Author Topic: Keeping a promise/Giving up a treasure tomorrow (Read 981 times)

plumberroy · « **on:** October 02, 2009, 03:08:00 PM »

In 1997 My Dad had a car wreck he didn't survive . As we sat in the hospital waiting room My Aunt Made the statement that She though that my uncle her Brother had sold her Moms gun, at the onset his alzheimer's. I had the gun a single shot 22. I offered it to her Since My son had died in a car wreck 6 months eirlier. Yea, 1997 was a tough year . She declined ,but ask that when He was older I pass it on to Her Grandson . Tomorrow is the day I keep my word . I have had the gun since 1977 It has been my prized Material possession for the last 30 years My tie to my history to a time when a 22 wasn't just a leisure time enjoyment. It put food on the table and protected the garden from coon groundhog or ground squirrel My cousin who is getting it is a shooter. it is just hard letting a treasure go
Thanks for for listening to me for a while
By the way one of the other things My aunt and I talked about that day was her new rifle that she had just sighted in a remington 700 in 30-06 She was at the time 71 years old she is with Dad now She was something special for sure
Roy

slim rem 7 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 02, 2009, 03:18:05 PM »

i know this young man will have it explained to him ...the importance of the gun..

Dee · « **Reply #2 on:** October 02, 2009, 03:25:13 PM »

plumberroy, I know exactly what you mean. I have a Model 94 Winchester 3030 Dad bought new in 1958, and after firing it only 7 times he gave it to me. Trouble is, I don't have anyone to give it to before I die. You see, my son's have a penchant for getting behind and making friends with the pawn broker. They pawn their possessions and never pick them up. I hate the thought of that ole 3030 sitting in a pawn shop gun rack. I used that gun for well over a decade on man hunts, (I was a tracker) and in a patrol car before switching to an AR15, and even have old news paper clippings of man hunts with my picture holding that 3030. That doesn't even begin to count the hours in the woods, just enjoying the woods. I have reloaded, and shot hundreds and hundreds of rounds thru it, and still hit milk jugs with it at a little beyond 250 yards consistently. It is like an old friend, and has been there since I was 8 years old.
I do have a couple of nephews by marriage that I am considering. At 60 I hope I have enough time to enjoy the rifle and think about it little more though.

LONGTOM · « **Reply #3 on:** October 02, 2009, 03:55:34 PM »

Dee:
Maybe there is a organization or a local VFW or something like that where you could donate it along with it's history to be displayed for all to see in the future.
Maybe the police force where you spent so much of your life.
I have thought about something like that with a couple of guns I have.
There will still be plenty for my two boys to use when I am gone.

Just a thought.

LONGTOM

nomosendero · « **Reply #4 on:** October 02, 2009, 06:04:06 PM »

Quote from: Dee on October 02, 2009, 03:25:13 PM

plumberroy, I know exactly what you mean. I have a Model 94 Winchester 3030 Dad bought new in 1958, and after firing it only 7 times he gave it to me. Trouble is, I don't have anyone to give it to before I die. You see, my son's have a penchant for getting behind and making friends with the pawn broker. They pawn their possessions and never pick them up. I hate the thought of that ole 3030 sitting in a pawn shop gun rack. I used that gun for well over a decade on man hunts, (I was a tracker) and in a patrol car before switching to an AR15, and even have old news paper clippings of man hunts with my picture holding that 3030. That doesn't even begin to count the hours in the woods, just enjoying the woods. I have reloaded, and shot hundreds and hundreds of rounds thru it, and still hit milk jugs with it at a little beyond 250 yards consistently. It is like an old friend, and has been there since I was 8 years old.
I do have a couple of nephews by marriage that I am considering. At 60 I hope I have enough time to enjoy the rifle and think about it little more though.

Even though tomorrow is promised to no one, thinking it through is good. One of my boys had a hard time handling money, but has since snapped out of it, hopefully yours will also.

powderman · « **Reply #5 on:** October 03, 2009, 02:50:49 AM »

Well, I see another post lost in space. I'm not doing it again. POWDERMAN.

