Both of my grandfathers passed away 3 months apart when I was 11 years old. When everything got sorted, my older brother got one grandpa's semi-auto Marlin 22 and the other grandpa's 16 gauge SxS shotgun with Tenite (sp?) synthetic stock. I was 7 years younger so no gun for me. I got grandpa's vintage Mitchell 300 reel and a pocket knife.

Before my brother moved out, I got to use Grandpa's old Stevens shotgun (may have been branded J.C. Higgins) on my first rabbit hunt. Two bunnies in the bag made for a sucessful hunt and meal...after initially whiffing on my first rabbit with two shots. Yes, the elder hunters there enjoyed that moment of futility, but smiled even bigger when I picked off my first runnng rabbit with grandpa's double.

Unfortunately, due to my brother's acrimonious divorce, that shotgun and my other grandpa's .22 were gone. Recently, I got the itch to find "replacements" for my grandpas' guns. Well, after much searching, I found a Montgomery Ward branded Stevens 16 gauge double with the synthetic stock. If I ever find a J.C. Higgins, I will probably buy it too, but this one is identical, and I didn't want to take the chance of missing out on it.

Now on to my other grandpa's .22. It was semi-auto, but my brother can't remember the model number. I would assume it's a model 60, but I'm not sure if Marlin had a .22 tube-fed semi-auto that pre-dates the 60. If you have any ideas, feel free to chime in below. I just might have to buy a couple 22's to make sure all my bases are covered.

I'm feeling nostalgic these days while dealing with my new single living arrangements. I guess I need to somehow still feel connected. It's a bit of irony in life right now...moving forward toward some kind of new normal by re-connecting with the past. Some shrink would probably have a field day in my head. Bah...I'll deal with this grief best I can. Most of the voices in my head agree with me anyhow.

Well, I have rattled on long enough. Honor all the dads and grandpa's this Sunday. I'm thankful my dad is around at least one more year. I'll get to see him Sunday...and tell him that I love him. For this, I am thankful.

P. S. After 40 years, I still have grandpa's reel and pocket knife...and they both still work just fine. We're all gaining antique status together.

Peace to you all.

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Just pretend this is witty.

A nice tribute to both your grandfathers, Paul. This Sunday I will lift a glass to them.

Peace back at ya.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

My Grandpa owned and operated a large quail hunting plantation/farm. His personal A5 Browning (purchased in 1919) was left to my Uncle (the oldest son) when he passed in 1965. I had always admired that A5. My Grandpa was magic with it.

My Uncle has three sons (my 1st cousins). Twenty-years later, when he was close to death, he called my Dad over and handed him that A5. He told my Dad he wanted me to have the A5. He said I was the only boy in our family that would appreciate it.

Dad called me over and said "Here boy!" Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get that A5 over my cousins.

Sometimes dreams do come true!

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Death? Smile back...

My grandpa had a Winchester I think it was a 1890 22 pump rifle. I’m not sure who got it now. But I collected a few 22 pumps in grandpas honor.

Grieving is damned hard work, Paul. Be gentle with yourself and get plenty of rest and good food.

Be sure to give your dad a hug Sunday, and any time you see him. Mine could never accept a hug, and I still regret that.

A collector might pay nice bucks for the vintage Mitchell 300, but I know you'll keep and treasure it. And I hope you'll fish with it. I always found peace and quieting of my spirit on the water, if only for a little while, when I was grieving. I hope you can too.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I share my grandfather's engraved Colt, my avatar, with a first cousin. I do not think anyone in the family knows I have Gramp's old binoculars. He manned an ambulance in WW-I France from what I was told.

I'm happy you are doing well. Cherish everything and do not sweat the little stuff.

Oh yes... Wear pants when out in public.

