I can tell you I had one hell of a big smile when I got my Henry Big boy in 45/70. The first time I shot it, it was like -4°F and I only popped off 4 rds and was hurried. But the 2nd time in the spring, I shot it off hand, unsupported at about 90 yards at a 10" Steel gong and put 4 rds dead center of that gong using the semi Buckhorn sights. I fell in love with that gun then and there and it's a gun that I would have never bought for myself.
My grandmother's ex husband, who was my psuedo-sort of-grandfather growing up, hadn't seen him in almost two decades, about 17 years and one day he shows up to my house totally unannounced, completely random, 7am, my head is spinning. I'm like "good to see you after all these years, but what the hell are you doing here and at 7am while im trying to get out the door to work". He said he wanted to go to a gun shop with me and I graciously declined the offer because I had a job to be at and wasn't gonna go off on some last minute adventure with my grandma's estranged ex.
Anyway, long story shorter, he shows up at about 9pm that Friday night with a brand new in box Henry, Hard case and a box of ammo and said he wanted me to have it and that he'd always meant to get me it. Very strange, I tried to turn it down but he wasn't having it. He seemed genuinely very happy to give it to me. A few months later he flipped his motorcycle into a ravine and is a paraplegic now. Sad, weird, dunno what to make of it all but I love that Henry and I get a smile every time I shoot it and think of the randomness of how I came to have it.... just basically fell out of the clear blue sky into my lap. He said "I wanted to get the best thing I could think of because I'm proud of ya"....... make of that what you will....