Yesterday, at the Gorby Collectors Fair () I managed to pick up an unopened box of Marksman pellets (£1.50 ). Now these pellets were the ammunition of my youth. Every Saturday I would go to the local pet shop, which just happened to sell these pellets and with my full weeks pocket money buy two boxes. We are poor 'op north'. On special occasions like birthdays I would be treat to Eley Wasps (in the blue tins).
Nattering yesterday to Gareth and a few others the subject of ' the good olde days' appeared, as usual when a group of collectors of most things get together. I think it was generally agreed that a large proportion of the Collector sales market is now catering for the 'Rose Tinted Glasses' brigade and the deprived youth punters. The people who, now older, can afford to buy the rifles they could only lust after in their youth. The apprentice wage earners after 35 Exports, BSA 'S' types, BSFs, Vixens, (+ FWB Sport) etc.
Also the people, with Rose Tinted Glasses, who remember buying a specific 'wonder gun' that could shoot out the eye of a gnat at some incredible range. Truth be known the '40 metre fly' was probably a 20 yards sterilized milk bottle (off which the pellet bounced.)
The box of Marksman pellets will take pride of place on my desk as a paper weight come talking point and reminder of my youth. I dare not open it in case I'm tempted to try the pellets and find out in truth, that they are/were actually CRAP ! and my shooting over the years has deteriorated even more. Does this realization put me off the sport of collecting? Offer me a Normay Vixen, a BSF at a reasonable price and find out !
ATB
Ian