I bought a .22 rifle for my son in early 1980 something.
I guess the guy could tell I was over 18 since I had my son with me.
No ID and no forms to fill out.
In 1966 I rode my bicycle downtown with my best buddy George. We went to Diamond Hardware and I bought a Winchester 30/30 1866 Centennial Rifle with my mowing money. The gun was $125.00, a fortune. I was eleven. I carried it home in the box tied across the handlebars.
I still have the box and the gun.
My friend bought 4 or 5 M1 Garands for himself, me, and 3 others around 1980. Mail order!
Still have mine, though it’s been worked up a bit since then. So do at least 2 others. The 4th owner passed away a couple of years ago and the 5th guy hasn’t been heard from in a long time.
I long for the days that firearms, at least rifles, could be mail-ordered.