Well I was sure not born anywhere near the 50s (sometimes I wish I was) but I have a grandfather whose stories/memories of that era can be retold. My grandfather's experience was mostly pre-1947 as he moved to a city that year and things changed, but I think some of you may find it interesting, nevertheless.
Papa was born early 30's in Northeast Mississippi, Near Corinth, in Alcorn county, but on a farm many miles away from town. His family's financial status was dirt poor (To put how poor he was in perspective, he had recieved 10 cents and an orange one Christmas and was very greatful).
What he had was borderline 19th century technology. Animals like Mules were used for farming, only 1 extended family member had an automobile (1938 Ford as Papa recalls), and he only went to town once a month, maximum. Pops also had never seen a real telephone in person until he was ~8 years old. The greatest luxury he recalls having was a battery radio that the family would listen to on Saturday nights. The radio battery needed to charge between saturdays. They would tune into WSM/Grand Ole Opry show on those Saturday nights.
House was only a few rooms and was rented, had NO electricity, NO indoor bathroom, and NO running water. Whoever was staying at the house slept in the same bed. His Father divorced his mother at age 5 and the whole family did any/all work that paid. Food was limited to whatever mother nature provided, and food was frequently given as payment for work, so occasionally Pops had some veggies/other farm food. Papa also said that one of the tastiest meals he ever had in his childhood was Squirrel Brains/inards with eggs. All game that was obtained was fished with home-made poles, or hunted with .22s that were shared amongst the extended family. They were cheap ones somebody bought at a hardware store in town. His ammunition was strictly limited to no more than ~5 rounds, so my grandpa was a great shot, because he had to be. He once told me of a time when his mother asked him to get(hunt) 2 pieces of meat/animals for dinner, but my grandpa only had 1 round.
In my grandpa's case ; if no food was brought home, him and his family didn't really get to eat. Extended family members lived close and Papa was close to them and knew his family well. They frequently worked cotton fields for extended family members, and like I said earlier did any work avaliable. He recalls hanging around with an older Uncle who owned a single shot 12 gauge (couldn't remember the make) and a nicer Remington 512 gamemaster(?) .22. That uncle got in a fight with a neighbor over something stupid (can't remember) but he shot at the guy and did some non-life threatening damage to his torso. Don't know what happened to the neighbor but legal action was not taken for numerous reasons.
Gramps also recalls an extended family member taking part in Ku Klux Klan action, and that relation ended up shooting a colored man over a 10 cent loan that was not paid back.
Later in life (early-mid 40's) my grandfather moved to the Memphis, TN area and the family was a little more finnancially stable; and recalls playing with one of his mother's boyfriend's German Luger. He can't remember exactly what kind but it was a 9mm. Most likely mail-order.
Papa also told me some general stuff about guns of that era/area as well:
-Very few people had centerfires, nearly all .22s for small edible game.
-Autoloaders were basically unheard of until WWII.
-No licenseing/registration what so ever.
-Guns were more/less tools and collections or shooting ranges were unheard of (at least where my grandfather was).
-Self defence was also unheard of, as there were very few situations where it was needed. Especially since half the people my grandpa grew up with was extended family and close neighbors.
-Carrying was not really legal, but people did anyway and especially on private land, as that breed of farmers/people of that region tended to be very territorial and not-welcoming to unwanted company.
-Police/detectives were more concerned with busting moonshine stills and had no concern for people with guns or anything of that sort; Pops recalls seeing an officer with a revolver, I would bet a Colt or Smith in .38.
Some ending information:
-Both grandpa and Uncle are still alive and are in pretty good shape. Papa talks to Uncle all the time, and I, personally have visited the Uncle and I visit Papa nearly every weekend.
-Papa enjoys target shooting pistols occasionally and if it weren't for a bad rotator cuff replacement, he would shoot a lot more. He personally went and bought himself a Judge for home defence.
-Uncle goes on hunting trips out west nearly every year and is still a gun guy, and still has that Remington .22 mentioned above
