Sentimental Value

[Vex]

Based on another thread where the value of sentiment was degraded as these firearms are just "tools." Who here has a gun, knife, or other similar object that has sentimental value... as in, you'd never trade it, sell it, etc.

I'll start. First, my grandfather's shotgun. Single shot, break action, nothing spectacular. He bought it in the 1920's. I'll get pictures of if and post them sometime. I was named after him. I have a couple items that belonged to him, including the original poster that was hung to advertise he was selling his farm in 1938. That's a true piece of history.

Second, my other grandfather was in WWII, landed on D-Day +1 (so, today actually, 62 years ago). During his time there, he received a purple heart and a bronze star... the bronze star he got for shooting down a german fighter plane with a machine gun on the back of a jeep, while the fighter was straffing and laying waste to the convoy of artillery he was part of. He brought back a P38 and a PPK. Some of our family heirlooms.

 

[the naked prophet]

My grandfather's grandfather (I think) bought a new Winchester Model 1897 in 12 gauge, in 1903. That gun has been passed down in good condition and now resides in my safe. I wouldn't sell it for the world.

 

[Red Tornado]

Of course! My Remington 11-48 20 Gauge and 511 .22LR that were my Grandpa's are my most valued guns, and they're not worth $300 between them. In much the same way women get all gooey over their grandmother's jewelry, men get over the guns. They're sort of the male family heirloom, if you will. There's a long tradition of fathers passing their guns down to the kids, and hopefully it will last much longer.
RT

 

[aufevermike]

Mine would be the Colt .45 Government made some time in the 1940's. Also a Puma White Hunter still in the box and sheath that has never been carried and is definately pre '64. Also have a Ward's Westerfield .22 that I took trapping and beat the hell out of a racoon that I trapped casue the firing pin spring was weak. That was my first gun I had at 6 years old, I finally got a spring for it 29 years later.

 

[Red Tornado]

and beat the hell out of a racoon that I trapped

That's hilarious! And just think of the ammo you saved.

BTW, do they have raccoons in Alaska or did you live in the lower 48 before you got the gold fever?
RT

 

[aufevermike]

You know in our game laws book they list the Racoon but have never seen one. I think they may be listed as they may have some in the South East part along Inside Passage.
My Dad taught me to trap as a youngster in Central to Upstate New York. BTW that had been the largest coon I had ever gotten. it measured 36in. unstretched from nose to base of the tail. I remember getting $36 for the hide.

 

[Finch]

Well I like to think that all my guns have sentimental value and would never be sold but..

This very first firearm I ever bought, an old mosin nagant, will never be sold
My first shot gun, a winchester 1300, will never be sold
My first handgun, a glock 23, will never be sold.
Then I have the ruger 10/22 that was given to my by my father when I turned 18, wont ever sell that. (He will eventually give me his Ruger blackhawk, that thing is georgous and will sit in a nice dsiplay case.)

Honestly, I don't think I will sell any of my guns. Trying to figure out what gun to sell is like trying to figure out what child you would give up. Even if they are handicapped, you still love them.

 

[Freddymac]

My grandfathers 1911

That’s right 1911. Not 1911A1. He carried it through France in WWII. Still shoots well, just had to change the recoil spring, and it made almost 90 years ago.

 

[pdowg881]

I got a japanese bayonet from my grandfather who was in the navy and was there at the japanese surrender

 

[lucky_fool]

I have an old beater Iver Johnson .38 that belonged to my dad. He got it in trade from my uncle for an old riding lawn mower and never even fired it (wisely, as there's so much cylinder play in the thing that it would probably explode). Most of the nickel plating is gone and has been replaced by natural browning. One of the owl-head grips is broken and about a third of it is gone.

It is the only "family heirloom" gun that I have since all my dad's other guns, including the ones that he got from his dad, were stolen after he died. It is also the only gun I own that I am absolutely certain I will pass on to my kids, any of the others are subject to sale or trade.

It's funny how something can be worthless and priceless at the same time.

 

[grimjaw]

From my grandfather and now my father, three guns I can think of:

- High Standard Sentinel .22LR.
- S&W M12 Airweight .38 Special.
- Remington something or other (forgive me) semi-auto .22LR rifle; it's a bit rusty, but it was reliable and consistently accurate with open sights.

jmm

 

[Rich K]

My grandfather never owned a gun in his life, but he was a wood pattern maker for Chrysler Corp. for forty years. I have the tool box he made as an apprentice, and his tools. He taught me a lot about everything, and his old tools are a tangible reminder of a man I loved dearly, and still miss greatly, even though he died over 20 years ago.

 

[PlayTheAces]

Well, I'm not that big on sentimentality but I have few I'll probably pass on to my nephew, if he doesn't irritate me too much over the next twenty or thirty years.

The k98k that dad brought back from WWII. An M1 Carbine another relative fought with in the Pacific Theatre. My dad's bug, a model 60. Maybe my old model 28 - first handgun I ever purchased. On the other hand, that one might get tossed in my urn.

Everything else is negotiable.

 

[John G]

My great-grandfather Thomas was born on the boat on the way over from Ireland to the US. Around the time his son, my grandfather James, was born, he bought a Stevens Favorite .22 rifle. My father refinished the wood, but other than that the rifle is original.

It still shoots just fine.

 

[oneshooter]

My grandfathers Winchester M92 rifle in 38WCF, passed from him to my Dad, and then to me. Killed a few deer, and shot a lot of CASS matches, with it. My Dad's Browning Auto 5, 12ga., gold trigger. Shot at a LOT of ducks and geese with him and that shotgun.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[Chrontius]

The Rainbow Leek my father gave me. Most of my everyday kit is computerized, or data-storage. All of it lacks the permanence needed to form sentimental attractions. But that and the watch he gave me? Those don't get sold.

 

[Ifishsum]

My grampaw gave me his bubba'ed .30-40 Krag when I was 14, and even if it was worth a lot (it isn't) I wouldn't consider turning loose of it.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I've never sold a gun, don't plan to start doing so.

But if I was forced to there are a number of them I'd keep from harm, for sentimental reasons.

My collection started with a few firearms that were gifts from my dad. I'll never get rid of those. I'd be happy to pass them along to another generation, but not sell them.

 

[BHPshooter]

I have a sentimental connection to all of my firearms, but that doesn't inhibit my realization that it is a tool first.

I've parted with a few guns that I valued sentimentally, but that doesn't count for anything -- the memories stay with me, not the gun.

A gun IS just a tool. Sentimentality is something that we assign them, it's not something the gun produces itself.

Wes

 

[evan price]

I will always remember my guns, each of them. But if they left my possession I would still have the memories. Objects come and go.

To quote Robert DeNiro in Heat:

A guy told me one time, "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner."

If the S hit the F would you risk your life & your family's lives to go home to get your grandpappy's shotgun?

Remember the scene in Indy Jones & the Holy Grail where the Grail was dangling on the edge of a ledge over a precipice.. and the one lady wouldn't stop reaching for it and fell to her doom? But Indy listened to Sean Connery and let it go and lived?

If the Declaration of Independance & Bill of Rights & US Constitution were destroyed would their words cease to have relevance?

When our possessions rule us are we in control?

My $.02