I'd like a couple of opinions from some of the older guys. I just turned 71 in April. My son will turn 50 in June. I know he will get my 18 someday. I know he wants it. But whata you think about me just giving it to him now? I've not shot it but three times in so many years I cannot remember. If I shoot a 22 it's my beautiful little J frame 34 snubby. Throw out a couple and let me see what you think. Thank you

I can't imagine a better gift. I am just a bit older than your son and would give almost everything I have--but my own 11 year old son--if my dad was alive to give such a gift to me. Go give it to him TONIGHT if he is in town.

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Possum—The other white meat!

At 50 he's not going to turn into a juvenile delinquent junkie. It sounds like you'll get more enjoyment out of watching him use it than storing it in your safe. Also it would be one less thing for the siblings to squabble over when they settle your estate. On the other hand, if he's hard to find a Christmas present for you could wait ~ 8 months.

If you think that he will treasure it as you did, let it go, let it go...my step-father passed away unexpectedly at 69...no chance to leave a legacy behind, let me know his final wishes...but we did get his abandoned doggie. You never know when you will be fitted for pine pajamas...It's only a gun, for goodness sake (will duck at this point).

I agree with the others. Go ahead and give it to your son. That's a fine father-to-son gift.

(Plus it just feels good to give something of your own that you care about to someone that you know will cherish it.)

Give it to him now while you can enjoy the gift!!

I know I won't get any pleasure by making posthumous gifts: I won't be around to enjoy making the gift.

Besides, it'll still be in the family: I'll bet your son will let you shoot it whenever you want.

Give it to him while you can see the surprise and gratitude on his face when you do. You can explain to him the history of when you acquired it and what it means to you and why you want him to have it.

You're not giving it away but insuring it stays in the family.

I would definitely give it to him now. IMO, the fact that you are hardly using it makes it a no-brainer.

My son has given me a few guns, really nice ones. Unfortunately, he's not much into guns, so at 71, I'm kind of looking around to see where mine should go, and there are a few too many and the possible recipients too widespread to make it easy to handle after I actually croak.

I envy you for what I see as the simplicity of your decision.

I agree, give it now. Reminds me I need to pass my Dad's Colt Woodsman on to my son real soon. He already has Dad's 28-2 and Winchester 21. Dad passed away in 2007, I'm 71 and my boy is 44.

I would give it to him now, I also just turned 71, I already gave my son and grand kids some guns and I gave a few away to some local young guy's, I'm down to 2 hand guns, 2 shot guns and 1 rifle, but I am thinking of buying a High Power.

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Don

Don't wait. You deserve to enjoy giving the gift to you son. You'll be able to see him enjoy the 18 and he will be able to thank you in person.

Give it to him and tell him to shoot the heck out of it. Those guns are meant to be fired and enjoyed. I'm 49 and my Dad is 90. We shoot together quite a bit. I'm toying with gifting him a couple of mine, including my Model 18. I'm thinking he'll out live me and besides, I'm having too much fun trying to learn to shoot a Ruger Bearcat right now. With my big hands that little sucker is a challenge!

Give it to him now, what a special gift between father and son. It will be cherished.

Give it to him.
The best gift my father ever gave me (beside just being my Dad) was his Walther P38 that he brought home from the war. I was about 45 years old at the time. My wife couldn't believe how excited I was. She said "I guess nothing says Christmas like Nazi paraphernalia."
Ken

Son was with me when I bought the gun at Fort Worth Texas gun show. Don't remember the year maybe 1975.
He gave me a 5906 that he got when he was with the UTA Police Dept in Arl. I had rubber grips and have give the original grips to a late friend. So now it's back to the correct stocks. Son has always made better decisions in life than I. Glad he got both of his grandfathers genes. I'll pass it on to him soon. I paid $125 for the 18

I will be leaving my small collection to my son...who is now 28, but when he was a little nipper I took him to the county fair, where they had a .22 shooting range. He had never held a rifle before, and he took out every target they had. It was no big thing for him...he was a video gamer. Duck Hunt, whatever. His remark at the time was..."that was pretty easy." He hasn't shown any interest in guns since then, but I figure he will take care of them...his car, on the other hand...too bad Jiffy Lube doesn't do gun maintenance...gotta remind him to check the bloody oil once in a while...

Give it to him now, not after you pass, so you can enjoy it. My great uncle did that with me and a Savage/Fox old school side by side 12 gauge that was his duck gun.

I haven't shot it in years since I am mainly a handgunner, and no longer duck or pheasant hunt, I gave it to a fine young man who is a good trap shooter on his 18th birthday. The joy in his face as he set aside his old Montgomery Wards brand pump gun and held the double was priceless.

Gift it and enjoy....

I gave my son a 6" Model 19 a few months ago when he was here.

