A “Guns of Our Fathers” thread?

[USMCbrat]

I’ll start…..

My user name suggests that my father was a Marine – he was for 8 years and seved in the 1st Marine Div in Korea. But after I was born he moved to the Air Force for the next 20 years. For 16 of those years, he was in the USAF OSI and this was his duty piece:

A Model 36-1 purchased from a dealer outside of Langley Air Force base, Hampton VA, in 1973.

Although my Dad favored a Colt 1911, he wanted something smaller to carry under his suit jacket. I remember firing my first hollow points through this gun when I was18 years old.

[USMCbrat]

I’ll start…..

My user name suggests that my father was a Marine – he was for 8 years and seved in the 1st Marine Div in Korea. But after I was born he moved to the Air Force for the next 20 years. For 16 of those years, he was in the USAF OSI and this was his duty piece:

A Model 36-1 purchased from a dealer outside of Langley Air Force base, Hampton VA, in 1973.

Although my Dad favored a Colt 1911, he wanted something smaller to carry under his suit jacket. I remember firing my first hollow points through this gun when I was18 years old.

[Art Doc]

My dad died when I was 18 months old leaving bills and no insurance. Mom sold his guns so we could eat.

I have a photo of him shooting a Colt SAA by the side of a rural road taken in 1951 so it must have been a 1st gen Colt. Mom recalls he had an "Army 45" he brought back from WW II and I assume it was a military 1911. He had some hunting rifles and shotguns but I have no idea what they were. All were sold to a family friend (and I only hope he didn't rip off my mother in the deal).

[S&W-Keeper]

I bought my Dad a model 19 back in the early 70's. He was always to proud of it to shoot it.I got it back when he passed away a few years back.It still loooks like new.

[ACP230]

My father owns two guns a Model 12 Winchester 12 gauge and a sporterized 8mm Mauser.

I'm keeping both for the time being but my brother is supposed to get them after Dad dies.

I borrowed the Mauser and took it bear hunting when I was in high school. Saw no bears.
I have used the Model 12 on grouse hunts and borrowed it for turkey hunting a few years ago. It makes a great turkey gun because the full choke stacks up sixes like nobody's business. I never had a chance to shoot a turkey with it, however.

Dad was never interested in handguns to my dismay.

[fyimo]

My father gave me his guns when he reached a physical condition in life that stopped him from hunting and shooting. He gave me his Remmington 1100 skeet 12 gauge shotgun, Pre 64 Model 70 Winchester 270, Savage Model 99 308, and his S&W 10-5 in 6 Inch barrel. Of those I still have the Model 70 and S&W 10-5 as the other two my son's have.
Here's the Model 10-5

[feralmerril]

They wouldnt let dad keep this 1917 under his mattress at the rest home. He died a couple months short of 90 in 2003. I also have some other guns of his.

[Calaveras Slim]

When my Dad passed in 1998, I got all his guns. I sold most of them only because there were bills. I kept several and amoung them is a M36 no dash, he carried on the job. I also kept his M15, no dash. The 36 has never been fired. There were others but these 2 are the ones that mean the most to me

[Sunkist]

My Dad was a LEO for nearly 40 yrs. He either carried a Chief's Special or K-frame .38 Special, depending if he was in a suit or uniform. He wouldn't touch any of my autos on a bet. I like Sigs but it's the difference between hitting all over a paper plate at 15 yds. or putting them on top of each other with a revolver in the center of the plate.

I appreciate your photo, USMCBrat, I have the same items for my Dad except his duty revolvers. They were departmental guns and he never replaced them when he retired. He shot mine. Sorry to say I don't have those .38's anymore. I'll have to consider getting one just for the memories. Thanks for the thread.

I remember one day at the range, he was shooting my K38 Masterpiece and I was shooting my P229 .40. I handed him one of my targets for his approval and he laid it across his chest and smiled, "That'll do the job."

[JoeS]

My dad was not much interested in firearms although he did a little hunting. The one i have of his is a sporterized 30/40 Krag. He almost never shot it unless it was a hunting shot although he did let me shoot it a few times when we were out deer hunting.
My favorite time I recall with that rifle was when we were looking for deer (unsuccessful) but there happened to be salmon running upstream also. Dad unlimbered the Krag and shot a salmon with it. He was something of a rascal and wasn't above bending a law or two here and there although in his dealings with people his honesty was above question.
He's been gone 27 years and I've missed him every single day.

