Father has passed. Going through the collection. Many memories.

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when my dad died at 75 in late 90's i inherited his ww2 bringback serviceable but unfired ceremonial mauser. his nazi proofed browning hipower that he took from a captured german and used instead of his 45 was gone, apparently stolen by a workman when he was in decline. i loved that hipower and its tanker holster, i even brought it to grade school for show and tell (my how times have changed). i have never replaced it because it would not be dad's. my sincere condolences to o.p.


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I'm sorry for your loss. I lost my father in 2007, and inherited his guns. They're very nice, but I'd rather have my old man back. No, you don't ever really get over it....
 
I'm home now and the guns are in my safe. It took some maneuvering, but they're secure. All have been recorded and entered into my ledger. My father wasn't a big one for recordkeeping when it came to his firearms, but he paid for me to go to college. Not gifted in the math or science fields I choose history. One of the great liberal art fields and stresses reading and writing. Though not destined to have employment in a lucrative field I at least learned the importance of documentation. So all of dad's guns are now recorded.
 
Sorry for your loss.

My father passed away in 2012 after a six month battle with cancer at the age of 75. He was in great health until the cancer. We had time to sit down and go through the guns. Some important ones going to me and each grandkid getting a shotgun. Some going to others.

I miss him often, but it does get easier. It just takes time. Sons are meant to go through the loss of their father. Good Luck.

Swanee
 
I too, am sorry for your loss.

My Dad passed at age 74 in 2006. Too young, I thought (and still do), though I was 51 at the time.

His guns are now shared among his sons and grandsons. There are memories and stories attached to each one that will be passed to succeeding generations with accompanying newer stories.

I still miss the old bird, especially when my brother and I get together in the fall for our annual deer and pheasant hunt and we retell the old stories. I guess it will always be that way.

Share your Dad and his stories with your kids and grandkids. He will appreciate it and so will you. As others have said here, you will always miss him and the pain just becomes less sharp and easier to live with.
Maybe that is how it is supposed to be...?

May God be with you....
 
Sorry to hear of your loss. It is real hard to have say bye to a good dad. :( My dad passed six years ago after long illness but left all his firearms for me. Ones he showed me many times as a kid. Shot all of em with him once. Glad to be able to take em to the range now and remember. Prayers for ya.

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My father's S&W 4586 that was issued to him brand new in 1991 when ISP switched to semi-autos. It was presented to him as a retirement gift in 1994. It's now mine. See the holster wear? I've taken it to the range. It was never meant to be a safe queen. Within the next couple days I'll post photos of the other handguns.

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He was a retired Idaho State Trooper. In 1989 Idaho State Police celebrated it's 50th anniversary. Smith & Wesson made 200 Model 686's w/4" barrel. Light engraving with gold inlay, smooth target stocks and his badge number engraved in it. It's in an oak presentation case.

Dad never fired that revolver and he was very proud of it. It's very pretty, but there are two other handguns that he actually carried during his twenty-four years as an officer that I will cherish more. The S&W Model 65 and the S&W Model 4586. Those were his real world guns. They were carried by him through Eastern Idaho winters and summers from the Montana border down to the Utah border. I'm keeping them. The commemorative will stay in it's box because that's how my father wanted it. The two worker bees will be making periodical trips to the range because that's what they were meant to do.

Miss you dad.
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I wanted to compliment you on a sincere and well-written post. Those are some iconic guns. The image of your dad reminds me of notable men like Bill Jordan and as Idaho was his territory I am reminded too of Elmer Keith. Funny the things we associate with during a first impression.

The sun has just set here on the west coast. I'm going out to the garage shop to spend some time relaxing in the comfort of my own collection. I also have a few vintage, nickel-plated Coleman lanterns. I'm going to light one as I do in the evening but tonight a 1949 Model 228D will burn in honor of your dad. It will also burn in honor of my dad whom I lost just over three months ago. I understand. Thanks again for your post.

