new member introduction of Ralph "Hunter" Lauretano
Happened on this web site this evening while investigating information re: the Radom P-64 9x18mm Makarov I purchased today. Seems like a wonderful forum re: guns, etc., and I hope to be able to get many questions answered in the future about my gun hobby. I'm 73, and have spent my life loving guns, knives, hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing and the great outdoors. Originally from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, where I learned to appreciate being in the woods with a gun, or at a pond or river with my fishing gear. Was moved to South Florida as a kid and have stayed, always returning after stints of living elsewhere during my military service, and for several civilian companies that I worked for afterwards. After some college, I served my country in the Coast Guard, Air Force and the Navy, and wish they'd let us old guys back in to help with all the bad stuff that's going on in the world today. I have a large, (but not very high-end or expensive), gun & knife collection, and am drawn by the looks and feel of any item that strikes my eye. Very interested in WWII military firearms, and have quite a few from the different countries involved with that war. I have a nice collection of lever guns, mostly Winchesters, and a couple of Henry's, and my favorite old Marlin. I also love my many different handguns, both revolvers & semi-auto's, and a few single or double shot derringers as well. I have a bunch of different guage shot guns, both singles & pumps. I keep my Taurus Judge in the car for anti-hijack insurance, and never leave home without at least 2 or 3 deep cover CCW back-up pieces. Living in and near the high-crime rate Miami, Florida area, and doing what I do for a living, (doing title closings for real estate purchases and mortgages), my job occasionally takes me into some "uncomfortable" areas day and night, and I have missed violent, armed confrontations many times, by just a day before or after that event, so I stay alert to my surroundings, and am ready to defend myself or those near me in any locality. What a lousy way to have to live, but as the world's economy falters and crashes, more & more violent crime will exponentially increase, and we never know when we may have to unexpectedly fight for our lives. I taught my wife, my 2 daughters and 2 grandsons about guns, shooting and safe handling. Took my 16 year old grandson on his first pig hunt in the Everglades a few years ago, where he got the largest boar of the group of men we hunted with, standing offhand with my pre-64 Winchester 30-30. His younger brother is next on the list this summer or fall. All but the youngest have their CCW's. My time afield has been curtailed these last couple of years. My wife of 53 years is very ill, and needs constant, 'round-the-clock care, which is solely up to me to provide. So I don't get much pleasure out of my gun collection any more, other than just looking at them and handling them occasionally. But I have my memories.............my old CB handle was "Hunter", which shows you where my heart has always been. Glad I joined your group. Ralph Lauretano
), the rest of my collection is at my grandfather's house as I don't have the space for a proper gun vault/safe. I also have Remington Model 7 and Browning BLR Takedown, both in .223. I started shooting when I was 15, and have done range/target shooting primarily, not much hunting as I am not the outdoorsman type and Texas is almost always uncomfortable unless you're in air conditioning. I don't concealed carry because as a student almost everywhere I go disallows concealed weapons. My interest in firearms is more of a historical and mechanical interest than a self defense one. I look forward to posting on this forum. Thanks.