[Meeteetse]

Dad was a rifleman, I suppose because of WWII and the fact that he grew up as a hunter. He owned a Mdl. 12 Winchester 12 ga., a Winchester Mdl. 94 30/30 and a Mossberg .22 semi-auto. They were all purchased after he go home from the war. He never actually owned a handgun. I now have these guns. My mother owns a handgun, a Colt SAA .22/.22mag which she says is mine when she decides to get rid of it. All of the guns are from the 1940's/50's and are priceless to me.

Most of the people I know who grew up in small rural towns and on ranches in the Rocky Mountain states were never big handgun people. A few had a SA of some type around but most are amazed at the interest there is in handguns today. I suppose rural America was more concerned with distance, so they are rifle people.

My grandparents never owned a handgun, just Winchester rifles (Mdl. 70's and 94's) and Shotguns. It was rare to even see a Remington shotgun until the 1960's. My rancher uncle currently ownes one handgun. A Ruger Blackhawk .357. I am sure I was the first to buy a S&W, back in 1967. A Mdl. 18 .22, I still have.

[JayCeeNC]

My dad was a police officer from 1940-1975.
This is his last issued pistol, the one he got when he retired. Model 66 (no dash) serial# 2K55868:



He carried this Pre-Model 36 Chief's Special off duty and sometimes as a backup gun. Serial# 33618, shipped June, 1953:



This is an old renickled Triple Lock, I have no idea where he got it. Searching for info on this gun is what first led me to this Forum:

[GF]

JayCeeNC .. man, if those revolvers could talk.

[USMCbrat]

For me, when I hold my Dad's guns in my hand....it is almost like holding his hand ....almost

[HenrySCTN]

My dad retired from the Policeforce in 1984 with nearly thirty years service. He gave me the last revolver (S&W model 64) he carried as a Christmas gift in 1991. I shot it a few times at first and even used it to qualify when I got my carry permit.

It hasn't been shot in over ten years and he has been gone ten years this coming September. Every now and then I'll get it out of the safe and think back to when I was little and remember watching him get ready for his shift. Man I wish I could turn back the clock for just a few minutes...I have so many questions to ask.

[USMCbrat]

There is a song by Elton John called “My Fathers Gun” …..

“From this day one I own my father’s gun……”

I miss my Dad but I have his guns.

[epj]

My father left me his father's Colt Lightning. A 2" nickel model with no ejector. When it came to me, it had 4 unfired .38 LC rounds (black powder, I'm sure) and two empty cases. The two rounds had been expended in a gunfight in Salt Lake City, sometime in the very late 1800's. Some sort of squabble over a salted gold mine. Unfortunately, the old gun wasn't in the best of shape when I got it, and was further damaged a few years ago when I moved. It was sort of "lost" for a couple of years and finally located in a box in the basement. Apparently my basement isn't as dry as I thought it was and the result was some very ugly surface rust on one side. I've got to get it out and see if I can do anything to clean it up a bit, but I'm afraid it's pretty well beyond salvaging.

[rimfired]

Dad died in 83. He left me his 1922 Win. Mod 12,
his grandfathers 1886 Ithaca 10 ga double, a Savage 23AA, Win. 12C NRA pump, DCM Remington 03-A3, DCM Remington Rand 1911 A1, and these two S&W's.

1950 Combat Masterpiece:




1962 17-2



I was fortunate to have him teach me to shoot everything with him. Thanks Dad!

[feralmerril]

epj: Here is a lighting I had.

[Glock 'em down]

Originally posted by JayCeeNC:
My dad was a police officer from 1940-1975.
This is his last issued pistol, the one he got when he retired. Model 66 (no dash) serial# 2K55868:



He carried this Pre-Model 36 Chief's Special off duty and sometimes as a backup gun. Serial# 33618, shipped June, 1953:

I love these two pics of the "tools of the trade." I used to carry a billy club and brass knucks like the ones in the top pic. I used to have the exact same type of "Jordan" holster as well. Whoops! Wait a minute - that's a Tom Threepersons! My mistake.

Oh how I miss those days of law enforcement.

[epj]

Originally posted by feralmerril:
epj: Here is a lighting I had.

I guess that's the same as the Lightning I have. The barrel might be a tad shorter. Like yours, mine lacks the ejector and housing. Mine also has the original hard rubber grips with "rampant Colt" at the top. I'd post a picture, but it pains me somewhat to look at it in its present condition.

