Dinny: I have bought two Handi's at the Ft Wainwright PX, .35 Whelen, and a .243. Eielson and Ft WW have both had big gun counters since I came to Alaska back in 1971. Don't know how many Ruger .22 Bearcats (wild guess, 15 to 20, at around $35.00 apiece 1971 prices) I have bought at the Eielson BX. I never bought one to keep for myself, kept saying I was going to, but just never got around to it. I've also bought Ruger Blackhawks in .45, .44Mag, .41Mag, 357, 5ea double action .357s(for the wife), and a .44Mag Marlin lever action carbine also for the wife. I do believe the wife ordered Sky's Anschutz through the PX as well. They have a big book you can order from, and their supplier carries almost everything made in the US, and some foreign makes as well.
Many of my troops were sent up here with their new wives. The young troops often were only 19 or 20, not old enough to buy a pistol for the wife to keep at home. Back in those days they rented a trailer or cabin out in the woods, with no neighbors close by. That was usually all they could afford. I made sure they had something to protect themselves with. It was a differant time back then, no druggies, no burguleries, and I kept close tabs on them to make sure they were not getting stressed by cabin fever. Made me feel good when one of them came in and was bragging about how his wife had scared off a Black Bear with her .22. I would tell them, "Don't come home late at night and surprise her, or you might be next". Their excited elation would give way to some quite contemplation about the possiabilities. Never knew of any of them messing around on their wives or laying out late at night. Think those little .22s detered more than the Black Bears.
