Pistol for Son

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divemedic

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My son turns 21 in November. As a father, I feel like it is an honorable tradition for a father to pass on a firearm to his son. My son likes my Sig220. I want to give him one, but I don't know how to do it:

1 I can give him the one I now own. It has custom grips, and has had a trigger job performed by the factory. It has no tactical rail like the new ones do. This is the one he has fired and likes.

2 I can buy him an NIB one.

The the wife thinks that it is cheap to give him a "used" gun. I am not sure. What do you all think? A new one or the one that is mine?
 
Give him yours if you really want to give him something, has more sentimental value to me that way, personally.
 
I'd say give him the one you own. If its the one he likes and fires. Unless he's been saying how he wants to buy one, or wants one new...

It might also mean more knowing it was "daddy's gun" and not just that he bought for you.
 
Give him yours. My Dad's Win. Model 12 is in my gun cabinet although it belongs to my son. Dad knew both me and my brother wanted it, but more to just make sure it stayed in the family. It's one of my son's most cherished possesions.
 
I'll echo what others have said, the gun would have enormous sentimental value if you gave him yours. If it's still in good condition, then it being a "used" gun shouldn't mean anything. All but one of my guns is actually older than I am anyway.
 
I'm with everyone else, but if it makes you feel better, ask him on his BDay if he'd rather have a NIB pistol or yours that he already knows and enjoys. I offered my GFriend my BHP clone that she had already fired and felt proficient w/, but she chose to her own.
 
NIB isn't always the best idea. Yours have had custom work done to it and besides it's dad's gun. Plus don't forget he likes to shoot that one. My son wanted a new Kimber when he turned 15 so I bought him one. Today he's 25 and not the first bullet has gone down that barrel. He still shoots the finish off my 1911 that he has been shooting since he was about 12 y/o.
 
I dissagree with all these bleeding hearts here.

Get him his own gun. Then the two of you can shoot together with matching pistols. But not exactly the same. His should have the modern stuff that youngsters like.

He's going to get your gun someday anyway, when you pass on. He can cherish "dady's" gun then, after you croak.
 
Give him yours. It means more than a new one. I have my father-in-law's 1911A1 and I cheerish more than many of the guns that I have purchased. It is the one gun my son wants. He said mom can sell all the others I own, but not that one.
 
When I came home from my service and started college my dad gave me his service revolver, a S&W 65. A lot of holster wear, flash marks on the cylinder and some old Pach grips that have all texture worn off. Shoots wonderfully and will always be my favorite. One day it will be passed to my son. I vote for the sentimental gift.
 
divemedic,
I agree with the others, give him your pistol, it will mean more to him than a new one. Then you can take your time and find a used one like it for yourself.

BTW, my son just turned 21 yesterday and I gave him my S&W M638 that he likes so much. I'll have to find another for myself some day but for now I'll carry the M642 I have.

Do it, you won't regret it at all...
 
Thanks. I didn't want to ask him, I want it to be a surprise. He has certainly shown the maturity to own it.

A few years ago, I posted on packing.org that I was concerned about him. He seemed to be buying into the anti propaganda. He seems to have overcome that. He completed his high school classes at 16, and stayed on another year in a "dual enrolled" status. He has graduated from college, gotten a good job (starting at $45K) and last month, he bought his own home.

He has shown maturity that I could not have at his age, and all before his 21st birthday. He deserves this, but he has no idea it is coming.

Many people say that he sounds exactly like me, and much of the time his opinions echo mine. I consider that to be the greatest compliment a boy can give his father.
 
I have very few things left that my dad or my grandfather gave to me. With that in mind I recently gave my 25-year-old son a rifle I know he will always associate with me.

Give him what you want to give him. It won't really matter what it is, it will be from dad. Even if he trades it off it won't matter. He will have the memory as long as he has memories.

I did not give my son my grandpa's knife. He never knew my grandpa. It still has a lot of meaning to me.

If you give him something NIB you went out and found something special. If you give him your gun you gave up something you love yourself. Either way, 25 years from now (I expect to be long gone by then) he will have something special from his dad.

I have three shots at father to son. All I know is that it didn't really matter to me other than my dad thought of me. The fishing rod my grandfather made with me when I was 6 is still among my most treasured possessions.

What is important is he knows you were thinking of him and want him to remember you when he is your age.

I wish I could live to be 100 so I could see my kids as mature adults. OTOH, it would be a real pain to live that long.
 
I'd suggest a 1911. There's just something symbolic about getting a 1911 as your first pistol, like the old days. I guess it doesn't mean as much since he's 21, but 1911's are still very special.
 
Buy a new one. Hand him both, and let him pick one.
Click to expand...

Not a bad idea...

I have a couple of my dad's guns that I inherited after he died. I won't sell 'em because they are family history. BUT, if he were alive telling me, "Which would you prefer, my old Winchester 250 [which I don't shoot well and don't really care for] or a brand new [fill in the blank] for your birthday," I would pick the new one in a heartbeat.

But, like I said, I won't be selling the old Winchester anytime that I can help it...

Q
 
I would say go the sentimental way. Give him yours. He will be so happy to get a handgun in the first place, I doubt he will say you are cheap for giving him a used one. Maybe you could give him the one you have and a new / used .22LR for practice.

Just my thoughts.
 
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