[Swissman]

Swissdad gave me his Service-Pistol SIG 210 9 mm Luger as a birthday gift a view years ago. I could'nt hold back the tears back then. It was such a bitter-sweet scene. He gave me his gun and I was so proud, but it was also the fact that Swissdad is now old and is in the third part of his lifetime. He's is in good shape, still drives his car safely, makes his sausages, have a beer with friends in a restaurant and got a clear, swiss-stubborn, mind. He's always very interested and excited, when I come home with another competition-medal, that I won with his SIG. But I can see the melancholy, or almost sadness in his eyes, because his bones and eyes doesn't allow some more shooting-days together with Swissson. He avoids to come with me to the range or a competition because it'll hurts him to much that he won't be a competitor.

He learned me to shoot the SIG when i was 8 or 9. I never forget the first shot with this big dark piece of steel and still feel his hands around my hips and see his happy face, when he lift me up, against the shooting-range-roof, after the target cames all the 50 meters back with a nice 9mm hole in the 9 ring, a bit low.




From time to time I took his K31 7.5 mm Schmidt-Rubin with a sport-peep-sight to the range. This rifle shoots still better than I ever will ......................and it kicks like a mule!!! Maybe I should name his rifle "Swissdad"

Swissman

[Culina]

My pops is still hanging on to his guns, I guess thats a good thing

[wundudnee]

My Dad left me my Grandads 1896 first model .32 S&W hand ejector.

[USMCbrat]

Originally posted by wundudnee:
My Dad left me my Grandads 1896 first model .32 S&W hand ejector.

Now there is a piece of history!

[S&W Fan]

I've shown this before but this is the no dash 686 my dad bought when they first came out. He had an amazing action job and bead blast done to it. He passed in '92, I added the stags courtesy of Patrick Grashorn. Both my sons learned to shoot handguns on this revolver.

I also have the original box, all papers (even his original receipt), grips, tools.

[sw44spl]

hey swissman the K 31 schmidt rubin is a work of art I have one from 1953 with the soldats card under the buttplate.I also had one from 1938 with the soldats card also but i sold it.my 1953 is just a wonderful gun to fire.

My Dad had a Winchester pre 64 Model 94 in the Family standard caliber of .30-30. It was that gun that taught me two things. 1. How to shoot a rifle that wasn't really comfortable because it wasn't sized very well for me. 2. That keeping a firearm in a rifle case under the bed wasn't a very good idea because they can get rusty there. When my Uncle passed away I got an old .410 SxS that had belonged to my Grandfather(Dads' Dad) that says "Hercules" on it and since my Grandfather passed away in 1935 this one dates from some time before that. It was the first gun I ever fixed using the training I had gotten in the Army.

When my Moms' Dad passed('65) I was allowed to purchase his pre-64 Winchester that was in .32 Winchester Special, a Winchester 1200 with a 30" Full choke barrel - this had an 18" Riot barrel added and a pistol grip and road in more than one squad car with me and later was a "house gun" - and last was a J.C.Higgins Model 20 in 12ga. that my Granddad had repaired many times. The Model 20 was sold many years ago at a garage sale while I was in Vietnam - I don't miss it a bit.The .32 was remodeled into a practical shooter and just a few Years ago it was passed on to a 2nd Cousin who used it for his first Deer Hunt in MN that year and was successful. He's used it a couple more times and proved that it will do the job of Deer Very well. The 1200 went on the market and did a very nice job of paying for most of a Marlin rifle in .45-70. The only direct 'family' I have left is a member of the Unarmed Services and he won't get any of my guns when the time comes. He's too much like is Mother!!!

[m18-1954]

My Dad's still going strong, but I inherited my grandad's guns. Pre-64 winchester in 300 mag, 2 remingtons in 30-06, a 1952 model 94 winchester, a remington 1148 in 28 guage, a browning auto 5 3" mag & best of all, a model 48 6" 4 screw made in 1960. Gramps started me on guns when I was 4 years old, shooting a kodiak semi rifle in 22 mag, shot the model 48 when I was 6. Everytime I get these guns out, so many fond memories of him return. Thanks Grandpa Commodore.

