The Real Abercrombie & Fitch. Anybody Else Here Remember Them?

[Gun Master]

Sears, Roebuck, & Co.

Anybody remember them ?

They've passed through many hands. Now they are "Sears".
They used to sell guns. Remember: Ranger, J.C. Higgins, Ted Williams, etc.
Have not seen any guns there in decades.
Started about the time Roebuck left.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I remember when A&F had firearms and three gunsmiths in their SF outlet. Eddie Bauer used to have guns too.

 

[jhb]

Way too young......but i do own this heuer made aber and Fitch labeled seafarer watch from its glory days when the folks who bought stuff there went on African big game hunts and explored the world

 

[tspoto]

Three Connectrions Here

Three of the Sporting goods stores mentioned I can connect with.
Abercrombie and Fitch was not just an American store, but had a Canadian side as well. The only A&B I ever entered was in Vancouver. As noted even though I was from South of the border, and not allowed to purchase anything, I was treated very well. This was in the early 80's.
Eddie Bauers original store in Seattle brings back fond memories. I didn't buy any firearms there but did get outdoor clothing as well as some fly fishing needs. Academy sporting goods. Met one of the founders on a flight. Interesting conversation.
Does anyone remember Warshals in Seattle. Purchased my first hunting rifle there, an HK 770. It was that or a used Winchester 100. HK was offering a $50 rebate.

tspoto

 

[Speedo66]

Wow, what a zombie thread, back from the dead. I started this 6 years ago, fun to read everyone's recollections.

There were a couple of other stores I used to go to in NYC, both of a decidedly lower price point than A & F. One was Paragon Sports on Broadway at about 15th St. They were basically just a small storefront warehouse, nothing in the windows, with a couple of glass cases inside to separate themselves from the customers, and the rest just storage in the back. No frills sales. But they carried many brands of guns and some sporting goods, and discounted everything heavily. Last time I was there they were a couple of floors of camping goods, hiking boots, roller blade skates, etc. If they saw a gun now, the entire sales staff would probably faint.

The other store I liked was Kaufman's Army-Navy Surplus store. They were down in lower Manhattan, and were displaced when the World Trade center was originally built. They also had a branch on W. 42 St. that sold equestrian supplies. They had everything a kid could want. Lots of old army gear, inert training rounds and artillery shells, etc. But in addition, they also carried surplus military rifles. I remember barrels full of Martini rifles at $11, and others going for next to nothing. Keep in mind NYC at that time had no regulations re: rifles. No paperwork required.

One other place with surplus WWII rifles was Modell's. I recall their Broadway store in lower Manhattan had dump tables with piles of Carcano rifles covered with grease scattered all over the tables, priced at $12. Total change about, with their current core products being sneakers and fitness clothing and equipment.
Anybody else remember those places back then?

 

[HankB]

Sears, Roebuck, & Co.
Anybody remember them ?

They've passed through many hands. Now they are "Sears".
They used to sell guns. Remember: Ranger, J.C. Higgins, Ted Williams, etc.
Have not seen any guns there in decades.
Started about the time Roebuck left.

I remember as a kid growing up in Chicago the Sears we used to shop at just off Western Avenue had a rack of guns . . . which over the years got smaller . . . and smaller . . . and finally disappeared. I even remember the "Ted Williams" guns advertised in the Sears catalog.

The guns were in the basement of the store, just down a couple of aisles from the "Peggy Kellog" lunch counter - tucked under a stairway - which used to sell GREAT chili dogs.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Sad to see what they become.

 

[Deanimator]

There used to be one on Wabash Ave. in downtown Chicago.

I saw my first M1900 American Eagle Luger there, as well as my first Mauser 660.

I used to go there, followed by a trip to the main Kroch's and Brentano's bookstore, also on Wabash in the Loop.

Both are long gone, along with any reason I might have to go to downtown Chicago.

 

[spm]

A thread here had me recalling the famous sporting goods firm of Abercrombie & Fitch. The current clothing company just trades on their name.

They were a very high end sporting goods department store on Madison Ave. in Manhattan, 8 full floors, catering to hunters, gun enthusiasts, anglers, sailors, etc.

The 8th floor, all of it, housed their guns, high end to be sure. Griffin & Howe, the custom gunmakers, were located there. From trap shooting to safais, they could fill any shooting need.

As a poor 14-15 year old who very obviously looked like he was not in their target market, I was still treated respectfully by all their staff, including those in the gunroom. I was allowed to pick up and handle the racked, and extremely expensive, rifles and shotguns.

They closed before I was old enough to shop there, and I feel like I really missed something. I know of no other place like it.

I believe they also had a branch in South Hampton, NY, and one in Texas.

Anybody else here have any memories of them?

Yes! I was just talking about this to a buddy last week. I used to travel to NYC regularly on business and would make it a point to go in and just look around. Great store.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

spm