Father in law finally showed me his handguns

[Lucky Strike]

I've been married for about a year and a half now (dated wife for about 2 years prior to that) and this evening when I was over at my in-laws house for dinner my father in law said "come to the garage I wanna show you something"

He opened a locked cabinet and showed me three revolvers that he owns...an older ruger single six 6" barrel, a security six 6" barrel and a Taurus Tracker in .17 hmr with a scope attached. I'd never handled a security six before and really liked the way it felt....much more slender then my GP100 (which i love as well).

I've gotten into handguns about 2 years ago and he's known this but for some reason waited this long to show me his collection. Not sure why he waited till now but it was kinda cool that he finally did. I told him we should go shooting some time.


On a side note i found it funny that he had a Tracker and a Single Six. I ordered a .22lr Tracker late last year and after being on backorder for 3.5 months I decided I'd waited enough and cancelled the order and bought a single six (4-5/8" model).

 

[buck00]

Not sure why he waited till now but it was kinda cool that he finally did.

I know with some people a collection is a big deal (emotional attachment). If you show it off to someone who isn't interested or doesn't fully appreciate firearms, it can be frustrating or a waste of time.

* So maybe he wanted to wait for a special moment, or when he finally felt you earned it.

 

[Hardtarget]

Don't think about why. Just be glad you both have an appreciation of firearms...the common intrest. It will grow and can firm the family bond.

I have sons, so maybe the bond of father/daughter is different (special)...maybe it just took a while for him to come to grip with her change into "wife". Thats a life change for a Dad.

I hope a range trip comes soon. It'll be fun!

Mark.

 

[SaxonPig]

I have seen my FiL's guns many times. In fact, I gave him several since despite the fact that he has made millions in real estate his wife gives him grief if he spends any money on guns. I give him a used 9mm Smith or a .22 Marlin and he's all giddy.

Lat Christmas I gave him an Iver Johnson TP22 because he wanted a small 22 auto to carry while hiking and you'd think he'd won the lottery.

Hey, I think it got me in his will. Good investment.

 

[Robert Hairless]

Daughters are special. I think you've just been told that you passed the second stage of acceptance by your wife's father. More stages are ahead. The first two stages were crucial though, and the second stage is much harder to pass than the first. Congratulations.

In case you're curious, you should have known that you passed the first stage when you were allowed to attend your wedding alive.

 

[siglite]

I know with some people a collection is a big deal (emotional attachment). If you show it off to someone who isn't interested or doesn't fully appreciate firearms, it can be frustrating or a waste of time.

* So maybe he wanted to wait for a special moment, or when he finally felt you earned it.

+1

 

[wuchak]

You've either earned it by treating his daughter well and are now part of the family officially or you've been doing something he doesn't like and this was a warning.

 

[Lucky Strike]

lol...my best friend in highschool dated a girl and the first time going over to her house to pick her up for a date, the dad did the whole "oh what a coincidence I just happen to be cleaning my guns on the living room coffee table, come in, lets talk a bit before you take my daughter out"

i won't lie when i say i'm hoping for sons just for my sanity's sake.

 

[doubleg]

You've either earned it by treating his daughter well and are now part of the family officially or you've been doing something he doesn't like and this was a warning.

Where i'm from when someone shows you their gun collection its a sign of trust and respect. Keep it up your obviously doing something right.

 

[hankdatank1362]

Shoot, I was married for over three years before my father in law showed me his collection (he's not into guns at all, but his father, my wife's grandfather, was a WWII vet with all kinds of goodies, especially a Luger in verrrrrrrrrrrrry good shape, and left them to my FIL)

 

[Billy_H]

lol...my best friend in highschool dated a girl and the first time going over to her house to pick her up for a date, the dad did the whole "oh what a coincidence I just happen to be cleaning my guns on the living room coffee table, come in, lets talk a bit before you take my daughter out"

I had the same thing happen to me over 12 years ago when I went over to my now wife's house for the first time. Her dad is pretty frank and didn't even bother with the whole "oh I was cleaning them" bit.

But, I don't think it had the effect he was going for. I starting naming what he had and talking about them. It turned into him showing me his full collection of firearms, bows, crossbows, etc.

He's now my father-in-law and I'd say that over half our, mine and my wife's, visits to the range include him.

 

[AmbulanceDriver]

*heh* I got a couple of stories to tell about fathers and guns.

One was when I had just turned 21, was dating a girl a little younger than I was, definitely still "daddy's little girl" (which I imagine doesn't really ever change, but I digress). He didn't know I was into guns, so he opened the door one night when I was coming over for dinner wearing a revolver on his hip. I think it took him aback when I not only identified the revolver he was wearing, but asked to see it. I was somewhat less mature, and showed off a little by flipping the gun around (he handed it to me muzzle first) in one hand to hold it by the butt, flipping it open to check if it was loaded, flipping it closed (yes, I *now* know that this is a very bad thing to do to revolvers), and flipping it back around to hand it to him butt-first. All with just the one hand. He didn't even re-holster the gun, but just took the holster off his hip and walked back to his room to put the gun away. Girl I was dating told me later that I completely popped his bubble about how he thought I was gonna react....

Now, more on topic, I dated a girl for a few months whose father was a serious collector. We drove out to her parents place one time and she started telling her dad that I really was into guns, etc. So he brings out a MUSEUM QUALITY Sharp's Buffalo Gun. Just absolutely gorgeous. Oh, and it wasn't a replica. It was an original. I don't even want to imagine how much that gun was worth. So then he takes me upstairs to his daughters old bedroom, that he'd converted into the armory. Those Snap-on toolboxes? He had maybe a half a dozen of those, all filled with guns. He had one wall where he'd built a couple of rifle racks. I asked the girl later just how many guns he had. She told me that she and her sister had started cataloging them one weekend. They quit when they got to 400.... Too bad our relationship went sideways. I really liked her dad's collection...

 

[romma]

You've either earned it by treating his daughter well and are now part of the family officially or you've been doing something he doesn't like and this was a warning.

Is your name Gaylord Focker?

 

[chrlefxtrt]

When he gives you one of his favorite rifles to pass on to your son, you will know he plans on you being around for good.

I just wish I didn't have to give it to my yet to be conceived son one day.