BLACKHAWKNJ
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If you receive a hand me down, you say "Aww, gee!"
If you receive an heirloom, you say "OH WOW !"
If you receive an heirloom, you say "OH WOW !"
What's the difference between a hand me down and a heirloom ?
- Thread starter BLACKHAWKNJ
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When you get it, it's a hand-me-down
When you sell it, it's an heirloom
When you sell it, it's an heirloom
robvious
Member
hand me downs are not old enough to be considered classic or antique... just old junk you big brother out grew and has been waiting for you...
and is terribly out of fashion when you get it...
and is terribly out of fashion when you get it...
DeathGrip
US Veteran
Junk or treasure.
Bozz10mm
US Veteran
A hand-me-down becomes an heirloom after it has been passed down 2 generations.
It depends on the person receiving it. It can be either on this alone.
Dougaz
Member
I had two (2) older sisters and we were so poor I had to wear their hand me down clothes.
That'll toughen you up.
That'll toughen you up.
I was the oldest child in my immediate family. I got at least one shirt handed down from an uncle who was only 7 years older than me. To me it was the coolest thing that I had one of my uncle's shirts. The hand me downs from him were out of the question when he grew to 6' 4" and I made it to 5' 10".
I'm now wearing some of my late dad's clothes and I inherited a number of his guns.
A hand-me-down is when your mom gives you your older brother’s well worn, but still servicable pants.
An heirloom is when your rich uncle passes, and it turns out he’s left you a Purdey shotgun.
(So far, I’ve had more experience with hand-me-downs than heirlooms... But, hey! I’m only 68....)
An heirloom is when your rich uncle passes, and it turns out he’s left you a Purdey shotgun.
(So far, I’ve had more experience with hand-me-downs than heirlooms... But, hey! I’m only 68....)
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THE PILGRIM
Member
UncleEd
Member
A hand-me-down is just about anything
you happen to own and not worth much.
An heirloom is whatever I happen to own
and is worth a great deal.
you happen to own and not worth much.
An heirloom is whatever I happen to own
and is worth a great deal.
duane_wade
Member
Same thing for me but my grandfather's knife is a rare Case XX three blade pocket knife made from 1951-1954 (I could be wrong on exact years) and I lost it and tried to buy one and found that it has quite a monetary value to it so I quit carrying every day and it will be given to my son and hopefully will passed down a couple more generations. This will be one of the last things I have that can be considered a family heirloom.
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Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
To take the question seriously ... 
I’ve always understood the term “heirloom” to have an emotional component of family tradition or unique connection to previous and now dead owners/ancestors. It should be something particular to them, not just stuff they owned. It’s also not tied to monetary value.
And on a side note, hand-me-downs don’t have to come from dead people. Although when I was a kid we were so frugal, not to say poor, that I distinctly remember wearing my departed grandpa’s flannel shirts. Definitely NOT heirlooms.
I’ve always understood the term “heirloom” to have an emotional component of family tradition or unique connection to previous and now dead owners/ancestors. It should be something particular to them, not just stuff they owned. It’s also not tied to monetary value.
And on a side note, hand-me-downs don’t have to come from dead people. Although when I was a kid we were so frugal, not to say poor, that I distinctly remember wearing my departed grandpa’s flannel shirts. Definitely NOT heirlooms.
OFT II
US Veteran
vs. rust .
Does that bring back memories. My maternal grandfather died in 1970, and I got his blue and white plaid flannel shirt. I still have it. It has a big hole at the one elbox and a bunch of other little holes in the sleeve. Fast forward to 2000, and I was in the Fredericktowne Players production of "To Kill a Mockingbird." During rehearsals I was talking with the fellow who played the part of "Tom Robinson", the defendant, and somehow we must have got on the subject of our costumes and I had a flash of inspiration that PawPaw's old flannel shirt would look perfect on "Tom Robinson." And it did! Thirty years after PawPaw passed on, his shirt got a new life as part of a costume in a classic stage play.
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Ivan the Butcher
Member
My wife was/is the oldest girl in a 3 household generation. There is a home movie of her 12th birthday party of receiving a dress. Her younger sister says, "I got so tired of see you in that dress, Then I had to wear it for two or three years!" The a younger cousin spoke up and said the exact same thing! My mother in law ask what happened to it? Rebekah (my daughter) was too short for it, so it went to Mandy & Kim! Mandy outgrew it and Kim refused to ever try it on! So it's in a closet at Mandy's waiting to be loved again!
OTOH: My best friend inherited, a brand new pair late 1950's pair of Levi's bib overalls in 1973. He started wearing them in the late 70's and still wears them. There must be 2 pounds of rivets in those old overalls!
Ivan
OTOH: My best friend inherited, a brand new pair late 1950's pair of Levi's bib overalls in 1973. He started wearing them in the late 70's and still wears them. There must be 2 pounds of rivets in those old overalls!
Ivan
