Family or Inherited Guns

[Rodan]

My father was not at all interested in guns after returning from WWII, though he did some hunting in his youth. He did bring back a Luger and BSR S&W from the war, and gave them to me several years before he passed.

Other than those, none of my parents' generation, or my generation on either side of the family have been shooters. My brother in law owns a few handguns, and my father in law is a hunter, but I wouldn't call either of them shooting enthusiasts.

With no children of my own, the Luger and BSR will eventually go to one of my sister's progeny. As much as I'd like to pass them to my only nephew, I don't know that he is a reliable repository of a family heirloom. One of my nieces is married to a gun enthusiast, who I think would be a better custodian, and they have two sons, one of whom it could pass to. Hopefully I have plenty of time left for that decision.

 

[Buford57]

Of 5 guns my wife and I inherited between us, my three are well worn working/farm long guns that wouldn't bring $500 total, but have sentimental value to me, but not my sons. Maybe someone will want them for the truck or barn. My bride inherited her father's Colt Cobra and war trophy Luger and a pre-64 Model 94 Winchester that would be near 100% but for her grandfather's initials carved into the wrist of the stock. Again, no interest by our heirs. When we are gone the Luger will probably become a placeholder for someone looking for a pristine example and the Winchester will go to someone who will whine to a forum about that dirty so-and-so who ruined "his" rifle with a jack knife. I will be past caring.

 

[petepeterson]

I didn't want to quote the whole thing, but Shrek's post above hits home. Very similar to my story.
My Uncle got most of my Grandfather's things, and gave a good bit to my younger cousin, but I got to spend most of his retirement with him.

 

[TLFR]

My Dad gave me his CMP 1903 A3 many years before he passed. My brothers were given another CMP 1903 A3, a CMP 1911, a couple of 22 long rifles. He wanted my 2 brothers and I to enjoy receiving his remaining firearms just prior to his death. I picked two handguns, 3 long guns and a over under shotgun .22 magnum. We had a great time of selecting our choices and wonderful memories of the day. Sharing stories of how he came in possession of them and the times we shared shooting with him. Thanks for the forum subject, it brings back great memories!

 

[Mike LaNier]

Well, for those of us who are 'gun geezers', what to do with the 'collection' as we approach our demise is always an issue, particularly the family heirlooms. I have an 1849 Colt Pocket and a 3rd Model Dragoon that belonged to my paternal great-great grandfather, who used them in the War Between the States; I also have my maternal grandfather's Colt SAA and his machete from his service in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, as well as an M-1 carbine and a 1911 I carried sixty years ago in Vietnam. With three kids of my own and four step-children, I'm sure that family members will appreciate and inherit these old tools! Most of my kids and stepkids are 'gunnies' as are most of my grandkids, I taught all of them to shoot, so I suspect the guns will go to willing hands. Thank God!

 

[Paddy 60]

Funny you ask this now. I'm new here and asked some questions about an old family S&W Model 2 Army that burned in a fire 40+ years ago. Just getting around to restoring it. Lucky it didn't get too hot, springs still intact.

So the question my wife and I were having, what to do with when I'm gone? None of my 3 kids like guns in any way. I thought maybe donate it to the county history museum where our family is from.

Talking to my 94 year old mother a few days ago, I asked was it my great great or my great great great grand father's gun? She "oh no, your step father bought it at a gun show"

So now I have conflicting stories; At the time, the 3 guns were put out. My older brother chose a US military muzzle loader/flintlock date 1815-ish, step dad bought at gun show. Still on the table and old Kentucky long rifle converted to percussion cap, step dad bought at gun show, with Nice curly maple stock and the S&W Model 2 Army. I chose the the S&W because I was told it was a family gun on my father side.

I'd like to believe my mom when she was 50 had the history correct, now at 94, maybe a bit mixed up...