[kwbikr]

My father was in the Pacific as a Marine 1942-44...among some others he gave me this one long before he passed...I inherited a pretty .38 M&P 1905 3rd change too but this is my favorite...US&S original finish with the holster he was issued...I have a 6-digit SA Garand and a pretty good IBM M1 carbine, my son and I have taken them all to the range and always catch it from someone about shooting them. It's a real joy to handle, shoot and care for these great arms...

[Odinkar]

My dad had a Model 28 that he carried as a sheriff deputy in the mid 70s. It had a 4" barrell and was hard chromed. I carried it for a while in the late 80s when I worked security. Two years ago the gun was damaged in a fire and the people cleaning up either threw it out or just took it. A pistol just like it is at the top of my must buy list.

[USMCbrat]

Here is another one....a 19-4 in 98% condition. I think Dad fired it once after he brought it home. He gave me this 1 year before he passed. I need to do a better job with the pix soon.

[bronco45]

Love this tribute to our forebears. As an old AF guy really enjoyed the AF photos.

[CH47gunner]

My X father-in-law gave this Colt to my youngest son (his first grandson) just before he passed, in 2000, Jeff was 17 at the time.
In 2002, Jeff was killed by a drunk driver. I kept the Colt and will pass it down to my eldest grandson.

Bruce

[Vulcan Bob]

My Dad who was a Army Air Corps veteran of WW II only owned two guns that I am aware of. A sporterized 30-40 Krag that He gave me when I was about 16 or so and a Colt Commando he used to keep under a cushion in the liveing room couch. I used to pull it out twice a year and clean it, I dont think he ever fired it. We lost Dad six years ago and I enherited his Colt. Funny, neither of these firearms hold any great value but they are my most treasured items I own.

[walnutred]

Dad only had two firearms when I knew him. A Winchester 67 given to him by to my Moms Grandfather and a Winchester 97 that had belonged to his Dad. Ironically he told me once that when he first moved to Ohio he had a bolt action 20 gauge shotgun. This was in the early 50's and pheasant were very common. He had written his Dad that he was having a hard time hitting them with the 20 gauge and his Dad said next time he was in Arkansas he'd swap shotguns.

Right after Desert Storm I was traveling through Arkansas and decided to look up one of my cousins. My cousin mentioned he had an old shotgun I could have. It had belonged to one of our uncles that had died and always puzzled him. My Dads side of the family were fanatic upland bird hunters and he never understood why our uncle had a bolt action 20 gauge in his closet when he died.

The thing looked unfired when he gave it too me. Obviously I cannot prove it was Dads but I suspect it was. So my older brother has the 97 and I have the other two.

[Pilgrim]

My 84 yo Dad is a D Day vet who went thru Hell in France, being wounded 4 times before the last one put him out of action and sent him home.

He has never shot a gun since, and says he has no desire to, and I won't try to change his mind.

He has a like new P38 that he 'liberated' in France and keeps it loaded at home, "just in case", but he says he will not shoot anything 'unless I have to'.

Guns are not fun to him.

Some day soon, too soon, I'll own the P38. I"m in no hurry.

[ridewv]

It's kinda weird that my father bought this little Colt 25 probably somewhere in the early '70s. To my knowledge it's the only handgun he ever owned.




Just a few years later his father, my grandfather, passed and going through his things we were surprised to find that he had purchased his own Colt 25 in 1921.
So now they are both mine, and someday will both belong to my son.

[kwill1911]

Originally posted by USMCbrat:
I’ll start....

My user name suggests that my father was a Marine – he was for 8 years and seved in the 1st Marine Div in Korea. But after I was born he moved to the Air Force for the next 20 years. For 16 of those years, he was in the USAF OSI and this was his duty piece:

A Model 36-1 purchased from a dealer outside of Langley Air Force base, Hampton VA, in 1973.

Although my Dad favored a Colt 1911, he wanted something smaller to carry under his suit jacket. I remember firing my first hollow points through this gun when I was18 years old.

Mark,
I'm very interested in knowing more about your Mod 36-1 but I'm confused about whether it was actual USAF OSI issue or not. I know this exact model was used by the OSI for some time.
Thanks,
Kevin Williams

[1blindref]

My Dad passed away suddenly two years ago at 63 years old on Thanksgiving. He was the one that got me into shooting right after he and my Mom divorced back in 1981 (my Mom hated guns).
He had some pretty amazing stuff over the years including an original Thompson. He remarried and ended up selling most of his stuff over the years. He would never tell me when he was selling something because he wouldn't feel right taking money from me if I wanted to buy a gun he was selling.

