Dad's guns

[magsnubby]

A few days after my dad passed away in Jan of '05 mom gave me back the Taurus Model 85 i had bought him for Christmas a few years earlier. The day before his funeral i just felt like i needed to shoot that little gun. I'm not even sure why, maybe i thought it would help ease the pain a little. Some of my best memories about my dad are hunting and shooting related. There wasn't anything Dad enjoyed better than a good plinkin' session. I packed up and headed for the range. After running a 100 rounds through it, i was ready for what i had to face the next day. It's hard to explain but it just made me feel more at peace. It was like he was there with me.

A few months later i was out at Mom's and she asked me "Would you like to have your Dad's old .38"? It's a well worn S&W M&P 4" Dad bought used in 1941. It cost him $9 for the gun and a box of ammo. There's hardly any blueing left on it from years of being carried, a few light rust pits here and there, a smooth as glass trigger from having about a zillion rounds run through it, and it still has a nice shiney bore. Just handeling that gun makes the memories come flooding back. It's probably worth about 75 bucks, but to me it's priceless.

I was out at Mom's earlier today. I came home with Dad's 4" Colt Viper .38 and his 4" Colt Diamondback .22. He bought the Viper from Montgomery Wards in 1978. It cost him $180. The blueing is worn on the end of the barrel, on the edges of the cylinder and on the leading edge of the frame. It also has a couple of small scratches below the cylinder on the left side. The action is smooth and fairly light. The original grips are long gone. Dad replaced them with Pachmayr Compacts years ago. The bore is in great condition. It was Dad's "fishin' gun" for lots of years. Dad bought the Diamondback used "from a kid at work" back in the middle 80's. It cost him $250. It's still in exellent condition. The action is smooth but a little heavy. It has a pair of smooth aftermarket coke bottle style grips. It was one of his most prized possessions.

I hope to pass those guns down to my grandson some day. But for now i'll just enjoy them and think of Dad every time i handle one of them.

I think i'll go to the range tomorrow.

 

[10 Ring Tao]

Replace dad with granddaddy, and that story could have come from my own lips.

I inherited his collection, mostly WWII era guns you'd find either hanging over the fireplace, or given to a GI to fire at nazis. They don't get shot much, but seeing them in the safe every time I open it, reminds me of him and all he taught me.

 

[Mortech]

You 2 gents are very lucky , cherish the memories those weapons bring forth . For as long as you remember the goods times your father/grandfather are never really gone . Also be sure you pass down the stories and memories that go with those weapons when you pass them down . Myself I still have a couple of firearms I got from my dad in trade but the sadest thing of all was when my grandfather died the Garand he carried with him on D-Day was stolen , thats when I realize the firearms our elders used are an extension of who they were and the values they instilled in us .

 

[Rich K]

You 2 gents are very lucky, indeed. My grandad and Great Grandad were never into guns, but the life lessons they taught me have stayed with me. My old man was never around, and those two gentlemen, along with a couple of very dear uncles, taught me about life and being a man. Just my .02.