Every Gun Handed Down To me Is Junk!

[AC Man]

I'm kidding. My grand parents, and parents bought guns for hunting and it was a no name brand at a hardware store in the south. They were poor and did the best they could. To put it in perspective I am 69. Later in life they were all successful but they had no more interest in firearms since they didn't have to hunt anymore. So now I have my grandaddy's shot gun that my dad carved a hunting dog in the stock when he was 10. Am I the only one?

 

[hkcavalier]

The only gun I inherited from my father was a Sears-branded Winchester 1400 with a cracked fore end that would be tough for a pawn shop to move for more than $200. He had a couple of nicer guns that were unfortunately stolen and never recovered, but neither were mind blowing. I'll be leaving some good ones and my daughters are already considering what they'd like (though their choices in husbands will likely play a big role down the road).

 

[LittleAugieMo]

Wouldn't hurt to do a little research as a lot if "hardware branded" firearms were made under contract by name manafactures....but my family was in the same boat as yours....firearms were strictley a tool to do a job....Massachusetts arms shotgun,single shot Winchesrer .22

 

[cadmike]

Dear old Dad left me a Western Auto Revelation R100b. Single shot bolt action .22lr. Apparently made by Mossberg. I love that little rifle.

 

[blackdeuce]

I only have one gun that was passed down from my grandfather. He brought this home from WWII.

 

[max503]

I would have been the one who carved the dog in the stock.

No lie. About the time Reagan was president, there was a nickel Model 29 going around town. No one wanted "The Hair Dryer Gun", so I ended up with it, cheap. It had those honkin' big target stocks. They were way too big for my hands so I took a wood rasp to them.

You should have seen the look on the face of the guy I sold that gun to some years later. I had replaced the original stocks with Pachmyers. He asked if I had the originals ---So I dug them out and gave them to him.

 

[03hemi]

I'm kidding. My grand parents, and parents bought guns for hunting and it was a no name brand at a hardware store in the south. They were poor and did the best they could. To put it in perspective I am 69. Later in life they were all successful but they had no more interest in firearms since they didn't have to hunt anymore. So now I have my grandaddy's shot gun that my dad carved a hunting dog in the stock when he was 10. Am I the only one?

That's why we say, "there are gun collections and then there is a collection of guns".

 

[Alpo]

Coworker came to me one day. Wanted my help in valuing some guns. He had to put his father in a home, so he was going to sell his father's guns to help pay for it. One of them was a six and a half inch old model Blackhawk 357. And I told him I did not care what the book said - we were valuing the gun using the newest version of the Blue Book - that it was worth $250 to me. And the Blue Book said it was only worth $200, so he was quite happy to take 250 for it.

Everything else was a department store gun. I would tell him things like "this is a Marlin Model 60 and it would probably be worth about $125 if it said Marlin, but since it says Revelation it's only worth about 80".

 

[Yendor357]

The only thing the Old Man ever gave me was a name and a lot of “sermons”.
Was never particularly fond of either.

 

[Hawg Rider]

I'm afraid that I'm in the same boat as many of you guys. I inherited a few rifles and pistols that my Dad brought back from WWII Europe, but nothing of real value or historical significance. He had enough of war and shooting so he was never interested in becoming a hunter or firearms collector. We also inherited a few utilitarian firearms (RG Model 14 revolver, Stevens/Savage 124 shotgun, Remington Nylon 66 rifle) from my wife's step grandfather that I passed along to our nephew. However I did keep a Remington 511 Scoremaster .22 rifle. The only firearm of value and interest that we've inherited was from my wife's LEO grandfather...his EDC Model 15-2 snubbie from 1962/1964.

 

[mckenney99]

My parents were not into guns at all and there were never any in our home when I grew up. However my father did purchase a SS Ruger Security Six 4 inch for my 21st birthday while I was finishing my Police Administration BS degree work prior to entering LE. I still have that Ruger.
I also inherited a single shot 22lr bolt action Marlin rifle from my maternal grandmother. Grandma and Grandpa used that old 22lr to pick squirrels off their bird feeders from their bedroom windows. Grandpa was a finish carpenter and added a 2 inch extension to the stock. Many years ago I removed the added extension, found/fitted a reproduction butt plate and refinished the stock to clean the old rifle up. I am getting older and don't have any children but I wanted the old Marlin 22lr to stay in the family, so I got hold of my niece and asked if her son would like to have it and would they permit me to pass it on to him, along with a family history of the rifle I had put together. My niece and her son were thrilled because her son had heard about grandma/Grandpa but had never gotten to meet them.

 

[DARE]

I on the other hand was quite fortunate. The Hamilton rifle belonged to my grandfather and my father before it was given to me at age four. The Ruger Bearcat I got on my 9th birthday. Two guns in the picture I acquired in the last few years. The rest came from my father's collection. There's a Triple Lock, a pre-war K-22 Outdoorsman, a Registered Magnum and several 1st year guns.
The only sad part of the story is that I had a few more that I foolishly sold.