 

[llowry61]

My dad was never a collector. The guns he had were tools for hunting and used as such. I inherited 11 guns from him and a couple from an uncle who was also a hunter. Of the 11, six are pass downs but neither he nor I really knew where they came from. He lived on a mini farm as a kid and there was a closet that had guns in it for anyone to use as needed. When he moved out no one else ever used them so he commandeered them at some point. None of them are of great monetary value and I have no heirs to give them or my collection to, so I suppose they will get sold off at some point. Kind of a shame that it is the end of the line. I get depressed when I think too much about it, so I will deal with that in the coming years. Hope I have some time left !

 

[Buzzzer]

I’ve never inherited a firearm from any of my family members.

Me neither, however, I am changing that for my kids...

 

[dm1215]

I often see threads about guns passed down within a family. How much their worth, what they are, etc. I’m curious how many folks are in the same boat as I and have not / will not ever be the recipient of an heirloom or family gun for whatever reason? I’ve had family members who had a gun or 2, even had a family member in law enforcement but they just weren’t into guns as collectibles or as they got older the guns went away (not sure where). I a little jelous of those fortunate to have received a nice gun with a family connection. I am certainly going to bless a couple people in my family eventually with a couple nice pieces. I hope they will see them as something worth keeping and passing on.

My wife has two of them, a Winchester 1873 in 38-40, and a Whitney Volverine .22 pistol. She has no interest in them, and I have suggested selling them.

 

[arjay]

My father hunted deer a few times before I was born ,so when I took up hunting he gave me his old 3006. I refinished the stock,added a sling and a new scope only to discover that it keyholed everything lol. Some years later I had it rebarreled and it became a shooter

 

[686_was_my_first]

Firearms I received when my Dad passed.

High Standard which i never knew he had!!

Model 66 which I never knew he had and it is my wife's favorite gun!!!

S&W Model J, my Dad's retirement gift. Never fired. Want to give it to my daughter but she cannot pull the trigger.

Ruger P85

Ruger Blackhawk I gave my Dad for Christmas. Guess I knew this would be my firearm in the future.

Enjoy!

 

[dapastaguy]

I have my father in laws 1911. It was his service firearm from his time in the Air Force. He flew the RF-101 and carried it in Korea and Vietnam. It was manufactured in 1946 by Remington.

 

[Yendor357]

The only thing the old man ever gave me was a name and a lot of “lectures”.

Not particularly fond of either.

I had been promised a couple of things. But they never materialized.

Everything I own, I earned; which is fine. The one thing I have inherited is the ability to go to work every single day, save and invest. Now my money makes more money than most people make.

 

[Nutriaitch]

I often see threads about guns passed down within a family. How much their worth, what they are, etc. I’m curious how many folks are in the same boat as I and have not / will not ever be the recipient of an heirloom or family gun for whatever reason? I’ve had family members who had a gun or 2, even had a family member in law enforcement but they just weren’t into guns as collectibles or as they got older the guns went away (not sure where). I a little jelous of those fortunate to have received a nice gun with a family connection. I am certainly going to bless a couple people in my family eventually with a couple nice pieces. I hope they will see them as something worth keeping and passing on.

my dad handed 3 guns down to me somewhat recently.

a .44 magnum with 10-5/8" barrel
a .40 cal
and a .410 crackbarrel shotgun I used as a kid

 

[BabaBlueJay]

My parents did not have any guns (other than a air pistol my Dad got rid of at my Mom´s request). I do plan to hand down a few to my daughters and take 1 to the grave. I have a Winchester Model 69 circa 1937 that was the first gun my 4-year-old learned how to operate (unloaded with close supervision). That will be restored with blueing and protecting the wood, may drill and tap for a scope (not sure I want to ruin it but it is not a collectable to me). The other one will get my hunting shotgun if she can handle it, otherwise I will have to figure something out to balance it out. That is even if they want them at all, who knows they are only 4 and 2.

 

[cruiserdan]

I am very fortunate to receive a couple very special pieces. My dad's 1959 Model 48 .22 magnum and my father-in-law's 1950 .44 special target. My dad's 48 is now cased with another 8 3/8 1959 48.

