Best gun-givin' you ever got?

[Big Cholla]

I won't list the gun collection my father left me because they are valued for a different reason.......... I graduated UNR in 1962 and was leaving Reno to go make my fortune. I was saying goodbye to the Gunstore owner that I had worked for all 4 years as the No. 2 gunsmith. He knew my history of shooting on the Rifle Team for most of those years. He reached into his used gun rack and handed me a like new Remington 40X standard wt. bbl. .22LR target rifle. He said that he had taken it in on trade and knew he would never be able to sell it, so he thought I should have it. I accepted and started shooting 3 position galley range competition back in LV. I quickly became dissatisfied with the standard weight barrel and traded it off for an Anschutz 54. I still have the Anschutz, but wish to high heaven that I still had that Rem. 40X. ....... Big Cholla

 

[Thuer]

I do work for an Gunstore from 1994.
The owner gave me an Uberti Schofield in .45colt.
I do own and shoot that revolver.

For about two yeard I do work for an othergunstore. This store will be closed in comming july becose the original owner has died.

I do work for free becouse I do like the people who take care of the busniss very much and have great fun over there.

But the gave me a bunch of revolvers.

4 Belgian made revolvers.
1 Ruger Securitysix in .357.
1 Smith and Wesson model of 1950 in .45acp.
1 Brand New Dan Wesson model 15 in .357
1 Dutch army revolver Officermodel 1873 in 9.4mm.
1 Colt Peacekeeper in .357

The local police gave me an Iver Johnson model 1900 in blue .38
and a Belgian copy of a S&W doubleaction.

I am very happy with al these revolvers and keep them in my collection.

 

[Munsterf18]

Tie

First handgun, a new Model 14 from Dad to use in Military Pistol quals.

On retirement, squadron gift of a new 5" Colt SAA in 45 Colt.

Those two will never leave me.

 

[feralmerril]

This has been a sad subject for me! I have inherited quite a few guns from a single old uncle I had, and also my dad. Unfortunatly, I lost most of them through the years in two seperate home burglarys! I have a browning auto 30-06 first year, left from my uncle, and a 760 30-06 remington pump from my dad, and his remington 12 ga model 31.
What really hurt was the fact uncle was a 82nd AB glider guy that was the most highly decorated from our area, silver star, two purple hearts etc. My dad had taken his guns when he threatened suicide. Last time I seen him we were sitting in his garage, he ran a junk yard as a hobby. He said, your pa took my guns. Well here is one he didnt get. He pulled out a wad of rags with a beautifull luger all matching #s, holster with the tools, and said she is yours! He commited suicide a little later! I also inherited a browning .32, and a radom from him. All had the matching holsters and tools. I lost all of them, and more!
Come to think of it, he also gave me a old U.S arms revolver that was in pieces when I was 12 or 13. He had found it dismanteled in a bucket of junk he had bought. It was a cheap old 7 shot .22lr probley made by iver johnson. The gadjet or hand wasnt found that rotated the clyinder. I put what I could find together, tied it to a tree, used a string and shot it.
I even carried it after that! He also gave me interesting storys of uh, how he got those guns! Loseing those guns is probley the most shamefull thing of my life!

 

[HOGSTR]

When I was little, my grandfather would always bring rifles with him when he came to see us. I can remember going out to the range at a very young age, where the grown ups would shoot and I'd wander around picking up empty shotgun shells.

Later on, grandad would visit and bring muzzleloading rifles and other hunting rifles such as his .30-06 for us to practice with. When my older brother turned 16, he surprised him with a gift of one of his custom Kentucky rifles. I was little upset by this, being a little to young for such a thing and feeling overlooked. The next day, grandad was up early and on the road before I woke up. In the night, he had left me note on my dresser. "Punk (what he called me), when your time comes, you will get my Ruger 10/22 that has bagged hundreds of squirrels. It has a nice scope and you will love it". I was thrilled, and dreamed about that rifle for years.

Two decades later, it was time to go through Grandad's house. We knew there were many guns to go through, but because of the hobby we also knew that pieces came and went, as they do through any collection. While there were many high quality rifles that my brother and I divided, the 10/22 was gone. A journal we found explained...Several of his everyday hunting rifles had been sold off to pay for new hearing aids. I was breifly disappointed, but also very grateful for what pieces I did get.

