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This ad for the H & R single gun (Youth's Companion, March 5, 1903, p. 178). The issue of boys getting their first gun was a important one for many American families. A reader reports, "I recall this was a big deal when I was a teenager, and I suspect it was also in 1903 when this ad appeared. Boys getting their first rifles was and continues to be something of a rite of passage. It seems to be pecurliarly American. I'm not aware that in Europe, the possession of a gun by a teenager is such an important matter, although perhaps our European readers will enlighten us on this topic."
This ad for the H & R single gun (Youth's Companion, March 5, 1903, p. 178). The Youth's Companion described itself as "An Illustrated Weekly Paper For Young People and the Family, Established in 1827." It was published in Boston, Massachusetts, by the Perry Mason Company, 201 Columbus Avenue. We are not sure how lon it was publised, but we notice that it was still being published into the 1910s. The magazine catered to teen-age boys and girls especially, containing articles on sports, on hobbies, and on various literary and cultural interests. But it was really a family magazine and had many advertisements for clothing, both adult and children's.
We know very little about this company. It was located at Worcester, Massachusetts. They also made revolvers. The advertisement shows how attitudes toward children and guns has changed. The company has chosen a magazine aimed primarily at children, The Youth's Companion for their ad.
The issue of boys getting their first gun was a important one for many American families. A reader reports, "I recall this was a big deal when I was a teenager, and I suspect it was also in 1903 when this ad appeared. Boys getting their first rifles was and continues to be something of a rite of passage. It seems to be pecurliarly American. I'm not aware that in Europe, the possession of a gun by a teenager is such an important matter, although perhaps our European readers will enlighten us on this topic." Note that this boy has his first rifle long before he has his first long trousers.
The boy in this advertisement seems to be about 13 or 14. He wears a peaked cap, a single-breasted suit jacket with a white shirt and tie, knee pants, long black stockings, and hightop shoes. He seems to be dressed in the typical High School clothes of the period. And since he is handling what is apparently his first rifle and must be somewhere outdoors, he seems to be somewhat formally clad--certainly formal by today's relaxed standards.
America's love of guns reflects its frontier past and value of individual liberty. On farms boys had to know how to use guns at a fairly early age, and hunting is still a sport that teenage boys from rural communities love. Owning a gun in many Americam families is an important step on the path to adulthood. Laws governing the ownership of guns and rifles in 1903 were pretty relaxed in the United Sttes. This is a matter regulated primarily by each individual state. There still are major differences between states. Regulation of guns is still a major issue in American politics. Most Americans want stricter regulation. A minority, however, considers gun ownership to be a basic civil right and a issue of such importance that it will decide their vote. The passion over guns at times approaches the irrational. There were cries of oppressive government in the 1990s went the state of Virginia acted to restrict gun purchases by individuals to one a month. The internet and sales by unlicensed dealers at gun shows has opened huge loop holes in exisiting legislation. variation in state laws enables crooks to obtain guns in states with weal laws and sell them in states with strict laws. As a result, large numbers of Americans are killed annually by fire arms, mostly hand guns. The numbers of casualties involve approach what other countries experience during war time. This is a situation unlike that experienced by any other modern industrial nation.
The ad copy reads, "It Bears Inspection if it's an H & R Single Gun. Perfection in disign, simplicity, and superior workmanship and finish place the H & R Single Gun in a class by itself. Your dealer can supply, or we will sell to you direct. Harrington & Richardson Arms Company. Dept. Y, Worcester, Mass. Makers of H & R Revolvers. Catalogue for postal." Notice the use of the term "gun". I think that means that this is a shotgun rather than a rifle. The term "single" means that it is a single-barrel sjot gun rather than the more famuiliar double-barrel shot gun favored by most adults.
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