The Last Gun You'll Part With

I parted with the last gun I’d ever part with last year. My dad’s 4” 10-5. I was fascinated with that gun as a kid. It’s the only handgun my dad ever owned. It started my interest in S&Ws. I gave it to my son for his 30th birthday. Along with a picture of my dad and I when I was 4 yrs old. He’s wearing the model 10 in the photo. My son will get all my guns when I am gone. I wanted to actually see him enjoy this one……. Now I need him to get busy and make a grandson so I know where they’ll ALL end up someday
 
For me, it'd be 2. I have a circa 1942 Colt 1911 that's just like the one I carried for 2 years in the Military, Vietnam and 10 months in a Crypto Vault. the other is a S&W
m66-2 rare 3 inch .357 Magnum made for Ashland Shooter Supply, 1 of 4195 made.
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One for purely sentimental reasons and one for power, concealability and accuracy.
Dano
I had 2 NIB 66-2 Ashlands consecutive serial numbers. Sold both for a heafty profit. I can't keep unfired guns.
 
Ouch - these early pre-19's are so hard to find now and some asking prices will cause a nosebleed. Those grips were really nice select walnut.
If I told you what I paid you probably wouldn't believe me. At the time I saw profit not the gun. Went looking for a box when I picked it up. The only one I found was twice what I paid for the gun. 😳
 
A difficult but timely question for me, as I am considering shrinking much of my collection. At 75, I just don’t shoot the amount I used to, and most of the firearms stay unused. Plus some just are true hanger-queens, like my 1883 Colt 10 gauge hammerless DB. So, in the last couple months, I have been contemplating this question, to some extent.

The ‘single most’ is not hard, and is one of my 1911’s; one that my father made. He was the R&P Coach on the USS Pennsylvania, flagship of the Pacific Fleet, and he made a 1911 (frame and most of the internals, but with stock slide) for each member of his team. In lieu of a Serial Number, he stamped their name on the side of their pistol. He test-fired his on December 4, 1941! The Pennsy was in Dry Dock on December 7, and as a CMM, he was at battle stations in the bowels of the battleship, so was fairly safe. Tell that to their sister ship, the USS Arizona!

Still, I can’t stay with just one! There are a few more that stay, as I inherited them from him, and they are worshipped. One is a Registered Smith, fully engraved with ivory grips (dragon engraved in the ivory) which I have spoken of in this blog. In addition, I inherited his match pistols, a 38-44 Outdoorsman, also with ivory grips and King ventilated rib, and a Colt Woodsman 2nd series. The Outdoorsman was the first firearm I learned to shoot, at around 7 years of age (reduced loads!) and also reload and cast bullets for, so a lot of personal history. Then in the world of rifles, I have a John Dubiel in 300 H&H, built around a Mauser Magnum action, and 3 Winchester 52’s, two of which I’ll keep. I might also keep my other Registered Smith, maybe not…

Man, this is a tough subject…
 
If sentiment enters in, this old Ranger .22 (made by Marlin) that my brother and I learned to shoot on.
 

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