Attached Images

Gramps' Binocs rs.jpg (215.2 KB, 40 views)

my big brother got dad's Remington model 12 22 pump... so I bought a really rough one and had a gunsmith friend restore it and sleeve the barrel... so while my brother has the one that has all the stories... I have a "brand new" one... I have others that were dad's... so I am happy... now as far as my uncle's Stevens WWII trench gun... I am recreating that one too... just need to get a hold of my friend and get him the donor gun to him.... this is becoming a habit I guess... so fun

Now on to my other grandpa's .22. It was semi-auto, but my brother can't remember the model number. I would assume it's a model 60, but I'm not sure if Marlin had a .22 tube-fed semi-auto that pre-dates the 60. If you have any ideas, feel free to chime in below. I just might have to buy a couple 22's to make sure all my bases are covered.

J C Higgins .. 1955? Model 31

MArlin's first tube feed .22 semi auto was the Model 88 (Late 40's to mid 50's).
BUT, this rifle had it's tube magazine in the butt stock,,not under the bbl.
A later Model 98 also used this system but with a cut out on the right side of the stock to ease loading.

The previous Marlin semiauto 22's to that point were clip magazine fed,,Model 50 and the A1.)

The first model semiauto w/a tube feed under the bbl was the Model 99.
This most likely the rifle your G/Father had, or a variation of it. New to the market in 1959.
Re branded as the Model 99-DL in 1960/61.
Just cosmetic changes such as the addition of a gold plated trigger, pistol grip cap and a M/Carlo style stock. The rifle mechanism itself was the same.

There were a number of Model 99 variations added to the line, 99C, 99M1, 989, ect but they all used the same action.

At the same time the Model 99 MArlin was being made,,MArlin also made the Glenfield Model 60.
The exact same rifle, but branded Glenfield. A hardwood stock instead of AmWalnut. These sold at lower prices than the
Marlin marked version.
There were also Box Store marked versions of the Model 99,,all the same rifle with some cosmetic changes in the stock, sights, ect.

In 1983, MArlin decided to drop the Glenfield name and line altogether.
With that the Glenfield Model 60 semiauto 22 rifle went away.

What MArlin did then was to use that Model designation,,,Model 60,,and attach it to the Marlin Model 99.
Then retire the Model 99 designation.
The marketing boys told them that Model 60 had vastly out sold Model 99 over the years. So they stayed with Model 60 and the familiar rifle.

When I worked there in the early 70's,,the Marlin was the '99' and the Glenfield was the '60'. Simple as that.

A first year ('59) production Model 99 MArlin will have a stock with NO montecarlo, NO pistol grip cap, NO sling swivels.
Starting in '60 they added those features and called the rifle the 99-DL. But not all the rifles will carry the 'DL' marking.
A bit later they changed it to MOdel 99-C. That was the common model that was produced into the early 80's.

None were ser#'d till GCA'68 went into effect.
A few were hand stamped ser#'d that came back into the Repair Dept. These were rifles originally made & sold legaly w/o ser# pre GCA.
Then returned on warrenty. A new rifle sent back to the customer.
The older rifle stripped and rebuilt and then resold. To be legal to be resold again since it was post GCA now, a ser# was assigned and hand stamped onto the front left side of the alloy recv'r.
We didn't do an awful lot of thee rebuilds as they decided it wasn't worth the time involved.
Next step they had us just strip them for parts and scrap the rec'vrs. Then finally just cut the entire rifle into 3 or 4 pieces and throw 'em into the scrap/trash.
This was the program for both the 99 semiautos and the bolt action Model 80 22's, none of which were ser#'s before GCA68.


Probably more than you ever wanted to know,,but I hope it helps.

"...and I didn't want to take the chance of missing out on it."

Sometimes wisdom does come with age.

Early on My Bro and I ‘shared’ our Grandpa’s Stevens double 12 Hammer Gun.
My Bro has it now, I have Grandpa’s Camillius Stock Knife.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

My great grandfather had a 10 ga magnum Ithaca , double . As the story goes he felt anything " off the rack " wasn't good enough for him . Ithaca sent a man to Iowa , measured him for the gun and took the order . I have the gun and I and my dad ( when he was alive) have shot it quite a bit . Interestingly enough it does not have Damascus barrels , they are steel . My dad , yrs ago sent them back to the factory and had them tested for magnum loads , they tested fine . It has the external hammers , and very HEAVY to carry around . It will be passed on to my son one of these days .

