I have this old gun:

This here Enfield no2 mk 1 belonged to my step fathers father. It was made in 42. The whole world was working at stopping the Japanese and Germans. It sure seemed like it was all or nothing. Grand dad was serving in the Army. He was in intelligence. I don’t know doing what specifically. He served in the Korean War as well. I don’t believe he was in the military the whole time in between. I think he just stepped up and did what he had to do. I don’t know for sure I was nowhere near born yet. He didn’t talk a lot about his service so not even my father has many stories. He was reaching for this pistol when some sorry folks robbed the grocery store him and my grandmother owned. They got him before he could fill his hand. He died that night. I believe it was sometime in the 70s. the store is still on broad street in mobile. I think it’s still run buy his cousins who my grandmother sold it to. Either way he was gone before I got to meet him. I have only seen his stone and pictures. I will always have this pistol. I will give it to my son when it’s time. I haven’t shot it ever. I only have two bullets for it. Old LRN that have been in and out of that pistol since I don’t know when. I watched my tiny grey headed grandmother slide them in it once. There was a prison chain gang escape. She was watching us and she grabbed it and a rosary and proceeded to keep us all on the couch where she could see us and the door. I miss that woman sorely. Anyway that’s what I know about that gun.

This is a Type 26 revolver. It is not reworked, but the vast majority of them were refurbed at least once. My wife’s grandad brought it back from his time in the war. He was sent to Korea after the bombs dropped, and there were literal mountains of Japanese equipment left behind when the Japanese had left the country as an occupying force.

This pistol was pulled from one of those piles and given away in a drawing (lucky winner!). He says this is about the only thing he ever won in his life, and he carried with him during the rest of his time in service. It come with a holster that is very unusual (likely very early) for the type, and hasnt been shot since he left Korea.

Meet Margaux,,,
Model 1898 8mm Lebel

I purchased this handgun at a farm auction back in 1966,,,
I was 14 years old at the time,,,
If memory serves correctly,,,
I paid $10.00 for it.

I had no idea what it was other than it was a handgun
And came with a sock full of ammunition.

The old coot who ran the nearby army surplus store was able to get more ammunition for a while,,,
But by the time I graduated high school (1968) the supply disappeared.

The old gal sat in a box in my Mom's attic during my military years (70-78),,,
In the early 80's I resurrected her and started to search for ammo again.

I finally found a place that would make reloads for me from cut-down 32-20 cases,,,
Not too accurate or powerful but at least I could pop a few rounds.

I learned that this is thought to be the first military handgun designed for that new smokeless powder,,,
I was told that by a military gun dealer who also sold me 200 rounds of original ammo.

I hoarded that stuff like gold,,,
Only taking Margaux out on my birthday.

Two years ago I was looking at a Fiocchi ammo brochure,,,
Lo and behold they had factory new ammo in 8mm Lebel.

I immediately contacted Fiocchi and found they made a run of this ammo once every 4-5 years,,,
My luck was good as they had just shipped some to a few dealers in the US.

I got on the phone to them and was able to score 550 rounds of new ammo,,,
Gads Custom Ammo will reload the empties for me at a low cost.

Now I take her out and shoot 12 rounds twice a year,,,
On the 4th of July and on my birthday.

The gun is a masterpiece of machining,,,
True old-world quality in a solidly designed fieryarm.

I call her my "steampunk" revolver,,,
She reminds me of a steam locomotive engine.

Aarond

.

Much more elegant than the Spanish S&W copies in that caliber.

My grandfather's Winchester Model 42, .410 pump shotgun, made in 1938. I borrowed this sweetheart when I was in high school to hunt rabbits, quail, pheasant, and doves in eastern Colorado. It went to my uncle when Grandpa died, then to me when my uncle passed. Tomorrow it accompanies me and my younger granddaughter (who insisted I take her shooting) to the range where she will shoot her great-great grandfather's shotgun for the first time.

My Grandparents moved from MO to WY before the turn of the last century.
Before they left, my Grand Dad ordered a Springfield Trapdoor from Bannerman's. He paid $5.50 for it. He had heard about Indians and Rustlers.

When they moved out here they built their homestead and barn. He put the rifle in the barn and there it stayed untouched until 1947 when they abandoned the place and moved to town.
The homestead was still part of the family ranch which had grown a great bit.

My Dad and I were at the homestead gathering up equipment and supplies, and I found the rifle. It was in really bad shape and I wanted it badly. I was only 4 years old and my Dad said, "When you're a little older."
It went into a closet at home as was forgotten until I was home from college one year for Christmas. I remembered the old rifle and dug it out.
The barrel was rusted badly and the stock was dried up and disintegrating. It went back in the closet for 20 more years.

My wife and I moved to the ranch and I found the gun again. This time I went to work to restore it.

I got an unfired barrel and a sporter stock from Reinhart-Fajen and made myself a hunting rifle..




I've taken Antelope, Mule Deer, Elk, and a bunch of nuisance critters with it..
It's a special rifle.