A few years later, my father in law passed. He was a former judge, and had a few guns that were either his or maybe even old evidence from years ago. Being the only "guy" in the family now, my mother-in-law asked me to secure the guns and take care of them for future generations. This is where I picked up a 19th century lemon squeezer, a Victory model, and his personal Model 36 with carry rig that he sometimes carried under his robe. But, tucked away in the back of the closet, I also found a new in the box, unfired Ruger 10/22 with a purchase reciept of 1969.

A 10/22 is not a glamorous gun by any means, but the one I have means the world to me. Someone was watching out for me there.

 

[jag312]

I have had an almost life-long interest in guns. When I was 16, my mother gave me a birthday present that even today amazes me. She gave me a Colt Model 1851 Navy, factory engraved, ivory grips, and engraved on the back strap with the name of a Union Army officer. I don't have the papers in front of me, but he was Captain John Lowry in the 107th Indiana or Illinois Infantry. Thanks, mom.

 

[fiasconva]

I've been pretty lucky, I guess. I inherited my grandfather's (on my dad's side) Fox Sterlingworth built in 1920, and from my mom's side, my great-grandfather's Browning A5, made in 1930. Funny thing about the Browning is none of the grandsons or sons even wanted it except me.

 

[GoHogs]

The US Marshal in my district gave me a S&W M13 3".
A gun I always wanted from a man I've always respected.

 

[M29since14]

...I seem to have an invisible sign on my head that flashes, "Give Gatofeo A Gun."

And it seems to be working!

I have paid for everything I have except those that came from my late Father, and .22 rifle and non-functioning revolver from my late Grandmother.

From Dad's estate, his K22, a custom Sako in .222 Remington, and his favorite squirrel rifle, the Remington version of the Browning take-down .22 auto. Shortly before his death, he was refinishing a handmade wooden box for the Remington that a lifelong friend of his had made for the rifle many years ago. The rifle was not in it, since it had a telescope mounted several years after the box was made, and unfortunately, the box was lost.

From my Grandma's (Mom's side), a Mossberg .22 army trainer and an old H&R .32 top break, which she kept in a dresser drawer. Some time after she passed away, the H&R was given to me by my Mom. I was surprised to find it was good Grandma never needed her .32 - it was not in working order. I never bothered to have it repaired.

I envy the P210 of our friend Swissman. Quite a father-son gift! Lots of other nice gun-gifts here, too.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Oh Boy; Got me to thinking about my youth & the guns given me.Gosh, can't remember them all but got my Mom's Remington Model 33 .22 when I was 11. Gave it to my grandson last August. Still have my grandfathers Win. Hi Wall .38-55 made in 1887. Gave most of my guns to my son when I moved here in 2003. Guess the one that means to most to me is a Sharps Replica 45-70 with 4x scope from my old buddy, Dutch. He was a Marine in the Pacific in WW2.

 

[whitecoyote]

I was given this Savage Fox Sterlingworth by friends of my Parents. They were going to throw it out in the garbage.
It's in very good condition, manufactured in 1936.

Also was given this revolver manufactured by the U.S. Revolver Co.

 

[beach elvis]

I've been a fortunate fella.

Through the years, I've been gifted :
-'49-vintage Ithaca 37
-Remington 870HD

...and incredibly, a DEAD MINT, FACTORY CLEAN nickel-plated .38 Safety Hammerless that lettered as having shipped in 1902! It's like reaching back in time, folks!

 

[pharmer]

Only gun ever given to me is a RWS 5G air pistol from my first wife. Still have it (the 5G). Joe

 

[Marshal Tom]

I inherited my Grandfathers 2 Parker Bros. Shotguns.I also inherited a 2nd model Lady Smith in the original box. Last year I was given an Old Model Super Blackhawk .44 Mag from a man in town. I also was given a new model .22 Ruger Single Six LNIB with both cylinders. Another person in my town gave me a .9mm Semi Auto left in his house by his son and he didn't want it.

 

[dkees]

2 M97 Winchester shotguns, a M1908 Colt Pocket Model, a M37 Winchester Shotgun, a Volunteer Arms .45 rifle (Thompson style), and a M66-1 S&W 6 inch

 

[Steave]

Over the years I've been given a number of guns as birthday/Christmas gifts, but usually because there are always guns on my list. A few that stand out are a 6" Colt Diamondback .22 form my wife and a mint H&R M1 Garand, also form my wife; a few weeks ago I posted pics of a beautiful Winchester 1890 .22 short my parents gave me for Christmas.