Hodr · « **Reply #6 on:** October 03, 2009, 04:36:48 AM »

In 1953 times were good and mom bought dad a Sweet 16 Browning and a 94 Winchester. When Dad died Mom sent the Winchester to my younger brother. He had new twins and set it out for safekeeping with a friend of his. The friend fell on troubled times and it was over 20 years before I knew it was gone. I have tracked that rifle through 7 owners now and still looking. I have a name that popped up in my searches just recently and am working on tracking it down. When I find that gun I will buy it back. Price won't matter. I will find it. I will reclaim it.

blindhari

Dee · « **Reply #7 on:** October 03, 2009, 10:02:03 AM »

I hope you do blindhari, and when you do, let me know. My Winchester is like an old friend. No! It "IS" an old and faithful friend.
The wear on it is all from my own hand. Every scratch, every dent, and every place the bluing is gone is a memory, for as long as I have a memory.

Redtail1949 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 03, 2009, 10:49:02 AM »

plumberroy:

It is those links to our past that are so important..the ones you can feel hold touch ..seeing in your minds eye your Dad, Grandfather, or maybe your Grandmother holding those items in their hands.

It can transform you take you back to a time in your families history. You then might be able to place a family story with the item. That .22 is a "FAMILY TREASURE" just for those reasons.

Pass it on to him and tell him the story behind that gun. Who originaly had it and how you ended up with it.

Most importantly tell him of your son and how you meant for him to have it and he did not live to take possession of it.

Even in your short post it is obvious to me that the gun represents one of the strong ties between you and your son. It is obvious to me that you feel that you are letting go one of the things that keeps him close to your mind and heart.

Thats why it is so hard for you to part with it. That is why it means so much to you. Tell him these things when you give it to him and he will see just like I do that it is a "REAL FAMILY TREASURE".

Believe it or not I am crying as I type this.

Best to you and your family.

Hodr · « **Reply #9 on:** October 03, 2009, 07:42:37 PM »

Thank you Dee,
My Winchester is a trapper in .357 mag. My kids were in High School before I thought I could afford to spend the money for that rifle. Dad's rifle was still a hunting virgin when he died. What I do remember is being about six or so when Dad went outside to try and stop three guys from beating a man out in the street. We had no law closer than the Highway Patrol where we lived in California at that time. One guy picked up a 2x4 and was trying to hit Dad from behind when Mom locked into the doorway and levered one each 30-30 up into the chamber. I still remember her there, Irish and redheaded in a white spotted green dress and that rifle held like a rock in a vise, my little brother holding her leg to stay upright. One look at the lady in the doorway, they threw the guy back into a 51 cevy and left as fast as they could. Dad had been a Ranger at Cisterno but would have lost this one without Mom and that rifle. My Mom wired portside .50 calibers onto Liberators during the war. They were survivors of the Depression and had a different outlook than most today. I am determined to find that rifle. As surely as anything my Father carried in WWII. it saved his life. They both lived into thier middle 70s celebrating over 50 years of marriage.

blindhari

Dee · « **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2009, 02:40:55 AM »

WOW! What a story. My ole 3030 has been seen from the business end by many a bad guy, and I trusted it, in the woods when the bad guys were also armed.
It would have been a decisive winner, for me, or you mom.

rockbilly · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2009, 04:52:57 AM »

It’s sad to think of how cherished things are disposed of once you are gone. I know from visiting garage sale, estate sales and auctions that things that mean a lot to someone may only represent money to their heirs. I recall an auction in Brownwood, TX where a prized collection of Winchesters were auction off for a fraction of what they were worth, and no consideration given to the individual that spent a lifetime collecting them and their desires that they remain in the family.

I have a couple of pistols that belonged to my Grandfather, they have been a pleasure to own and show to friends and family, but I am afraid when I am gone they too will end up in a sale of some type, gone forever from the family. One daughter-in-law has already stated my gun collection will pay for her trip to Australia when I am gone.

As I said, sad state of affairs, we spend our life times collecting and cherishing so someone can throw them away when we are gone. I had even thought of donating all my guns to Rescue the Animals since I have gained such good and faithful friends from them over the years, at least I know the proceeds will go to a good cause.

plumberroy · « **Reply #12 on:** October 04, 2009, 05:40:39 AM »

Rifle was handed to my first cousin last night along with a written letter of what I know about it . Her son the one who gets it, is away in school He is to be put on the phone to me when he gets home ,before it is handed to him. He is a target shooter and hunt's a little. He knows Family history and knows of the rifle. He doesn't know He is the next in line for it My schedule does not often allow me to get home., So I took it to his mother to make transfer
Roy

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #13 on:** October 04, 2009, 05:57:19 AM »

I was given such a gun a long time a go by one of my father's friends.
I still cherrish the little single shot that Burley Bob gave me so many years ago.
I have a couple of my Stepmother's fathers' guns and an working to replace missing parts to give to my 14 year old cousin.
Dee,
You still have time left. Your son may turn around and actually care about an object like your rifle.
He may also have a kid you will want to leave it to. Your grandkid may not have it as his olny gun but I am sure it will hold a place in his heart like my old Iver Johnson does for me. Not because of what it is but because of who gave it to me and thought enough of me to give it to me. And if time comes before the grandkid is rwady maybe one of your freinds will care take of your rifle till the kid is old enough to know what he has and how you liked, trusted and used the gun.

