I know this gun isn't much to look at and would be passed over at any number of gun shops as an OLD shotgun but she has a history and means something to the family that has owned her and passed her down through the generations. According to the date code on the barrel, this old 12ga Remington Sportsman 48 was produced in January 1960. My dad grew up in Coalfield Tennessee and lived on a working farm. My Great Uncles all lived in the same area and hunted as a way to put food on the table. My dad would hunt with his uncles and was an avid rider. At that time the Sheriff would still ask local men in the area to help search for escaped convicts from Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary and other missing persons that may have wandered up into the mountains and become lost. Everyone carried guns then and my dad hunted with a Springfield 03A3 that he bought from a barrel at the hardware store for $5 sometime in the late 1950's. As a tracker and hunter a shotgun was needed for various reasons and sometime in the early 1960's, my dad received this Sportsman 48 from his uncle for his 15th birthday. He carried this shotgun on his horse as they hunted or searched for "whoever needed finding". He remembers taking deer, turkey and a few coyotes with it as a teenager. Later, in the late 60's early 70's, my dad joined the army and served 3 tours in Vietnam as a member of the 101st Airborne. After his 3 tours he was then sent to Africa for his 4th and final year to guard military convoys. He told me years later that the firefights they had in Africa were as bad or worse than anything he experienced in Vietnam. The shotgun accompanied him to Africa and served him well during that time. Many of the scratches and chips in the wood come from that time period and bear witness to stories that I have never heard. Upon returning from active duty, he became a police officer in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. He carried his Remington 48 with him during the 70's and I know it was used to take down a burglar suspect that fired at him sometime in the mid 1970's. As a child I killed my first Turkey with that gun and remember shooting skeet with it dozens of times. During the 1980's, my uncle joined the same police force and my dad let him use the shotgun until 1995. He carried this Remington 48 for 10 years as an officer and cut it down to an 18" barrel. My uncle carried it daily and used it several times in the line of duty as well. Rules of the force changed and he had to replace the Remington 48 with a Mossberg 500 or other Pump shotgun as semi-autos were no longer authorized by the department. The gun was passed back to my dad and has been in his safe for the last 15 years.
This Christmas the gun was passed along to my 14 year-old son. I am trying my best to make sure he understands how much it means and that it isn't just another gun. He hasn't shot it yet but we plan on getting out to the farm in a few weekends to let him have a go with it. He's excited but I hope he understands how much it means to my dad. The stock bears the initials of my dad's aunt on one side and uncle on the other (pictured below). These were hand carved by his uncle when he gave the gun to him 50 some odd years ago.
I know she aint much to look at to some but I am proud to have her in my house.
This Christmas the gun was passed along to my 14 year-old son. I am trying my best to make sure he understands how much it means and that it isn't just another gun. He hasn't shot it yet but we plan on getting out to the farm in a few weekends to let him have a go with it. He's excited but I hope he understands how much it means to my dad. The stock bears the initials of my dad's aunt on one side and uncle on the other (pictured below). These were hand carved by his uncle when he gave the gun to him 50 some odd years ago.
I know she aint much to look at to some but I am proud to have her in my house.
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