Looking for opinions

I’m looking for opinions about a firearm that I own. I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 magnum that was my grandfathers. He took his own life with this firearm back in ‘99. I’ve been in possession of it since I was 16 and have never fired it. I’ve always had a love of firearms and enjoyed them my whole life. I’ve recently been collecting more firearms and been going to the range more often so I’ve been debating taking this firearm. I just don’t know how to feel about this situation considering everything. I’m just looking for some opinions from ya’ll on what you would personally do, use the firearm or just keep it in the safe. I apologize if this content is too dark for this site. My grandfather was the most important person in my life growing up and I don’t have many of his things of his so I’m not considering destroying it because it was a prized possession of his. Again, I apologize if my question is too disturbing but I just wanted some objective opinions from other firearm owners.

TomJ said:

I'm sorry about your grandfather. There's no easy answer to this. If you decide to shoot it, do so remembering the good times you had with him and don't let his suicide define him or the way you remember him. I understand that's easier said than done. You don't need to destroy the gun, but if keeping it is difficult as it's a reminder of his suicide than consider selling it and either buying another gun as others have suggested or donating the money from the sale to a worthy charity. You said you don't have many of his things, so you do have some of his other things to remember him by, hopefully things with good memories attached to them.

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Thank you. He was an avid firearms lover so if I ever do decide to use it, it would be like you said, using it in the memories of the good times I had and would’ve have with him.

jmorris said:

I have a firearm, with regrettably a similar past. I never even removed it from the evidence bag once returned, been in a safe the past 20 years.

I suppose if I wanted to shoot it, I would but I don’t.

Lots of keepsakes I have make me sad, even if the person past away due to natural causes after a long life, well lived. If something reminds me of good times with them, my mind won’t allow me to forget about the loss of them. Sadness, is the small price I pay now to have enjoyed time with them in the past and the memories we created together.

People are different though

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Thank you for your opinion and I’m sorry you’ve gone through something similar. When I hold the firearm, I don’t associate it with the negative memories attached to it. It makes me think of what a great man he was and the memories we shared together. So keeping it at least serves as a positive.

film495 said:

If it was me I'd move it down the line, then as I think about what that would do, I'd think about it every time I picked up any other firearm, so - thinking about that I would probably keep it. It is dark, but a way to remember your father and grandfather, for good and bad, or mistakes or whatever you want to call it. I probably would not shoot it, but it would sit in the back of the safe forever.

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Thank you for your input. I don’t feel/think about the negatives attached to it when I hold it. It makes me cherish the time I had with him and the memories we would’ve shared if he were still here.

1KPerDay said:

I have a similar gun. I shoot it and enjoy it. I figure it's a tribute to how I wish this person's life would have gone, rather than how it went. If you feel differently, sell it without regret.

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Thank you for your input and I’m sorry you’ve experienced something similar. I view this firearm much the way you do. Continuing to own the firearm is a tribute to his life and the memories we’ve shared and would’ve shared.

Barbaroja said:

Very heavy content, but thought provoking and interesting. I feel like if i were in your shoes I would not want that gun around and would more than likely get rid of it.
Seeing as I am not in your situation I can only say that I hope whatever decision you make that it brings you peace and let’s your mind rest easy.

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Thank you, I appreciate your input and kind words.

Rockrivr1 said:

As others have said I'm sorry to hear about your Grandfathers passing. You mention that he was an avid firearm lover. Is this particular gun one of many from his collection that you own or is it the only gun you have that was your grandfathers? If you have other of his firearms I would consider letting it go. If this is the only firearm of his that you own I would keep it. As you said he loved it so you should keep it as a remembrance of him.

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Thank you, I appreciate that. This is the only firearm
I have of his collection and it was his personal favorite. I don’t think I could ever get rid of it because he loved it so much and it is a token of positive remembrance of him for me.

Hartkopf said:

I'm not superstitious about these things. History is being made (and erased) every day and that gun is part of YOUR history. I would keep it and shoot it. Unless on your scheduled day to shoot it you have a flat tire, smash your finger, it starts raining and you see a coyote chasing a black cat. Then sell the gun.

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Thank you, I appreciate your input. I’m not superstitious either so I don’t believe the firearm is cursed or anything like that. I like what you said about it being a part of my history, good or bad. I see it as a token of positive remembrance in his honor.