OP
For some of us, that would be an easy choiceImpossible question to answer.....it's like asking which of my children would I be willing to give away.Don
The Last Gun You'll Part With
- Thread starter Gun Relics
- Start date
This Winchester Model 69 was the first gun I ever shot. My father purchased it new in about 1935. It has great sentimental value, and to me, is worth more than my entire collection. Whenever I handle it, I go back to those days in the mid-sixties when he was teaching me about guns.
My 4inch 19-4 that a previous owner had round butted, smoothed the trigger, and had the fire control system tweaked. I got some Culina round to square conversion grips as I prefer a SB on a 4inch revolver. It is a wonderful gun that I love taking to the range and shooting 158gr Magnums through.
I find it impossible to imagine life without a S&W revolver and an M1911, but I would have to be practical if really only allowed one - it would have to be a rifle. I would be forced to choose my LH Ruger 375 bolt action. It could keep meat on my table and can, if needed, protect my family from any creature God has placed on this earth.
None of them............
In my lifetime I have been through a number of gun collections starting with original caplocks and followed by single shot rifles, model numbered Walthers, sub machine guns, Winchesters, and lastly Smith & Wessons. Each time I swore that I would never part with... But, in all those years and collections--aside from family heirlooms--only one gun has always remained behind: a DCM 1911 Colt that I bought for myself on my 21st birthday.
Toss up for me, I have the S&W Victory Model that my grandad brought home from WWII in Dec 1945. He had a German POW make custom grips with his initials in them which I have also (currently sports correct Victory grips). It was his nightstand gun for 50 years until he gave it to my dad in 2000, which he passed along to me in 2015. It was orig part of a 250 gun shipment to Office of OSS at Naval Station Norfolk here in VA as per S&W letter.
I also have a 1968 17-3, it’s an early enough -3 that it’s marked -2 on yoke. My dad gave it to me on my 17th bday as I grew up shooting it. I had it lettered and it was shipped to a sporting goods store in Sturgeon Bay WI in June 1968.
I also have a 1968 17-3, it’s an early enough -3 that it’s marked -2 on yoke. My dad gave it to me on my 17th bday as I grew up shooting it. I had it lettered and it was shipped to a sporting goods store in Sturgeon Bay WI in June 1968.
The absolute last to go would be my granddaddy's Stevens .22/.410 that he bought at the beginning of WW II to keep the bunnies out of his garden. The next would be the M27-2 that I had converted to .44 Special back in 1976.
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
Tough choice is an understatement. I like so many of mine for different reasons and I'm not sure I could single one out to keep over all the others.
I like my M27-2 because it is perfect, not a mark on it and the bluing is incredible
I like my M29-2 NCHP Commemorative because I'm a big supporter of the NCHP and have quite a few friends in the Patrol
I like my Colt Model M because it was my stepdad's and he carried it in WWII
I like my M520 because it is like new and there are so few of them.
I like my M57 because it's an "orphan" caliber
I like my M58 because it's the oldest S&W I own
And the beat goes on....
OP
OP
I have two first year Model 57's (going on 3) and an early Model 58. I also am drawn to them because of the .41 magnum story and rarity. Those would also all be keeper for me.
I can see how you might be confused, but that is actually my mother. She was a semi-famous handgun grip model in the 50s. She made a little money but got turned off when they asked her to change her name to Norma Jean. She finally stood up in a meeting, said "Grip this!" and left. She used to wonder what could have been.HEY, what's my mom's picture doing on your grips?
The above is of course totally fictional and not to be used for research purposes.
When my father died, he had a small gun accumulation. My two siblings and I chose our two favorites and then allowed other family members to choose one if they wanted. My two choices were his M1 Garand and his S&W M65-3. I was with him when he picked up the Smith. My father bobbed the hammer and performed a smooth double action trigger job. I have since added some sweet rams horn stocks. I traded an AR15, Argentina Colt 1911, and a pos 4 Wheeler for a Nickel 4" 1960's Python to my best friend. I promised to pass the Python to my oldest son as the deal maker. I kept my sisters S&W AR when she died. My wife and children once bought me a Heritage arms 22 with a horrible distressed finish for Christmas one year. Those five guns will only be passed along.
Phil Quigley is currently engraving a pre-27 3.5" for me with a USMC theme. The .357 would be hard for me to let go. This is the gun that started my obsession with Smith & Wesson revolvers.
Phil Quigley is currently engraving a pre-27 3.5" for me with a USMC theme. The .357 would be hard for me to let go. This is the gun that started my obsession with Smith & Wesson revolvers.
It’s funny, the only photos I have of this gun are from showing off a holster or sending measurements for a shoulder holster.
It’s a CCO format 1911 (short Officers frame with 4” barrel) chambered in 9x23 Winchester. It’s the only handgun I ever had made for me, and I carry it more than anything else. 8+1 of semiauto with .357 Magnum ballistics in a small, flat package appeals to me.
It’s a CCO format 1911 (short Officers frame with 4” barrel) chambered in 9x23 Winchester. It’s the only handgun I ever had made for me, and I carry it more than anything else. 8+1 of semiauto with .357 Magnum ballistics in a small, flat package appeals to me.
VaTom
Member
Green Frog
Member
As a lifelong bachelor with no mortals to answer to (but the government and the holder of my mortgage) I pretty much hold onto about everything now unless it’s needed for trade to obtain something I want more.
I do have a younger brother with two married daughters, all of whom are interested in guns, so I have a good repository for whichever guns I continue to keep, only having to decide “who gets what”.
Current favorite handguns though are my custom “Project 616” and my post War Transitional 32 HE Snub with old type leaf mainspring. Long guns would be my Marlin Model 39M octagon 22 and Model 90 OU 20 ga, and my custom Ruger #3 in 327 FM. Of course there would be at least one K22 and a High Standard 22 target auto and….
No, it’s not a question of which would be the last I’d let go, it’s who I’ll plan to leave them to.
Froggie
I do have a younger brother with two married daughters, all of whom are interested in guns, so I have a good repository for whichever guns I continue to keep, only having to decide “who gets what”.
Current favorite handguns though are my custom “Project 616” and my post War Transitional 32 HE Snub with old type leaf mainspring. Long guns would be my Marlin Model 39M octagon 22 and Model 90 OU 20 ga, and my custom Ruger #3 in 327 FM. Of course there would be at least one K22 and a High Standard 22 target auto and….
No, it’s not a question of which would be the last I’d let go, it’s who I’ll plan to leave them to.
Froggie
I can get it down to two. A 1939 Gas-Trap M1 Garand and and a 27-2 that was my first purchase back in 1979.
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Texas thing I guess...but is this one.
Early 3rd gen factory engraved.
Has ridden my hip every opening weekend of Texas deer season
the last 30 years.
Early 3rd gen factory engraved.
Has ridden my hip every opening weekend of Texas deer season
the last 30 years.
My last gun is a 17-1 my wife bought for me in 2013. We were together 59 years when she passed almost 4 years ago.
gjamison
Member
S&W model 57 6” nickel I bought at a rummage sale in Big Flats NY. It’s not only my favorite caliber but also a great story!