He is a career Marine due to retire in a year, and unfamiliar with revolvers.. I figgered I'd better get his education started now in case he's a slow learner.
He and his son already each have a Nylon Remington .22 Rifle and 300 H&H Magnum rifle. Grandson also has his Great Grand Dad's Ruger Bearcat.

I also have assorted guns for DIL and grand daughters for when my son retires and they graduate from college and get out of CA for good.

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Eccentric old coot

Pop gave me his old 30-06 when I took up hunting.Ill never sell that one.

I'm 63, almost 64, and my kids are 42, 37 and 35. The middle one is a deputy sheriff and very into guns, the other two not quite so much but they still enjoy 'em. I also have 4 young grandchildren, two boys and two girls. I have a lot of guns with no particular sentimental value, but there are others that various people have given to me or that came from my grandad that mean a lot. I've started passing some of those along already, and I've found that I get a great deal of pleasure watching my kids use them - way more than hiding them in the back of the safe. I've also passed on a couple that my kids will hold for their kids until they're a little older. It's a very satisfying thing to do. I might have another 25 years or another 25 minutes, but I'll not regret passing those heirlooms along. Do it. You won't be sorry.

Give it to him now. You'll get to see that big smile and hug. Won't see that when your gone.

Another vote for giving it to him now.
As you said, you don't shoot it much and
he'll enjoy it much more with you still around.

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

You'll find it's just as much fun to give them away as it is to acquire them. I really don't know how many I have given my kids, but it always makes me feel good. I don't miss the guns at all.

Hey Flint Hills Steve, you just reminded me, I bought my wife a bearcat 20 some years ago. we need to take it out of the box and shoot it.

Are you barely in the hills or out close to the middle of the state? Used to bird hunt some there 20 years a go.

My uncle John gave me his most prized gun when he was alive, his High Standard 22. He was happy it went to family who appreciated him and to someone who would take care of it. My son is in love with the pistol. I need to move it along to my son. Dang how does 20 years zip by so fast?

Uncles son was not a gun person nor hunter. My Uncle and his brothers were hunters and shooters. His son was city raised and liked bars, beer and the night life more than hunting with Dad. His only GS collected a few drug felonies and was not close to his grandpa. When Uncle John was in town Dad and I hunted and fished with him. He liked it and treated me like a son. He was a good shot, pop squirrels or frogs in the head every time. I'd ask him about growing up in the depression or his WW 2 service. He was in the US Army, a trucking company. He was the company commanders jeep driver.

South Pacific. Uncle said we got close to this island and they shoved all of our vehicles over the side of the ship, told us there were not any roads, no need for them. We just stood there in shock, our vehicles were dumped into the sea. They gave us long guns and it dawned on us that we were now infantry.

We hit the beach and went straight up some mountain. This isn't what we were trained for but we did our part. When He gave me the HS I said it's been a while since you've used it I help you clean it and your others up, I offended him, He said I still remember how to clean guns the US Army way and this one is perfectly clean thank you. And it was.

If I would have received it after he passed that afternoon, more of his war story and more bonding would never have happened. He also told me some family stories of when he grew up in the depression.

I miss him.

I can't think of any reason why you should wait. Not one. Not at all. I can't even make up a reason.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

If you want him to have it, give it to him now. I have no heirs, so whatever is left will be sold off to pay medical bills. I am trying to get things where they belong before that becomes reality. Avoid the hassle and the possibility that it gets lost in the shuffle when you pass.

And make that gift in writing, perhaps just a letter to him, lest someone else in the family make unfounded claims/accusations when that day comes. Yes, I've seen that a lot.

I practice law in Emporia. Live in the southwest part of Lyon County. I picked up my Bearcat about a month ago. Its an old model. Lots of fun and great to carry when you don't need to carry much.

I gave my ("favorite?" "Closest?") niece and her husband a Model 18 and a Model 15 as wedding presents.

Give it away? Hmmm. I'd at least try to get some yard work, or a fishing trip, or something out of it... ...:-)

Did everyone run for cover, when they pulled them out.

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Don

Gave them BEFORE the wedding.

In my family, no one would think anything of it, if they opened them at the reception.

Why would you even ask such a question?

Most weddings in Arkansas involve the use of a shotgun before the wedding as well, but not as a gift.

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Possum—The other white meat!

As my father advanced in age he decided to pass on most of his collection to my 2 brothers and myself. He made a list of everything he was going to give away and gave a copy to each of us. He told us to decide between ourselves who wanted what and let him know. Once we decided he invited the three of us over and gave each of us what we had noted on the list. I think it gave him great satisfaction to know his prized possessions were going to to people who would appreciate them as much as he did.

I say start giving it away now. Hopefully you will have an opportunity to see your children enjoy your collection as much as you did.

Wide open spaces there.

