Dad's Cigars and Guns

Wyatt Burp · Jun 30, 2012

KB5601's cigar thread title motivated this one. I have a few of my dad's old rifles in a safe I bought new. There's a gunshow today so I opened that safe to think again about selling one of these old guns, an 1871 Mauser 11MM single shot. The first Mauser. Of all the millions of Mausers made, it's the 69XXth gun they ever sold commercially or militarily. But when I open the safe I smell my dad's cigar smoke in there and it always changes my mind. He smoked a cigar every second of the day, Phillies Titans, and I guess the decades of smoke is embedded in the wood of these rifles, though my wife can't smell a thing which is strange because she smells and hears everything usually. But it always makes me decide to keep the gun, which is weird since I'm always thinking so pragmatically and practical all the rest of the time. But it's like he's telling me not to sell it. Or maybe I'm just guilt trippin' myself. But that old gun is staying put.

It's also behind me in this picture from 1966.

Qball · Jun 30, 2012

Good call.

I think some one was trying to tell you something

wuluf · Jun 30, 2012

Right thing to do, buddy!

olcop · Jul 1, 2012

Dad's cigars and guns

Qball said:
Good call.

I think some one was trying to tell you something

+1--I wish I had something this tangible to remember my father and my step father by, I do have my maternal grandfather's shotgun, which I'll keep and hand down to one of my grandsons.
It's a great memory, keep it and cherish it forever.
olcop

WardenRoss · Jul 1, 2012

As a kid, I spent many summers working with my Dad's older brother, my Uncle James. Uncle James smoked Tampa Nuggets. The smell of cigar smoke always “takes me back” to the days of window fans and traveling down unpaved roads in a Chevy with the windows down.

One of the crowning moments on my way to manhood occurred when I was about seven years old. Uncle James and I had a flat in his Chevy. He asked me if I would mind changing the tire. Of course, I had never changed a flat and this was his way of teaching me how to do something new.

He sat there on the side of that sandy road, puffing away on his Tampa Nugget and I eventually completed the tire change. He then gave me the pat-on-the-back “great job boy.” Time didn't seem to matter to Uncle James and if took a few extra minutes to finish a cigar, that was okay by him.

I would keep the Mauser.

kb5601 · Jul 1, 2012

Wyatt, Whats that side by side in the last picture...
Looks like an ithaca or lefever

BTW don't sell the gun... if you do you loose two things, the gun and the scent of your dad...
KB

Wyatt Burp · Jul 1, 2012

kb5601 said:
Wyatt, Whats that side by side in the last picture...
Looks like an ithaca or lefever

BTW don't sell the gun... if you do you loose two things, the gun and the scent of your dad...
KB

I believe my dad said it was a Lefever but some long lost relative got it way back when. Also in that gun rack cabinent was a Remington model 51 .380 that i loved, but he traded it off, too, in the sixties. I've always kept an eye out for one of those. He made a flap holster for his made of the same leather as that cartrige belt I'm wearing there. I still have that and that knife with matching sheath. I'd recognize that rem. holster in a second if I came across it at a gunshow.

gjgalligan · Jul 2, 2012

The cigar smell is all in your head, and there ain't nothing wrong with that! Keep the gun, that is what you are being told.
Do it. You will be much happier down the road.

Sprefix · Jul 2, 2012

My relations with my dad are not good at all. Treasure the rifle for the memories of your father and your times together. Thanks for the thread.

feralmerril · Jul 2, 2012

The biggest regrets I have was selling several of my uncles and dads guns I inherited. I inherited 3 fine handguns from my uncle. All were war bring backs. All had the holsters tools, and extra mags. All were in new condition. A luger, random, browning .32. He also had a P-38 and I also got some very Hi-powered german Di grass tanker binnoculars. Also some long guns. I was in the gun show circut and sold a couple that didnt turn me on at the time. Big mistake! Later my house was broke into and I lost the rest! I still do have a first year belgum browning Bar he bought new.
My dad went to assisted liveing with alzheimers in wisconsin and I returned to california with the family guns. I couldnt get them all in my already full safe. Huge mistake! The first or secound night I got home to california my truck was stolen out of my driveway. Never has been recovered. (Probley in mexico). I had a snub hammer s&w model 60 hid in the truck. That must have tipped the sorry thieves off that I was a gun person. I evidently was watched and a day or so later I left early in the morning truck shopping. My house was broke into and all the loose guns and other stuff was stolen! I also had a probley priceless samari sword that was given me by another family member stolen with the rest!

bushmaster1313 · Jul 2, 2012

Will people feel the same affection for their Dad's AR-15, 870 or Glock?

Dad's Cigars and Guns

Wyatt Burp

Member

Qball

Member

wuluf

Member

olcop

Member

WardenRoss

Member

kb5601

SWCA Member

Wyatt Burp

Member

gjgalligan

Member

Sprefix

US Veteran

feralmerril

Absent Comrade

bushmaster1313

Member

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