Friends are a wonderful thing.

I am looking for the sight screwdriver to go with my 4 screw pre 29. On a whim, I called a friend who is one of those guys that always seems to have what I want/need "sitting around in a box of old junk." For example, last year I restored my grandpa's old Mossberg .22 rifle, and he had the Lyman 66 peep sight that fitted that particular 60+ year old rifle. One of those kind of guys.

Anyhow, I call him and ask if by chance he has any of these old S&W screwdrivers. He says no, sorry. But then today he shows up at the range with one. He said my description of the knurled handle jogged his memory about seeing one in his collection of stuff. He said his was actually pre war, but I was welcome to it. After consulting SCSW, it appears to be the pre war 7 knurled band steel handled driver:



The best thing is, he just gave it to me! I told him it was worth serious $$ but he said it was just sitting in a box doing him no good, so I might as well have it. I realize it is not the "correct " screwdriver, but how could I refuse such a generous gift?

What a guy! He did the same thing with the Mossberg sight. This is twice he blessed me, so I think i may need to give him a gift card or a resturant gift certificate in the near future.

It's good to have friends like that, but I doubt he expects anything in return. Maybe you could follow his example and do a good turn for somebody else down the line. That way at least three people benefit rather than two, and there may be further multiplier effects as a wave of generosity propagates into the future.

Very nice adjustment tool, by the way.

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David Wilson

I like the gift in return idea, I had a friend send me a Maple stock to fit a rifle I had, it was a repaired stock that he'd gotten a replacement for. He wouldn't take a cent for it and refused to even consider it. He'd mentioned at one time a taste for Wild Turkey (the liquid kind ) so I sent him a fifth of Wild Turkey Rare Breed, shipped to his home. He couldn't refuse that, just an idea.

Agree with David......I am now the old guy with the box(es) of "stuff." Through the years I was mentored by older fellows who gave me tons of things. I feel a responsibility to pass along whatever I can to others be it experience or equipment.

Some of the happiest moments in my life have occurred when a friend appeared with something and said, "here, I think you can use this."

Remember the movie called Pay it Forward--what goes around comes around--we are our brothers keeper--bless your friend with something you think he would really appreciate--gift certificates are a very informal way of just paying him back. A returned gift will make him feel about you just the way you feel about him.

Steve

A good friend did the same for me...when my pre 27 3 1/2" came in a few months back. Gifted me the proper sight tool for my 1954 gun.

Now it's YOUR TURN to repay the favor.

FN in MT

Patrick,
Friends are an invaluable commodity. As recompense you may want to consider either (A) volunteer to carry all of his shooting gear for him for the next year or (B) buy him one hell of a Christmas present. By the looks of the condition of the sight adjustment tool he just gave you a present worth between $800 - $1200!

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Doug

Or (C) Sell it for its current market value, buy the one you need - then spend the balance on a really nice gift for your benevolent friend.

Mark

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S&W Forum Member #721

very nice indeed...if he has a screwdriver and gold box for a pre-27 from 1955...i would be happy !

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO