Trey Veston
Member
Was out at my dad's casting bullets for him and he was rummaging around his safe and pulled out an o/u Browning and asked if he had ever told me about the gun. I replied no, so he went on to tell the tale.
He said he bought the shotgun back in 1964 from Lolo Sporting Goods in Lewiston, ID, which is about 30 miles away. My dad was friends with O'Connor and found out he had put this somewhat rare shotgun on consignment at the local gun shop for $500. Jack was living in Lewiston at the time, and my dad was 30 miles north in Moscow, ID.
So dad bought the shotgun, which at the time was completely stock with factory engraving. He ended up selling it a few years later to a good friend.
When Jack died, my dad bought the shotgun back from his buddy, who charged him $1500 since it was now considerably worth a bit more. I think he's still mad about that, lol.
So then, dad had commissioned an engraver to pay homage to Jack by engraving a wildlife scene on one side that honored Jack's birthplace and time in Arizona, and then the other side was done with the Hell's Canyon area in Idaho.
He tried to sell the gun a few years ago, but was unable to get providence for it. Apparently, Jack was given plenty of shotguns and rifles back then due to his notoriety, and since it was pre-`68, Browning had no record of who it went to.
So, the appraised value of it did not rise to what he felt it was worth, so he hung on to it and just shot it.
I asked if I could hold it and take photos and of course he said yes. I would like to eventually take it into the field and actually shoot some birds with it. Bucket list item for sure!
He said he bought the shotgun back in 1964 from Lolo Sporting Goods in Lewiston, ID, which is about 30 miles away. My dad was friends with O'Connor and found out he had put this somewhat rare shotgun on consignment at the local gun shop for $500. Jack was living in Lewiston at the time, and my dad was 30 miles north in Moscow, ID.
So dad bought the shotgun, which at the time was completely stock with factory engraving. He ended up selling it a few years later to a good friend.
When Jack died, my dad bought the shotgun back from his buddy, who charged him $1500 since it was now considerably worth a bit more. I think he's still mad about that, lol.
So then, dad had commissioned an engraver to pay homage to Jack by engraving a wildlife scene on one side that honored Jack's birthplace and time in Arizona, and then the other side was done with the Hell's Canyon area in Idaho.
He tried to sell the gun a few years ago, but was unable to get providence for it. Apparently, Jack was given plenty of shotguns and rifles back then due to his notoriety, and since it was pre-`68, Browning had no record of who it went to.
So, the appraised value of it did not rise to what he felt it was worth, so he hung on to it and just shot it.
I asked if I could hold it and take photos and of course he said yes. I would like to eventually take it into the field and actually shoot some birds with it. Bucket list item for sure!
