Do You Have A Heirloom Gun Given To You By Your Dad

[NevadaDan]

I shot this Ruger Single Six with my Dad about 6 months before he died from complications after open heart surgery at 77 and I remember that day very well.He said he wanted me to have this pistol after he was gone.It was first owned by my uncle who was aboard a destroyer off Iwo Jima.The gun was purchased in 1970 by that uncle and his kids gave it to my Dad.It's maybe not worth a whole lot but to me it is.Do you have a gun to pass down that's been in your family for a while.My son has asked about owning it someday.

 

[Candrews86]

Sorry to hear about your Dad. Very cool story you have. I have quite a few guns that have been passed down to me already. While they aren't very valuable to the outside world, they are absolutely priceless to me and something I'll always remember my Dad by. His S&W 27-2 3.5" he bought brand new when he was 18 will be mine one day. Also a Remington 870 he grew up duck hunting with, it's all beat up, but what a story it has behind it.

 

[Marshwheeling]

No. My pop never owned a gun, to my knowledge, or a motorcycle. He did give me a taste for good food, and a sense of humor.

 

[Bob L]

A very nice story to go with your single six. I have a couple that were mine that my father gave to me when he realized that he would not be going out in the woods anymore. One of them is a Winchester Model 55 that he picked up before I was born. When I was little, I always remember in November having Dad go to the linen closet and take out the rifle in it's case. The model 55 was a take-down lever action 30-30. He would allow me to handle it once it was assembled. Oh the things that dreams are made of. When I finally became old enough to join him in the hunt, my Uncle gave me my own Winchester 30-30. Those are two guns that I'll have to the end and pass on to my Grandsons.

 

[otisrush]

I have a Remington Model 14 that was my grandfather's. After my dad died I happened to find a picture of him holding it when he was in his 20s - on a camping trip with his friends.

Fortunately my 22 yr old son just adores that gun. I've been able to buy brass and dies for it (chambered in .32 Remington). So we've been able to have some fun shooting it.

 

[squidsix]

Kinda.
My grandfather left me an Ithaca 1911 (1943), and a Winchester 1894 in 30-30.
BUT, his room mate from a time he worked in Texas ALSO left me some guns, notably a S&W model 19-4 (which I have shown off on here a few times) and a rusty WWII bring-back Mauser 1914 in 7.65mm. Not a great pistol, but after a little elbow grease it at least shoots straight and is moderately reliable.
My dad wasn't much for guns. Loved machines, but not ones that went "bang".

 

[snowman.45]

I have several, including the family heirloom Winchester .30-30, the family heirloom Remington 121 pump .22 (both from my great grandfather), an AR-15 (Dad was a retired Air Force EOD Sgt.), his Colt 1911 (since forwarded to my son) and a S&W 659 I gave him years ago after having bought it in the early '80's. The 659 was stolen in a burglary and recovered in a neighboring jurisdiction with the magazine and firing pin safety disconnects missing. It was wrecked when we got it back. I repaired it, but the frame was bent and it was ultimately scrapped out.

 

[Fishinfool]

I have three I would never sell. First is a Ruger Deerstalker .44 mag carbine that was an early production model given to my father by Bill Ruger for a fireplace project he did for Ruger. It was my fathers go to deer rifle until he passed away.

The second is a Remington Sportsman 58 (their first gas operated semi auto shotgun) that was my dads favorite duck gun. He spent many years hunting the Stratford, CT marshes with that gun.

Last is a Browning Auto-5. After the Korean War, my father tried to get my uncle Jack interested in duck hunting. My uncle bought the gun used from a farmer, went duck hunting a couple times, didn't like the bad weather (he was a golf kind of guy) and just put the gun away, oiled, and wrapped in an old blanket. One day when I was 14, he came to visit. Handed me that "blanket", and said "here take this and hang onto it for me, I don't use it anymore". Man was I shocked when I unwrapped it and seen what was inside... Having no recoil pad, I think I went thru my early teens with a permanently bruised shoulder...

Larry

 

[quinn]

How about an 1897 Winchester 12ga that went from my grandfather to my father to me and now to my son. Maybe a 25acp auto that followed the same route. And a 20 ga double that my father received on his 12th birthday and went to me on my 12trhbirthday and is my son's hands now. No, I don't guess we have any heirloom guns... but maybe a couple that went to my daughter could be considered.

 

[targetchief]

Sorry about the loss of your dad. I have dad's model 12 Winchester. He bought it used in 1946 after his discharge from the Army.

 

[bentcam]

dads gun

m&p, 5 inch, fake stag, but that is how it was for the 37yrs. as duty gun.