:)
 
Thank you for your very sincere post as well. Dad actually met Elmer in 1976. He was up at Salmon for training (about a two hour drive from my folk's place) and a deputy took him over to Elmer's house. Dad said he was as straightforward as he seemed in his writing. They sat down with him and drank ice tea. Elmer looked at dad's Model 28 and he looked at Elmer's Model 29 with the ivory magna grips. A memorable event.
 
My sympathy for your loss. You are lucky to have been able to get these family treasures. My dad passed away in 1963 at age 54. I am now 71. Still have his Browning A5 12 and 20 gauge shotguns. The 20 he bought new and goes to my nephew, his first grandson who was a child when he passed, when I am gone. Have it spelled out I my will. Dad was a part time cop and I have his badge and commission papers. The nickel plated .38 he carried is long gone. He got rid of it long before he died and I have no idea where it went. Wish I had that one. The pain of your loss lessens with time. The good memories last forever.
 
My Dad passed away last July. He was my hero. I miss him so much, and I feel so lonely at the range now. I can take a buddy, but I feel close to Dad when I go alone. His death is still shocking to me that he's gone, even though he'd been sick for years. Lean on your friends and family, and grieve well. Do it at your pace, no one else's. God bless, bud.
 
A couple folks have sent me IM's requesting to see some of dad's guns. One apologized to me, but there's nothing to apologize for. We're all gun folks here and dad liked to talk about guns, look at guns, read about guns, shoot guns and so on and so forth. Here are the two revolvers that I inherited.

The special order Model 686 that Smith & Wesson made for Idaho State Police to commemorate that organizations 50th Anniversary (1939-1989). Came in a wood presentation box. Dad was very proud of this revolver. Never fired and it never will be. That's how he wanted it.

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Here is the Smith & Wesson Model 65 (357 Magnum) that dad actually carried from 1979 - 1991 (when ISP switched to the S&W Model 4586 auto pistol). It was a worker bee and I have already taken it to the range and fired it. It's meant to be used.

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Among the pieces that I have inherited on dad's passing is the Colt Combat Commander that he purchased in 1976 from a fellow state trooper. Manufactured in 1974 it started life as a blue steel model. In 1978 dad sent it off to Texas and had a hard chrome finish applied which still looks great after thirty-eight years. I started shooting in 1980 and this was one of the first handguns dad started me out on. I have very fond memories associated with this Commander, but nothing perfect. In the case I have never liked the nubby little grips safety tang and I'm a lefty. A few years ago I mentioned this to dad and he told me that one day his guns would be mine (both of us figured it would be many more years) and I would be able to do what I want. So I'm sending the Commander to a competent local gunshop , that I've dealt with before, to have an beavertail safety and an ambidextrous safety put on. I'm also considering changing the sights. I'll hold onto the original components, but I'm not worried about ruining the collectability since dad took care of that way back in the seventies with the hard chrome finish - which I have always liked. I'm just modifying it to suit me. It's a keeper and will eventually go to one of my kids and they can do with it what they want. Sorry about the photos. I had to use my wife's old Kodak.

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Those are some fine guns. Every time you and your children look at them and shoot them you'll be reminded of a good man and a life well lived.
 
My Dad went in January 2013. I sat with him through the end, while the other siblings were nursing various grudges or were "too busy." And I opted out of the inheritance scrum and told the greedy ****s they could have my share.

Nobody wanted Dad's .38 snubnose, so they tossed it to me. I didn't ask for it.

A couple of days afterward I started the process for a concealed carry license and ordered a holster. And for the last three and a half years that .38 has ridden under my shirt.

The siblings frittered their inheritances away.

I still carry the .38.
 
Deepest condolances JC

Im 68. It is written down who gets what my first duty gun goes to my son, the second to my grandson the others
 
My condolences. Your Dad's commemorative 686 is a nice one. Along about '85 Commemorative 586 and 686 revolvers were made available to officers of my dept. I was all interested in semi-autos,etc. back then and foolishly didn't order one. Hang on to your Dad's.

BTW, about the same time your dad had his Combat Commander hard chromed, I sent my Gold Cup back to Armoloy in Texas and had it hard chromed. A family member has the old Gold Cup now, and the hard chrome finish still looks almost as good as on your Dad's Commander.
 
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