kBob
Member
Today's helpful folks have me on the track of some needed Daisy parts and that got me thinking about "Double Bee Guns".
Next to my desk at the moment is likely the least valuable to collectors of Daisy air guns, a No.102 Model 36. I know that technically it isn't worth the cost of postage to send it to anyone but I would behard pressed to take several Grand for it.
It belonged to my best friend, my "Brother by Another Mother" as we introduced one another.
He got it I am given to understand at Christmas of 1963. Now I did not know him until about six years later so I can not testify in court to that. It is a very short plastic stocked model or the old removable gun type that loads by twisting the end cap to expose a round port in the top of the "barrel."
About 25 years ago he and I went Grass hopper hunting with it. Then about 20 years ago he and I lost his fight with cancer. I was his primary care giver through several bouts of Chemo and radiation and there at the end.
The day after he died his blood family was cleaning out his place and I was there picking up some of my things I had stored there for when I had to stay over night. Imagine my shock on walking out onto the front porch and seeing that Model 102-36 shoved muzzle down in a garbage can!
They were busily tossing out "trash" which as it happened included not only this air gun but some art work done for him by various comic book artist and such. ("It's just funny book stuff") I was able to recover a good bit of stuff that had been valuable to him and save it from the dump.
The air gun moved to a place of honor beside my bed at the time.
I was the president of a local gun club then. The more I thought about that air rifle in the trash the more I knew what I had to do my President's talk about the next month.
I used this air rifle to give what I was told was my best talk. I talked about how American Youth used to be trusted with such things, how my friend and I were well versed in shooting skills before we served our nation, how the responsibilty of owning and using an air rifle had helped us grow to be responsible adults how this air rifle had helped build a strong fighter for our Second Amendment Rights and so all our rights as free people.
I know there are BB guns available today. But what has happened to the country where kids rode out of town on their bikes with Daisy air rifles like this across their handle bars to hunt grass hoppers or call shots on gum tree balls? Think a current policeman or Deputy might just wave at a gang of four boys with BB guns in hand these days and wish them luck and remind them to pay attention to where they were shooting? Or even stop by where they were shooting at a dump sight and offer suggestions on hitting more cans?
This little bit of stamped steel, plastic and blue/black paint reminds me of what we once where as individuals, a people and a nation.
I keep hoping.
Both my son and daughter fired their first shots with this air rifle. I hope one of them appreciates it when I no longer can and I hope their kids and those that follow will as well.
-kBob
Next to my desk at the moment is likely the least valuable to collectors of Daisy air guns, a No.102 Model 36. I know that technically it isn't worth the cost of postage to send it to anyone but I would behard pressed to take several Grand for it.
It belonged to my best friend, my "Brother by Another Mother" as we introduced one another.
He got it I am given to understand at Christmas of 1963. Now I did not know him until about six years later so I can not testify in court to that. It is a very short plastic stocked model or the old removable gun type that loads by twisting the end cap to expose a round port in the top of the "barrel."
About 25 years ago he and I went Grass hopper hunting with it. Then about 20 years ago he and I lost his fight with cancer. I was his primary care giver through several bouts of Chemo and radiation and there at the end.
The day after he died his blood family was cleaning out his place and I was there picking up some of my things I had stored there for when I had to stay over night. Imagine my shock on walking out onto the front porch and seeing that Model 102-36 shoved muzzle down in a garbage can!
They were busily tossing out "trash" which as it happened included not only this air gun but some art work done for him by various comic book artist and such. ("It's just funny book stuff") I was able to recover a good bit of stuff that had been valuable to him and save it from the dump.
The air gun moved to a place of honor beside my bed at the time.
I was the president of a local gun club then. The more I thought about that air rifle in the trash the more I knew what I had to do my President's talk about the next month.
I used this air rifle to give what I was told was my best talk. I talked about how American Youth used to be trusted with such things, how my friend and I were well versed in shooting skills before we served our nation, how the responsibilty of owning and using an air rifle had helped us grow to be responsible adults how this air rifle had helped build a strong fighter for our Second Amendment Rights and so all our rights as free people.
I know there are BB guns available today. But what has happened to the country where kids rode out of town on their bikes with Daisy air rifles like this across their handle bars to hunt grass hoppers or call shots on gum tree balls? Think a current policeman or Deputy might just wave at a gang of four boys with BB guns in hand these days and wish them luck and remind them to pay attention to where they were shooting? Or even stop by where they were shooting at a dump sight and offer suggestions on hitting more cans?
This little bit of stamped steel, plastic and blue/black paint reminds me of what we once where as individuals, a people and a nation.
I keep hoping.
Both my son and daughter fired their first shots with this air rifle. I hope one of them appreciates it when I no longer can and I hope their kids and those that follow will as well.
-kBob
