[Norton]

We went down to see my wife's parents this weekend. Her dad has long been into guns, particularly cowboy and civil war firearms. We often make small talk about guns and what I've been shooting, etc.

So we were talking on Friday night and he says "hold on a second" and goes back into THE ROOM. No one in the family, not even my mother-in-law, has ever been into THE ROOM. It's basically where he keeps all of his guns and anything else he doesn't want anyone fooling around with.

So for the next hour, he brought out one by one some of his firearms. Two Hawkens type rifles, a Chinese SKS, a S+W .38 Special, a black powder pistol (see below for more about that), 3 30/30 lever actions from the 1920's, some hunting rifles and maybe even a couple of others.

We didn't even get to the shotguns or the .44 magnum.

What I've discovered is that his knowledge of firearms is, to put it mildly, encyclopedic. He can rattle off dates, places, ballistics, mechanics without even thinking hard.

We finished off the next evening by sitting in the back yard giving his air rifles and pistols a workout. Shot everything from a Daisy Red Ryder (didn't shoot my out either;) ) to an RWS with a scope.

As we were leaving he handed me a package and said that there was a birthday present for my wife and a little something for me.

The wife got a S+W .22lr Model 2206 in stainless.

I got the black powder pistol. .44 caliber, made in Italy. Not sure of manufacturer, but is stamped with "Navy Model 1851" on top of barrel. Marked on side of frame and barrel with "PN" and "XX9". Anyone have any info on this gun?

FIL said that when we come back down in the Fall, we'll go give the Hawkens a work out:cool:

[Jake]

May have been made by Uberti. If I remember correctly they do remakes of alot of old blackpowder guns.

[4v50 Gary]

Nice father in law Norton and since I probably won't be marrying into your family soon, please ask "dad" to join this website and share his encyclopedic knowledge with us mortals. Betcha he's got lots to share.

[Norton]

4v50 gary,

I'll try to work on him, but to say that he's not into modern technology would be an understatement. Until he gets with being online, I'll have to share the info secondhand I suppose.

[Norton]

Jake,

I'll check into that. I did some poking around on the NavyArms site since they make lots of reproductions. Nothing conclusive, so I guess I'll keep up the search.

[Mark Tyson]

Norton, we may have to call on you to relay questions to your father in law!
By the way, does your wife have a sister? LOL

[Norton]

She does indeed have a sister but you better ask her husband for permission to call on her:D

[JonnyB]

My F-I-L sent a rifle home with me after Christmas a couple years ago. It's a .300 Win. mag, built on a Brno Mauser action, custom barrel and a bird's-eye maple stock.

He doesn't plan on needing it any more, so he wanted it to go to a good home.

Now, if only he'd treat his wife with the same generosity...

JB

[Norton]

Saxon,

I did some poking around on the Uberti site and they do indeed have some firearms similar to mine. I ordered a catalog from them this morning.