I got one in 1989 for Christmas at age 12. Wanted a video game, but I was thrilled with this. Not the most advanced air rifle, but a blast all the same. My uncle is big into guns and has several high end air target rifles and CO2 competition grade match pistols. I know why he has zero saved for retirement, but I appreciate nice guns.
Don't think I ever got one for Christmas but I don't ever remember being without one in my youth. Well, in my old age too!
I still have my dads that would have been from the late 30's. He had notches cut in the stock for sparrows and tacks in it for starlings that he had shot. I heard him say many a time that he knew that it would drop a charging elephant! Gary