My wife's Bro practices law in Labette county. We sold the retirement farm there and bought 80 acres south of Lawrence. Back in the stone ages i played Emporia State in football. They had pretty good teams in the 60's. We didn't.

Try to stop people from bringing guns to a 'feud' wedding. Etiquette demands what you wait until the words, "Man and Wife" before firing the first shot. Oh, and try not to hit the bride and bridegroom until after the honeymoon.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

My Dad gave me his M18 on my 21st birthday.

I've always had the best Dad in the world.

Give it to him now.
I'm 68 and have already decided who will receive which guns when I croak. Two months ago one of my sons passed away suddenly at 29. He was to get one of my S&W 65's.
I think I will give the remaining three .357 magnums to my other two sons and to my daughter soon. The rest of the firearms can wait.

I've already started giving a few away. My brother in law was tickled pink when I gave him a first year HB 10-6. His son was trying to talk him into some Rubbermaid **** and I intervened. My grandson showed he can't be responsible with a BB gun and I took it away from him. My oldest daughter is blond. Enough said. My youngest daughter is an Army Vet and already has a few. I'll keep a few shooters and the rest head to auction this year. I won't burden the wife with trying to get rid of them and shes good with that.

DW

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"NUTS"

Sounds like a great present for his 50th birthday. Plus you won't need to buy him anything (except maybe a box of .22's).

Today was the day. Son came over to cut some metal for his 32 Ford. I had the 18 laying out on the counter top. He casually picked it up looked to be sure it was safe. Opened it up and says is this OUR! Old one are another one. I told him it's the old one and now it's his. He was quite happy with it. He knew the year we bought it and what house we lived in. Also knew the gun show. It was a good day. When he was getting settled in his F150 he laid it in the safe.

Sure felt good, didn't it? Sounds like you raised your son very well.

Glad you chose to do it now. My father was a gun nut but had no interest in handguns. He was a rifle fan.
He had 6 boys and we are all to one degree or another gun nuts. We had our choices with oldest getting first pick then down the line, then he reversed direction until the guns were distributed.
The gift for me was the look of satisfaction and pride on his face as he passed on those things that mattered so much to him.

Hey 4011 great thread and a happy ending

I agree with the general sentiment of this thread...give it to him now.

I have four children, three boys and a girl. When all of them were old enough to leave the nest, they got to choose one of dad's handguns to take with them.

In addition, my youngest son, who is 38 years old now, always loved my Ruger M77 .30-06...my favorite deer rifle. I had told him that when I died, the gun was his.

When he moved 800 miles away, 17 years ago, he had an opportunity to hunt elk. He called one night asking if he could borrow the '06 for the elk hunt. The thought came to me, "Why should he have to wait until I'm dead to own that rifle? Heck, I might live until I'm 96. I might as well let him have it now so he can enjoy it."

I told him, "Borrow it? Hey, just keep it. It's yours." And I've never regretted that decision.

Since then, I've given my oldest son my SKB 20 gauge side-by-side that I used for hunting pheasants. When he was old enough to go on his first pheasant hunting trip with me, I was packing that shotgun, and he had always admired it. It's his now.

I gave my second-oldest son my Browning BLR in .300 Win. Mag. The length of pull on that rifle always seemed a little too long for me. He's 6'5" and the gun fits him like a glove.

I gave my daughter a nice little 12-gauge side-by-side that she had always wanted for home defense, shooting clay birds, and pheasant hunting. Might as well let her enjoy it now. Right?

I figure, why wait until I'm dead and gone? They'll all get the rest of my firearms when I cash in my chips anyway. Why not give them those "special" guns that they've always loved and with which they associate with their dear old dad while they can enjoy them now?

Anyway, that's just my view from the saddle. Oh...something else. I found out that when my kids take out those guns that I've already given them, they lovingly tell their kids, "This was Grandpa's gun." Personally, I don't think you can beat that kind of legacy.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

You know he wants it, so I'd imagine he would treasure it no matter how he received it. If you are ready to part with it, I really can't think of a much finer thing than gifting it to a son you know will appreciate it. I would think it would mean all the more to you both his receiving it before they lay you down.

Do it!

Last year I gave my oldest daughter a 17-3 8 3/8” that had been returned to the factory for a Nickel finish. She had shot it several times and said to me “Dad, this is the one I want”, so I decided to go ahead and pass it to her.

I attended her younger son’s high school graduation two weeks ago, and a couple of days later, as we were visiting over coffee, the question came up as to what my grandson might want to do that day. He promptly replied “go to the range”.

What pleasure to be at the range with my daughter and grandson, shooting the 17-3, a 28, Shield, and Springfield EMP.

I feel it would mean a lot to receive it from your hands, rather than through an executor.
He might even let you borrow it from time to time.

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Regards,
Bruce