, 10:33
Man that brought back memories! I used to read that mag back in the late 70's early 80's I use to have that commando watchband too. It was aweome! (for an eigth grader!:D)
Heartland Hawk
02-20-11, 10:35
A little off topic, But the Barry Sadler you mention, was that the same Barry Sadler who was a Green Beret in Vietnam, and recorded a record, or and I confusing this person with someone else?
I think that was the same Barry Sadler that wrote "The ballad of the Green Berets". He also wrote a book, which I read in high school about three times...
A little off topic, But the Barry Sadler you mention, was that the same Barry Sadler who was a Green Beret in Vietnam, and recorded a record, or and I confusing this person with someone else?
That was the same Barry Sadler. He was shot in Guatemala City, and RKB went down and got him out. He died in a US hospital.
I'm glad he could at least die on the soil he defended.
I'm glad he could at least die on the soil he defended.
And with the knowledge that he wasn't simply abandoned. Makes the ballad a little more poignant doesn't it?
Fighting soldiers from the sky
Fearless men who jump and die
Men who mean just what they say
The brave men of the Green Beret
Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men we'll test today
But only three win the Green Beret
Trained to live, off nature's land
Trained in combat, hand to hand
Men who fight by night and day
Courage deep, from the Green Beret
Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men we'll test today
But only three win the Green Beret
Back at home a young wife waits
Her Green Beret has met his fate
He has died for those oppressed
Leaving her this last request
Put silver wings on my son's chest
Make him one of America's best
He'll be a man they'll test one day
Have him win the Green Beret
Rmplstlskn
02-20-11, 14:12
Man, those words with the tune in my head gave me goosebumps...
Anyways, I remember the BIG change in SOF, and where I soon lost any interest, was back when they went GLAM... Glossy pics with all kinds of photoshop'ed flames, fire, explosions, and what not... All the FLUF... After losing Kokalis, MacKenzie (RIP) and Hack (RIP), it was all downhill from there...
Only mags I saved was my first one, a 1979 issue (bought it at age 14), and the 10th, 15th and 20th Anniversary issues...
Rmpl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH4-tOqLH94
RogerinTPA
02-20-11, 15:23
I think that was the same Barry Sadler that wrote "The ballad of the Green Berets". He also wrote a book, which I read in high school about three times...
FYI: The book, The Green Berets" was written by Robin Moore, who co-wrote "The balled of the Green Berets", who also went through the SF Q course and wrote the French Connection, among others.
Man does the blowgun ad bring back memories. Used to see one of those in just about everything I read in the 80's and bought at least two of them. Very effective weapons, pierced right through coffee cans.
Barry Sadler also wrote a series called "Casca: The Eternal Mercenary". Interesting premise
sandman99and9
02-20-11, 17:35
Man, what memories !! I had the issue where they tested the AK-74 from afganistan. I used to love reading that mag cover to cover every issue. I remember daydreaming after reading the classifieds for mercenaries in the back.
All the gun reviews and heavy weapons were like porn for me :)
S.M.
Heartland Hawk
02-20-11, 17:55
FYI: The book, The Green Berets" was written by Robin Moore, who co-wrote "The balled of the Green Berets", who also went through the SF Q course and wrote the French Connection, among others.
Thanks for the course correction. It has been 30 years or so..:)
Wow Flashback!! I had a Copy of SOF that Frank Camper had Signed for me when he was on the cover ,He Had a Gun store/Front? close to where I lived Called the Bunker I ran around with His son we all called Bear.They introduced Me to Military tear gas In the Face as a Joke Crazy Fraker.:eek:
I love reading the Stories of the Guys On the Ground In South America
Okay Guys I now see the nasty toes but must admit I did not see them till you pointed them out!
I had that "Commando" watch band/cover in 90/91 to cover up my shinny stainless steel GMT watch.
I loved reading SOF as a kid in the '80's I still buy it once in a while just to check it out. I bought lots of stuff COD from Brigade Quartermaster, I doubt companies even ship COD anymore, what's Cash?
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