Mohawk · « **Reply #14 on:** October 04, 2009, 05:58:50 AM »

That reminds me of my grandfather's .44 S&W Hand-Ejector duty revolver he carried as a Dallas Cop many years ago. It has taken a life to protect a fellow detective and when I received it a copy of the "incident report" of that shooting, his badge, and parts of his dress uniform came in the same package along with commendations, reprimands

, and a really neat picture of him and another unknown Dallas officer after a cat fishing trip. The revolver will never do anything but sit in the safe along with the rest of the items it was passed to me with.

Dee · « **Reply #15 on:** October 04, 2009, 07:01:39 AM »

Speaking of Iver Johnsons, I have an Iver Johnsons 38 S&W, in really good condition that my great grandmother carried when Oklahoma was probably still a Territory.
Iver Johnson Arms & Cycle Works is stamped on the barrel rib, and it is a two post top lock. I remember my dad shooting in once or twice back in the fifties, and here a few months ago, I told an old friend that I would love to hear that old pistol bark just one more time.
A few weeks later he showed up with a bag of 38 S&W cartridges and handed them to me. My, my what memories came back the first time I eared that ole double action back and let it go on the first round. The pistol still shoots true, and I remember stories of hens that my grandmother could not catch, being reeled in by that old pistol, and folks at the door that were not welcome being convinced to move on with that old woman standing there in the door pistol in hand.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #16 on:** October 04, 2009, 09:19:47 AM »

My Father has his Grandfather's 38 Spl. He was a dentist and had to have a gun to protect the drugs. The office was in the house.
He also has his mother's revolver a S&W top break double action in 32 S&W. Very similar to your Iver Johnson. According to my grandmother her grandmother ran a boarding house and kept it in her apron she wore everyday. And slep with it under her pillow.
While the 38 S&W barks, the 32 pops. And is a neat little gun to shoot.
My Iver is a Champion in 20 ga, was the first shotgun I ever fired, and the first two shots with it were Phesant hens in NJ. I think I will be using it next week for quail on opening day.
I think Burly Bob would be proud how I have taken other kids hunting and shooting like he took me.

Hodr · « **Reply #17 on:** October 04, 2009, 04:52:48 PM »

Mom's gun was a pump up Benjamin in .22 cal. She was raised as Dad was on a Missouri farm. I learned early from both of them that cotton tail, pheasant, and valley quail were all good eating, but only if they were headshot. Mom could take a cottontail down at 30 yards with seven pumps on that gun. That one is in the gun safe. I got it back from a cousin's son in really bad condition, and it is going in for a complete rebuild. If everything comes apart and times get hard it is quiet, deadly accurate, always fires, and I have about 10,000 pellets in storage for my air guns. It won't shoot or hit like a centerfire but will do it's job within limitations.

blindhari

mechanic · « **Reply #18 on:** October 09, 2009, 05:26:48 PM »

In my safe I have a set of WWII medals and an officer's 38 from that era that I bought at an estate auction. His children were not interested. I couldn't bear it all to wind up in a flea market even though I didn't know him from Adam. The man had a silver star. I bought the whole enchilada, gun and all for $30.00. If his children ever want it back, they can have it for a million. If his grandchildren ever contact me, they can have it all for free.

Dee · « **Reply #19 on:** October 10, 2009, 08:42:45 AM »

Quote from: mechanic on October 09, 2009, 05:26:48 PM

In my safe I have a set of WWII medals and an officer's 38 from that era that I bought at an estate auction. His children were not interested. I couldn't bear it all to wind up in a flea market even though I didn't know him from Adam. The man had a silver star. I bought the whole enchilada, gun and all for $30.00. If his children ever want it back, they can have it for a million. If his grandchildren ever contact me, they can have it all for free.

Well said sir. I salute you.