Shot the old guy's gun

[sigp220.45]

My Dad raised 7 kids on basically no money. All nine of us lived in a 900 square foot house, but I never knew I was poor until I left for college.

He liked guns, but would never spend money on himself. In his later years I bought him some nice guns, but when he was buying something for himself he would always buy the cheapest option. Case in point - this Rossi .38 Special.

I was a Smith nut by then, but he wouldn't hear it. This Rossi was cheaper and the guy at the pawn shop told him it was just as good.

I didn't poor mouth it. That's a great gun, Dad, I said. He shot it a few times and put it away. Age caught up with him, and the cocky young man who went off the fight Hitler at 18 is now a frail shell in the nursing home who doesn't know who I am. I have his guns now. I farmed some out to my brothers, but I kept the Rossi.

You know what? It IS a great gun.

Its a Model 68. Three inch barrel, five shot, semi-target hammer, genuine South American monkeywood grips.

The bluing is really nice, the rival of many North American gun makers. I had never shot it. I ran across it in the safe and decided to give it a little workout in honor of the old guy.

It's strange about Dads, isn't it? I'm six feet tall, he never cracked 5' 4". In my head, he looms over me.

 

[bigwheelzip]

That is a beautiful tribute to your dad.

 

[pawncop]

A wonderful tribute to your dad.

 

[Ia.redneck]

Well said sir!
Great Dad's are priceless

 

[GerSan69]

God bless ya, brother. An heirloom is 100% great memories. Can't put a price on those.

 

[moosedog]

You know what? It really is a nice gun and a nice tribute.

 

[robvious]

the most valuable firearms are those that belonged to the generations that came before us and taught us how to be who we are, by example... the ones that belonged to my grandfather, father and uncle are my most valuable... and my son understands what they are and who they were...

 

[TX-Dennis]

Wish I could give this one a dozen likes. The screen got a little bit blurry for some reason.

 

[Krogen]

I love your story. Your Dad is a lucky man to have you as a son. Thanks for telling us about him. Keep him on that pedestal and look up to him always. When the day comes that he must leave you, you will still have that Rossi. It's a little bit of your Dad for you to hang on to.

 

[BAM-BAM]

They were both the Greatest and a very Frugal Generation...................

Once asked my Dad why he bought and customized a Colt New Service in .357 vs. just getting/ordering a Reg Mag. like he wanted....... cus even after all the ordering and shipping to and from Kings.... the Colt was $5 cheaper than the Smith Reg. Magnum...... he carried and shot that Colt as both his primary duty gun and as his centerfire target for 39 years (with some time off for a trip to the South Pacific)......... and another 20+ in retirement.

Family heirlooms help tie a family together generation to generation..............

 

[Chukar60]

Good Friday night read. Awesome gun and story.
It brought a smile to my face. My father passed about 6 years ago. He never cracked 5' 4" either. But my memories of him loom large even at my 57 years.
My father never cared for handguns. He was a rifleman and a good one at that.
I have two of his rifles and am glad my daughters are hunters and shooters as the rifles can now go to a third generation.
Thank you for the story and the memories it stirred.

 

[MCorps0311]

Great glad you found out later in life,you dad was right about the Rossi. Congrats and take care of it like he did,someday a child of yours may want it.

 

[shouldazagged]

Nice gun and a sweet story. I hope you'll air out the Rossi again from time to time.

My dad was never a gun enthusiast or owner. His vision was very poor (he didn't drive after 1946), and he always worked up to three jobs at a time. But I think he was pleased when a family friend, a WWII infantry veteran, gave me a bring-back Walther PP in its issue holster, when I was twelve.

 

[joeintexas]

Wonderful story. Thank you. Made me think of my long past father. Very strong generation.

 

[gwpercle]

Good post , enjoyed sharing it with you.
Made me think of my Dad.
Gary

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Nice gun, great story.

I've got to ask, is monkeywood even a real thing?

 

[M29since14]

It's strange about Dads, isn't it? I'm six feet tall, he never cracked 5' 4". In my head, he looms over me.

They do that, don't they? My Dad has been gone for fifteen years now. I still think of him just about every day.

 

[American1776]

What a wonderful story about your dad and that rossi.

It does have a beautiful bluing. I bet you that the fit and finish on that 'budget' revolver would top the fit and finish of more expensive production revolvers made today.

 

[model70hunter]

I enjoyed your story. Most of it I can rate to exactly.
Thanks it brought back memories of my Dad. He too fought at 18 in WW2. Started in North Africa.

He and your Dad were children of the depression, other than 1 pre 64 M 70 in 270 he only had what was for the time less expensive guns.

Then I had to shed some tears, my Dad spent his last year in a Veterans Home not knowing who he or I was except for one thing. When he was in early dementia I went on an Elk and bear hunt in Colorado. In some thick brush a big boar black bear was growling and snapping his jaws to run me off. I dropped my day pack and coat. I went in after him. At some point he ran out the back side.

When althiemers was at its worst it hurt me bad to go see him. My wife held my hand while I cried and died inside.

At some point in those last 6 months he never seemed to recognize me but started saying Bear, bear, bear. After the 2nd time I would tell him the bear story, he calmed down and held my hand. I guess it's the only way he could let me know he knew who I was.

 

[Mr.32-20]

Great memories... hang on to them an cherish them... the Rossi is a sweet piece.. i'be got 2 of them in 32 smith long....