 

[Wyo]

My Dad had no interest in guns. He had only an old Remington 510 single shot .22 and a 20 ga. Ithaca 37 shotgun. I still have the .22 and my brother has the Ithaca. My Granddad did have some guns. He called all his grandchildren to his house one evening where he had all of them laid out on the floor. Starting with the oldest (me), we took our choices in turn until they were all gone. Very smart! He avoided all the fighting that I saw so often among surviving relatives once owners passed. Anyway, I received a 1948 Winchester Model 70 .270 that was Granddad's favorite elk rifle. I had tried to talk him out of it for 30 years and I finally got it! Also received a S&W 22/32 Heavy Frame Target and a Marlin Model 90 O/U 20 ga. shotgun. I gave the shotgun to my daughter and I still have the other two. I have lots of guns now, and every time I try to start thinning things out I find myself headed in the wrong direction. I think what I might eventually do is get everyone together who has any interest at all, have each of them pick out eight or ten, then sell the rest. I have several descendants and sons in law that are gunny so I'm sure they will appreciate them. Seems like about as equitable a way as I can think of to deal with them.

 

[Scuba16]

I have 2 that i got from my dad that he got from moms mom that were my great great grand fathers from when he was a railroad cop in the early 1900 s a H&R 32 and a 32 short that was said to be his bug .
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[greenwellg]

After flying over Berlin with close to 500 88 millimeter professional gunners trying to put that round where he would be in a 5 mile vertical flight when they knew his speed, heading and altitude with him and his copilot as the two, of 16, that actually came home, he retired in 1975 and died almost 50 years later and left me over $200k. He probably flew through enough shrapnel to build a B17 and walked away unscathed. Now I guess I can buy anything gun related I desired, but I bought a new car that gets 60 MPG (2024 Prius) and play pickleball to stay healthy, 2.5 hours daily, 6 months from my 75 birthday.
Owned some very nice guns over the years, .256 Newton, couple of triple locks, An early .357 AutoMag, El Monte built. At one time close to a hundred guns, Now down to a cabinet and a couple drawers and 3 under the bed.
I helped him write a book, chauffered him around when he passed 82 for 10 years and we had a very special relationship. I am the first male to ever kiss my Pop on the lips and made sure he knew how much I loved him every time we parted company. One brother called me the day he (Pop) died. I did not know my mother had died until the wife and I went over to their house 4 days after she was gone and we only lived 7 miles away. My two younger brothers didn't think to tell me and me and my wife went their and found out she has passed 4 days before. Sad to watch my family pass away, but the two brothers left made their choices concerning our relationship and I'm fine with that.
This forum is more of a home to me now, for the time I have left and I enjoy your stories and company.
The only gun he had that I would love to have was thrown into the Atlantic ocean on his way home from Europe. He was making $375 a month and that 45 was $12 when it was issued, so he didn't want to get in trouble.

 

[ACfixer]

Dad left me a 1974 model 94 and a same year Remington 1100, I still have them of course. He passed in 1997 and I only have a daughter who is not entirely against guns, but she's generally a lib and therefore I'll maybe leave her an AR pistol or something she can't own in New York just to teach her hahaha!

I also have a gun each from a few dear friends that have passed. All of this will go to their kids if possible.

The rest of my stuff, I haven't figure out. Daughter would sell them, for the Glocks and stuff like that no big deal right? But I have some pretty cool S&W, Colt, and Winchester stuff that she won't get.

Guns I inherited unfortunately:

A former employee that bought my HVAC biz then overdosed on pills laced with fentanyl. 1947 Colt DS.



A friend with terminal brain cancer left me this one - late 70's (I think) 41 in beautiful condition.



From a friend that couldn't own it in CA anymore, he gave me this when I left. Complete kit Hungarian FEG pre-ban AKM. He's still alive so more like gifted than inherited. But priceless to me, heck of a gift from a dear friend.



Another great friend, she just died of pancreatic cancer two weeks ago, She gave me this a while back. I can't remember what we decided it was, a kit gun the 22 with aluminum frame. Model 43 perhaps?