This was my 18th birthday present from my Dad back in 1981 wearing a set Patrick Grashorns.



These were the guns that he left to me when he passed.
66-2


38 Bodyguard


Beretta 8000 Cougar


Beretta 85 Cheetah - his daily carry.


This was my Father-in-laws duty gun when he served as a Philadelphia Police Officer which he gave me for Christmas three years ago.

Colt Official Police made in 1949/1950

[JoeHatley]

I only met my father a handfull of times in my life. He's passed. About 20 years ago we went shooting at a local sand pit, and he let me shoot his original model Trooper. The handgun was purchased and carried by his uncle, a LEO in LA. It had a 4" barrell, with a pretty serious bulge, but I managed to pull off some very lucky arial shots with it. On demand!!

Long story short, at the end of the day, he gave me the gun. I live about an hour away from Tom Volquartsen and had him replace the buldged barrel with a heavy 5" PPC style. This was back in the day when he was doing general gunsmithing and was doing business as Tom's Bluing Shop.



It doesn't ballance quite as well as it did, but it sure is a shooter.

Joe

[USMCbrat]

Originally posted by kwill1911:
Mark,
I'm very interested in knowing more about your Mod 36-1 but I'm confused about whether it was actual USAF OSI issue or not. I know this exact model was used by the OSI for some time.
Thanks,
Kevin Williams

Hi Kevin,
This is not an issue OSI gun. He bought it becuase he want one of his own, to carry one the job, and he cound not keep the "offical issue" OSI model. I believe (correct me if I am wrong) that offical issue models had a USAF OSI roll mark. I remenber seeing that on when of his issue guns when we were stationed in the UK from 1969 to 1973.

[USMCbrat]

ridewv,
I forgot! I have one of these too from my Dad. until he passed I never knew he had it. My Mom said it has been passed down to him by one of his Aunts. Here is a pix with two "big brothers". It appears to never have been shot.

[Kenneth Claverie]

Here is a pic of the pistol, Case knife and holster my father carried on Okinawa. He traded his commanding officer a Nambu for it when his CO shipped out. The pistol was carried on Attu, the Okinawa campaign and into the Korean occupation. It has sat in his bedside stand until his death in Sept. of last year. It is the last firearm I would ever part with. Ken

[kwill1911]

Originally posted by USMCbrat:

Hi Kevin,
This is not an issue OSI gun. He bought it becuase he want one of his own, to carry one the job, and he cound not keep the "offical issue" OSI model. I believe (correct me if I am wrong) that offical issue models had a USAF OSI roll mark. I remenber seeing that on when of his issue guns when we were stationed in the UK from 1969 to 1973.

Mark,

Thank you. I don't know if the OSI guns were marked or not. Some sources say yes, others no. I wish someone had a documented example they could post.

Regards,
Kevin Williams

[USMCbrat]

I believe I saw a pic on this forum at one time or the USAF OSI roll marks at one time.

[ridewv]

Originally posted by USMCbrat:
ridewv,
I forgot! I have one of these too from my Dad. until he passed I never knew he had it. My Mom said it has been passed down to him by one of his Aunts. Here is a pix with two "big brothers". It appears to never have been shot.

Colt must have made a million of them! Your picture with the 1911's there really illustrates how small the little Colt's are.

[Duke426]

Originally posted by Kenneth Claverie:
Here is a pic of the pistol, Case knife and holster my father carried on Okinawa. He traded his commanding officer a Nambu for it when his CO shipped out. The pistol was carried on Attu, the Okinawa campaign and into the Korean occupation. It has sat in his bedside stand until his death in Sept. of last year. It is the last firearm I would ever part with. Ken

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing this picture and the story behind it.

[jumbeaux]

USMCbrat...I wear my grandfather's 32* Scottish Rite Ring that is a perfect match to your dad's. Rimfire I also noticed the Masonic watch fob and Masonic marked case. I have my other grandfather's Illinos Bun Special Railroad retirement pocket watch with the Shrine Emblem on the back case. Always treasure those items as well. My dad has been gone for 13 years this month. I inherited his Remington 725 .280 rifle. Mt 25 year old son will hunt deeer with it this year. I do miss all three of these men....I also called them "Brother"....

jumbeaux