But the two absolute best guns given to me were firsts. Dad wasn't, and isn't, a gun guy, so at some point in time my grandfather gave him one of his Browning takedown .22 auto's just so he would have a gun around the house. Dad and I shot the rifle some and I guess it must have had some surface rust on it, he had it re-blued and sometime between my 8th and 9th birthday he gave it to me, but I couldn't shoot it if he wasn't there. I think it was a year or so before I was allowed to take it out on my own. Sadly, when I was twelve or so I traded it off for some long forgotten Remington .22 auto, which I kept for only a year or so before dumping it. Even though I have several Browning takedown's now, two of which belonged to my grandfather, I sure wish I had the first one back. I'm sure I asked for permission before trading it off, I sure wish Dad had not allowed me to do so.

I think the absolute best, though, was my first gun ever, a BB gun. I'd wanted a BB gun for awhile, Mom and Dad thought I was too young, I probably started asking for one when I was five. I don't remember now if I was six or seven, but the JayCee's had some sort of firearms safety/marksmanship program, Dad enrolled me in that and said after that we could talk about me getting a BB gun. I don't remember how long the course lasted, several months anyway; the guns we shot for this program were Daisy 99 Champions. I don't remember if the course was even over, but I still remember coming home from school one day and there was a box of BB's on the kitchen table. It didn't even enter my mind that someone had bought me a gun, but Dad was there and I asked him why there were BB's there and he said I'd need them for my new gun, which was in my room. It was a 99 Champion and that gun is still around my parents house.....somewhere. Without a doubt that was the most excited I've ever been about getting a gun.

 

[servmgr64]

Something over 30 years ago my wife gave me a Thompson Center Contender in 22 Hornet. Still have them both.
Back in the 90's my grandmother gave me the revelation .22 automatic rifle that she gave to grandpa in the late 50's.Couple of years ago my dad gave me his Stevens 20 gauge single shot shot gun. All three of these will be passed to future generations.

 

[Eltioloco]

A few years ago, my fathers best friend, called me up to tell me he had something for me. He had been battling Parkinsons for the last few years and with every passing week was becoming less and less able to function. The meds weren't working anymore.

He said that he needed to get rid of his firearms. I offered to find buyers for his weapons, but he said he wanted to give them away. His son had 1st pick and had already come over and taken whatever guns he wanted.

So he showed me a table with six Smith and Wesson pistols on it. He said "I am going to split these pistols between you and my nephew. You get first pick. Take the three you want."
There was a 25-5 .45 Colt, a pre-27 8 3/8 with Sanderson grips, a 19-3 6", a early 60's K-22, a M29 8 3/8, and a 1955 Target. All blued, all but the pre-27 with original grips. I looked at them all, picked them up, set them down, and picked them up again. Hoping that three of them would talk me into taking them home. I have never had such generosity bestowed on me before. And I am forever grateful. Which ones would you have picked?

 

[Superflywimpy]

A H&R 649 22Lr/22mag combo

When I was around 14 or so I wanted a 22 pistol so bad, I thought it was just the next step in firearms for me. I had already had a 22 rifle since I was 10 and thought I was responsible enough for a pistol. My dad would always say no, Till one day I was on my way home with him from Two guys department store after buying a battery he pulls into the BIG 5 sporting good store. He gets off and so do I and we head up to the counter and he looks in the case and says which one were you thinking of getting. I pointed out to the H&R and he tell the guy ring it up and do you have a holster for it. The man goes to the shelf and finds the right one and rings it up and this was back when there was no waiting period.It's the ugliest gun in the safe and probably the one thats has the least value in terms of money. But I would run into a burning building to get it,because it's the only thing I have left that my dad ever gave me. He didnt fish or hunt or anything with me because he was always too busy working to provide for us.He wasnt the nicest dad but he did have his moments. H e passed in 2006 and I said my good byes to him 2 weeks before the pulled they plug on him. But I'll always remember that day he made me a happy 14 year old kid.....thanks dad.

 

[WHO CARES]

A couple of events come to mind - the most recent was three years ago. Back in the late 70's when I was single and working in a real gun store, I acquired a new in box M29 44 mag 6.5" with "A" engraving. About 10-12 years later with a wife and kids I traded it to my dentist for work done for the family. He was a great guy and we became friends and did some hunting together. When he retired he came to me and said he just didn't have the room to store this thing anymore and gave it back to me! It was quite a moment for me!!!! It is still unfired and has now taken up residence in my safe!

Ward

Now I don't know whether or not to shoot it......