In 1973 my Daddy was working as the "Clerk" for the County Commissioners in our small county. He was also a farmer, of course, but he held a "town job" for much of the time he farmed. He and the Sheriff, known by his friends and inmates as Cap'n Charles, were great friends. It was either the Sheriff or a young (at the time) man who worked for us who gave Daddy his nickname. His name was Emory, and just about everyone I knew called him either Mister Emory, or Uncle (pronounced "Unca") Emory. A few friends, peers, and admirers called him by his nickname, "Big M," short for Big Emory, of course. Not that he would have taken any offense if anyone called him that, he was just one of those people who demands respect by his very presence. Cap'n Charles was like that too, and when the two of them were together, they were a crowd.
Anyhow, when the Model 66 SS Combat Magnum came out, Cap'n Charles ordered himself one through the state's LEO purchase plan, and asked Daddy if he wanted one. The price was reasonable, so Daddy, who wasn't really a great gun enthusiast, told him to order one for him. I don't think he ever fired the gun, and I'm not sure whether me or my brother did. (We were the enthusiasts.) When times got bad on the farm in the early '80s, Daddy asked my brother if he would sell the gun for him. My brother told him he would just let him have the money and just keep the gun for him. Things continued to get bad on the farm, and in early April, 1984, we had an auction and sold off all the equipment. Less than two weeks later, my Daddy died of a heart attack, killed by the farm troubles just as surely as if someone had shot him. He was 71.
My brother and I were discussing guns back at Christmas, and he mentioned that Cap'n Charles had written "Big M" on the box apparently when the gun came in to his office, so that if Daddy came to pick it up while he wasn't there, whomever was there would know whose gun it was. Today, I was at my brother's house, helping him load something on his truck. He started showing me some stuff from his safe. I happened to have my camera, so I took some pictures of the engraved Model 60 in the other thread, a couple of Colt SAA revolvers, and Big M's gun.
From about late 1972 or 1973, I think. Note the identifier on the "Special Features" line on the end of the box. Note also the stainless steel sights.
Anyhow, when the Model 66 SS Combat Magnum came out, Cap'n Charles ordered himself one through the state's LEO purchase plan, and asked Daddy if he wanted one. The price was reasonable, so Daddy, who wasn't really a great gun enthusiast, told him to order one for him. I don't think he ever fired the gun, and I'm not sure whether me or my brother did. (We were the enthusiasts.) When times got bad on the farm in the early '80s, Daddy asked my brother if he would sell the gun for him. My brother told him he would just let him have the money and just keep the gun for him. Things continued to get bad on the farm, and in early April, 1984, we had an auction and sold off all the equipment. Less than two weeks later, my Daddy died of a heart attack, killed by the farm troubles just as surely as if someone had shot him. He was 71.
My brother and I were discussing guns back at Christmas, and he mentioned that Cap'n Charles had written "Big M" on the box apparently when the gun came in to his office, so that if Daddy came to pick it up while he wasn't there, whomever was there would know whose gun it was. Today, I was at my brother's house, helping him load something on his truck. He started showing me some stuff from his safe. I happened to have my camera, so I took some pictures of the engraved Model 60 in the other thread, a couple of Colt SAA revolvers, and Big M's gun.
From about late 1972 or 1973, I think. Note the identifier on the "Special Features" line on the end of the box. Note also the stainless steel sights.