 

[SleepyDragonfly]

A S&W k32 masterpiece, a Remington 1100, and a Winchester model 70 30-06.

▄︻̷̿┻̿═━一

 

[Krogen]

I'm sorry about your Dad. You have the good memories. May they never dim. You have his pistol. Every time you touch it, you'll remember your times with him. Bittersweet, but you have something tangible.

I have a Model 70 that belonged to Dad. I gave it to him one Christmas when we figured he needed a varmint rifle. A lot of critters fell to that rifle. At the end of a hunt, I'd take it home to clean and get it back to him sometime later. One time we had been at the range and it went home with me for cleaning. I said I'd get it back to him soon. Dad replied "you better keep it." That was our last time shooting together. My gift to him became a gift to me. Dad's been gone now for a year and a half. I'll cherish his rifle for all my days. And I have to tell you. I can't bring myself to go shoot it. Not yet.

 

[NevadaDan]

When my Dad passed he lived above the Ohio river near Steubenville,Oh.We shot that pistol just out his back door over the hill,that was pretty cool.To get that pistol back to Nevada I had to drive down the river 50 miles to Wheeling WV.and get a hardened case with 2 locks on it from Cabellas so I could fly out of Pittsburgh Pa.with it on my flight out.I called the airlines and you have to declare a firearm at the luggage counter and it travels with your luggage in the underbelly not on carry-on.When I got to the luggage counter I said I'm declaring a firearm and the lady behind me just gives me a stair.I guess people go hunting in different parts of the country and they acted like it's no big deal.

 

[JohnRippert]

I gave Dad a Model 65 3in back in the late '90s and got it back when he passed not quite 4 years ago. I also have a 1909 Remington Autoloading Shotgun that belonged to my maternal grandfather. These were the predecessor to the Model 11.

 

[Penquin]

I have a Colt .38 Police Positive that my dad bought NIB in 1944 when he turned 20 yrs old. But the gun dates to 1923. I just sent off for a letter to try to learn more. It was always in his nightstand while I was growing up. Now my son and I shoot it couple times a year. Also got 2 Remington autos (12 ga. & 16 ga.), both in great shape. He loved to pheasant hunt. Also an 1939 Mauser 8mm bolt action. It sure is great to have his old guns.

 

[mauser9]

1940 243 code Kar98k. Post a pic when I figure it out.

 

[Frank46]

My dad didn't like or own any firearms at all. However was showing a Saur 38H to my fellow forman and he asked if we could do a swap. His 1943 Ithaca 45acp and a cigar box full of ammo. We swapped and I became the proud owner of a piece of American History. You see Dave was in tanks in some of the desert battles and as such a genuine WWII vet. He bounced around so much in tanks that his back eventually had to have a couple spinal fusions. He went out on disability and left Brooklyn NY for Salt Lake City. Dave passed away a few years ago and everytime I handle and fire that old 45 I think about him. He even authored a small book about his war time experiences and I have an autographed copy. Will probably be the last pistol that I would ever sell. Frank

 

[Mexican Kerry]

Nope, my dad doesn't like me shooting his guns. My mom's biological father gave me a Cooey semi auto .22 and a Win 94 when I was 12. I still have the Cooey but I gave the 94 to someone a couple years ago. They needed it more than I did. No sentimental value to it, he probably stole it anyway or conned someone to get it. Still need to get rid of the Cooey, just haven't gotten to it yet. Might pound it into the ground and put a "Please don't let your dog piss on my yard" sign on the buttstock.

 

[30-30remchester]

I envy those with a close relationship with their fathers as I never had one. My father is still kicking and he lives in state but we go to lunch a couple times as year is all, his choice. My FIL was the best man I ever knew and like all rural Coloradoans, he had 1 big game rifle, a pre 64 model 70 Winchester, 1 shotgun, a bolt action beast I don't think he ever shot, a 22 handgun, a Colt in his bed stand, and the he had HIS rifle. A Remington model 12, 22 rifle that his father bought in 1929 when he was a dry land farmer in Joes, CO during the depression. This 22 was with my FIL about everywhere he went in the woods. Killed several deer to feed his young family along with countless rabbits and pheasants. The old rifle had little bluing left and almost no stock finish. His only grandson got the rifle as is right, but man I would have loved to have that 22. I threatened his very life if he ever sold, re-finished, altered, or neglected this gun. I have a standing offer of $1,000 if he ever gets too broke and needs money, for the rifle. For those with heirlooms I ask of them to think about the lack of finish on their heirlooms, and use this lack of newness and stock dents and dings as their heirs history. Any polishing it up or refinishing ruins forever their heirs history. Admire the heavily used piece and when handling or hunting with it think of how your dad used it hard and made the gun look the way it does today.