I also have a gun given to me to me by the last train robber in Wyoming, but that's another story.

Iggy

Great story and it's good to see you prevailed in finally getting the Trapdoor and restoring it to all of it's present day grandeur!

Well done sir!

bannockburn,
I call that one a poor man's Officer's Model.

J-Bar said:

My grandfather's Winchester Model 42, .410 pump shotgun, made in 1938. I borrowed this sweetheart when I was in high school to hunt rabbits, quail, pheasant, and doves in eastern Colorado. It went to my uncle when Grandpa died, then to me when my uncle passed. Tomorrow it accompanies me and my younger granddaughter (who insisted I take her shooting) to the range where she will shoot her great-great grandfather's shotgun for the first time.

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My dad has one of those. It hasn't even had 20 shots fired through it.

Not to be a bummer to this thread but my brother shot himself with this one. The bullet missed his heart by 2 cm. My mother put pressure on the wound and dialed 911. He died twice in the helicopter on the way to the hospital but was revived.

He's still around (and a changed man) today because he, like many people, believe the heart is off to the left. No one wanted the gun because of the bad joo joo. I took it and I love it. Very accurate. Especially for having sub par sights. Long live the BHP.

One more somewhat of a downer for a perfectly good thread. When my Grandpa passed he had it in his will that his sons and daughter and their kids each got one of his guns. What's funny is you could tell he rated who he liked best by the gun you got. The not so favorites would get a Sears and Roebuck or a Rohm or a Taurus. My Ma got his mint 1944 gov. Springfield 1911 (his favorite gun). I got the M1 Garand in the picture above. I think I stood pretty well in his book I sure miss that guy.

Nice gun, nice Grandpa, sorry for your loss.

12 ga W.W. Greener shotgun made in 1917 that my Dad liberated from a cave under a Japanese shore battery at Yokosuka Naval Base in 1945.
He was a Lt. in the Royal Navy on the cruiser HMS Newfoundland and led a landing party ashore to secure the battery before the fleet entered the harbor.
The Japanese politely surrendered and filled the landing craft with loot.
Beautiful shotgun that I'm proud to have inherited, but I prefer to shoot my old A5.
Tinpig

Deleted. Bummed Farmers thread out enough.

Mn Fats said:

Deleted. Bummed Farmers thread out enough.

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Man I don’t know about everyone else, but 5 dollars is 5 dollars. A story is a story. If we can’t Handle reality we shouldn’t be on the web. Sharing stories sad or happy is a way to share good times and bad. That’s how it works. Mine included the death of my grandfather.

Tinpig said:

...Beautiful shotgun that I'm proud to have inherited, but I prefer to shoot my old A5.
Tinpig

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I posted a picture of the firearm that was willed to me. My Grandpa still had other firearms left in his safe. One of which was his main clay shooter. A 1965 "light twelve". I purchased that from my Grandma. The very first gun I shot 50 out of 50 with. JMB was a genius. I purchased a great model 8 in 35 remington from her as well. My Grandpa had good taste in firearms. Every time I shoot one of his guns I think of him. I'll try and get pics posted.

Tinpig said:

View attachment 788587

View attachment 788588
12 ga W.W. Greener shotgun made in 1917 that my Dad liberated from a cave under a Japanese shore battery at Yokosuka Naval Base in 1945.
He was a Lt. in the Royal Navy on the cruiser HMS Newfoundland and led a landing party ashore to secure the battery before the fleet entered the harbor.
The Japanese politely surrendered and filled the landing craft with loot.
Beautiful shotgun that I'm proud to have inherited, but I prefer to shoot my old A5.
Tinpig

Click to expand...

Wow!

Found this chromed M1903 MK1 on Armslist a few years ago, listed by a pawnshop in Detroit. I was looking for a 60th Bday present for my Dad and thought it would go well with his chromed M1917 and M1 carbine.

Only problem was, I was broke and in Florida.....and he was scheduled to fly down from Chicago in May for the party.

So I called the shop and explained the situation. They were more than happy to put it on layaway for me- from 900 miles away. I dutifully mailed them a check every month, and things were on schedule- but then my Dad moved up his vacation by a month!

Another phone call to the pawnshop- the super nice couple running the place were awesome, and as I only had one more payment due, they actually suggested that they ship the gun immediately and I could just send the last payment along afterwards.

Dad's rifle arrived just in time- with a nice Birthday card from the pawnshop owners!

Reminds me of the ones we used for Pershing Rifles Drill team in ROTC. Cool story, NIGHTLORD 40K!

Good pawn shops are a treat. Unfortunately, there arent too many good ones like that any more...

My grandpa died in 64 when I was 16.We were real close. He carried an old Savage 32 every day. He willed it to me.
Come to find out a cousin stole it and sold it for drugs.
I beat his butt so bad he had to go to the hospital to get stitches and set broken bones.He said he was mugged. Did it again in 69 when I came back from Viet Nam and he called me a baby killer.
He died of an OD a few years later. Rot in hell Mikey.