Interesting, my step-son now has the 10 ga magnum Ithaca double that had been his father's and grandfather's. When I was doing some research on the gun and handling it I noticed that the stock on it was shorter than normal, the grandfather was a short man, about 5'5" so perhaps it was also fitted for him and we are from Iowa. The grandfather also always wanted the best and could afford it.

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Super Snooper

This helps immensely. Thank you. I knew I was looking for a 22 inch barrel but wasn't sure of model. Now I know. Thanks again.

Paul

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Just pretend this is witty.

"...J C Higgins .. 1955? Model 31..."

That JC Higgins Mod31 was made by High Standard exclusively for Sears Roebuck.
H/St made a Model 30 (cal 22LR only) and a Model 31 (cal 22short, Long & LR).
They will have Sears Model #'s on them (538.xx or something close to that),,no Hi-Standard markings)
HiStandard never made and marketed those two Model rifles with their own name on them as far as I know.

High Standard did make a Model 29 which is nearly the same rifle in appearance (side panel stock and all) in both H/S and Sears marked versions.
The earliest models of the 29 had the bolt op handle off the left side of the rec'vr. Later moved to the rt side.
Before that a Model 28,,same rifle pretty much, but no side panel stock feature and slightly different mechanism.

Some of the Model 31s had a cutesy roll-up retractable sling in the butt stock. Not sure if the Model 30 had that stock/sling feature available. The rifle in the pic looks like it was fitted with one.
Most of the time they don't work any more as the spring is broke. Sometimes just stuck and need some TLC and cleaning.

Some other small changes to sights, grip caps, spacers and such. I think there were 4 different versions of each Model (29/30/31) made.
Pretty slick looking with that side panel stock configuration.

I've got a shotgun from each of my grandfathers, my father and my step father. Not worth much except to me.

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Isaiah 41:10

I don't have any of my grandfathers guns, but I do have a hand carved box turkey call he made, and the little piece of slate that goes with it. I had the little piece of chalk that was with it for years, but it finally wore out/got lost or something.

His guns went to his sons, as they should have, but I always admired his 20 gauge Parker. I don't know what grade it was, but I believe it was at least a step up from a Trogan.

I always thought I'd like to have one like it, but the only 20 gauge Parker I've ever seen was tagged at $5000.00. Just a tad out of my range, but every time I see any SXS 20, I think of him.

That's how I came to buy this 20 SXS Stevens 311 not too long ago.







Not a Parker at all, but still something to remember him by. I might never shoot it, but I like having it.

I do have my fathers 12 gauge Sears pump, his turkey shoot gun.

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John 3:16 .

Warning,,,,,

When a family member passes away the greed comes out from family members. It’s the ones we harley ever seen. I never seen it so bad as it’s been lately. Should I say bad or sad. I warned my buddy about this and it was so bad he had to stay in the house before it was picked clean. It’s good to leave a will with details of who gets what ahead of time. I noticed the deceased isn’t in the ground yet and there dividing up the persons belongings. So sad.

They did this in my family when my dad died. I sad shove it up your you know what. I wanted nothing.

I was very fortunate to have inherited some nice guns from both sides, from maternal Grandfather, a 16 ga LC Smith double barrel an Ulster Boy Scout knife and a Cattaragus pocket knife, all in well used but good shape. Also maternal Grandmother's "purse gun" a tiny .25 cal CZ semi auto.
From paternal Grandfather a Winchester model 1886 .45-70 in very good condition.
Fortunately no family battles in dividing up the inherited items.
Steve W

As police officers, we had to take natural death reports. One of my former partners went to a natural and took the report. After getting all of the information and notifying the funeral home, one of the relatives asked if my fellow officer was finished. When he responded, "Yes", this relative and a couple of more almost dumped the deceased on the floor, trying to get to the money that was under the mattress. They intended to split the cash up right then and there.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I want to see pics of that Mitchell 300 reel and the pocketknife.

Mitchell 300, a reel classic, and one of the best!
Steve W