 

[jack the toad]

Due to financial circumstances beyond their control, my folks weren't able to delve much into firearms. My older brother had an old Remington single-shot .22 our dad got for probably less than $20 at local auction, that I pulled my first trigger on. But both mom and dad taught us kids firearm safety, responsibility, etc. Of course, I did have my Daisy BB gun. With all this in mind, along with my affection for firearms, I'm fortunately able to have acquired a few, that I plan to pass along to kids/gkids. Currently, at 70 y/o, I've let the 6 gkids (5-20 y/o) select among themselves, certain models. They seem thrilled, as well as I do. I've compelled myself to certain things to teach kids/gkids, regardless, if mine or not. Some of the more important subjects, consisting of how to swim, drive (particularly stick shift), gun safety and responsibility (a major topic and regardless, if liking guns or not). Fortunately, they all do like and enjoy guns. shooting, etc.
Few other things I feel that are important and my kids were taught/shown are to ride a bike, tie certain useful knots & rappel, build a fire, etc, etc. Basically dad/gdad duties, and I wouldn't change it for the world.
Here's to a Happy Father's Day to dads everywhere.

 

[30-30remchester]

Having inherited a few myself and am the person in my family and small town, that is called upon to fix broken antique knives and gun. Several times a year I am requested by a friend or friend of a friend to fix up their grandpa's gun (substitute any family member) and where to get it re-blued and refinished. I tell them that they must have not loved their grandpa. Asking why I thought so, I inform them that every scratch, dent, and rub mark IS their grandpa and they are about to destroy his story and history. One was sent by a friend, an 1893 Marlin owned by his grandpa. Explaining my philosophy that adding new finish to the stock is actually covering up his grandpa's DNA. He thanks me often for preventing his stupidity and says he hunts occasionally with the old gun and when his cheek rest against the very woodgrain his grandpa had done for so many years, he can actually smell and feel him again though he has been gone for nearly 50 years. You are not "honoring" him by re-doing his things, you are insulting him.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

Nice bait, I fell for it as it hit home for me. The guns I am giving to my daughters are my Maverick 88 that I duck hunt with and my Winchester Model 69 that I am going to plink with them. Neither one is over 300$ but I am hopeful the sentimental value will make them prized in their eyes.

My 686 and NAA will go to the grave with me, as handguns are personal. I'll buy them their first J Frame or M&P pistol when they are 21 if they even want a carry gun. Time will tell.

 

[luvsmiths]

I'm kidding. My grand parents, and parents bought guns for hunting and it was a no name brand at a hardware store in the south. They were poor and did the best they could. To put it in perspective I am 69. Later in life they were all successful but they had no more interest in firearms since they didn't have to hunt anymore. So now I have my grandaddy's shot gun that my dad carved a hunting dog in the stock when he was 10. Am I the only one?

Just from that little short story you tell here, you couldn't have a more valuable firearm, no matter who the maker was!!!

 

[BE Mike]

This one was passed down to me from my father. It belonged to his favorite uncle who I met. The uncle was a U.S. Cavalry veteran of the Mexican Expedition around 1916 and quite the outdoorsman. The rifle is a Marlin .22 lr, l and short pump with a Winchester barrel. I had it gone through by a gunsmith and it works and shoots like it should. It's not worth much money, but is priceless to me.

 

[Valmet]

I’ve inherited firearms from both sides of my family. My mom’s side was well-off and I’m fortunate to have a Merkel 203E 20 Ga side-lock and a 1953 Winchester Model 70 Super Grade in 220 Swift.

My dads side was more working class, farm folks who utilized their firearms- I’ve got my grandads Winchester 1890 that he paid $13 for from a hardware store in Indiana in 1931, his Browning A5 16 Ga, a Remington 550-1 .22 and his S&W Victory Model that he came home with in 1945. Was his nightstand gun for 55 years. Had it lettered a decade ago and it orig went to OSS Naval Station Norfolk in Aug 1944.

My dad gave me his 1968 S&W 17-3 K22 for my 17th bday (a looooong time ago) and it’s prob my favorite S&W.

 

[45Smashemflat]

Some firearms are investments and a way to transfer some wealth down through the family. I can’t say as I have any of those.

I tend to look at things like this in terms of “is that Grandpa’s piece?” Or, “is it a piece of Grandpa?” Almost all of my family guns were users and bear the scars of same. I do work to address any mechanical issues with them and take good care of them. As the younger generation gets of age, I move them along, along with any history and stories I have. No one is going to auction one off and buy a car. They MIGHT get enough for a decent bottle of booze. And they are all instructed to come to me first in the event they EVER feel the need to sell them. (None so far…)

 

[.38SuperMan]

Obviously I’d rather have my family members back rather than their guns but I inherited my dad’s Remington 3200 12 gauge, his Remington 1200 20 gauge and his model 66-2 2.5”. From my dad’s older brother I inherited a New England Arms 32 H&R and Browning Challenger II.

Before my dad’s passing he gave me his model 29-2 4” nickel in the presentation case. Beautiful!