Waddison
member
I went to the Gun Show this weekend. It was the first one in nearly a year for me, though there have probably been 3 or 4 since the last one. Not due to lack of want or funds, but other things have had a way of butting in and rearranging my priorities.
An old Gun Buddy of many years passed away on Tuesday, the 3rd. He battled MS for nearly 30 years and had been wheelchair bound for about the last 10 or 12. I saw the disease steal his vigor, destroy his outdoor life and rob him of his love life. It took a healthy, independent outdoorsman and melted him away into a frail, dependent, shell of his former self. He loved every thing firearms and ammunition related, especially the Gun Shows. I used to take him as often as time and conditions would allow. It was never easy for either of us, but it was one of his favorite entertainments and he was my best friend. I wish now I had made even more often and determined efforts to get him there. His death was unexpected. Heartattack and stroke took him and not (directly) the MS. I believe he prefered it that way. But I digress.
Though not really up for it, I grabbed a couple of "extras" from the safe to peddle or just in case I found something interesting, and headed for the Show. The usual jerky pushers, "everything I got is gold" folks and miracle gun cleaning goodies/devices/etc. booths were there. Many familiar faces and banners. A couple hours of scanning the tables, bantering with some, ignoring others and tolerating most, I ran across a fellow that had a couple long guns and a couple 1911's on his table and a smile on his face. He asked what I was resting on my shoulder. Though I was pretty sure he recognized the Ruger '96, I answered him politely and told him it was a .44 Mag. His smile beamed a little brighter and his eye seemed to twinkle just a little. "Sellin' or tradin'?"
"I dunno. Sell prefered, I guess, but might I trade for something interesting."
It turned out he was just a hobbyist and was moving some of his "extra stuff" and looking for something interesting. We struck a deal. I went home with a well used and moderately worn Model 70 Colt in .45 ACP (just what I DON'T need) and I left a well used but very nice Ruger lever action and a couple hundred bucks behind. A good deal? Maybe. I don't really care. I'm not disappointed and the old Colt functioned perfectly the next day with 230 gn FMJ/RN. I hope the other fellow is as well satisfied. All in all, a pretty good day.
But I really missed Russell.
Waddison
An old Gun Buddy of many years passed away on Tuesday, the 3rd. He battled MS for nearly 30 years and had been wheelchair bound for about the last 10 or 12. I saw the disease steal his vigor, destroy his outdoor life and rob him of his love life. It took a healthy, independent outdoorsman and melted him away into a frail, dependent, shell of his former self. He loved every thing firearms and ammunition related, especially the Gun Shows. I used to take him as often as time and conditions would allow. It was never easy for either of us, but it was one of his favorite entertainments and he was my best friend. I wish now I had made even more often and determined efforts to get him there. His death was unexpected. Heartattack and stroke took him and not (directly) the MS. I believe he prefered it that way. But I digress.
Though not really up for it, I grabbed a couple of "extras" from the safe to peddle or just in case I found something interesting, and headed for the Show. The usual jerky pushers, "everything I got is gold" folks and miracle gun cleaning goodies/devices/etc. booths were there. Many familiar faces and banners. A couple hours of scanning the tables, bantering with some, ignoring others and tolerating most, I ran across a fellow that had a couple long guns and a couple 1911's on his table and a smile on his face. He asked what I was resting on my shoulder. Though I was pretty sure he recognized the Ruger '96, I answered him politely and told him it was a .44 Mag. His smile beamed a little brighter and his eye seemed to twinkle just a little. "Sellin' or tradin'?"
"I dunno. Sell prefered, I guess, but might I trade for something interesting."
It turned out he was just a hobbyist and was moving some of his "extra stuff" and looking for something interesting. We struck a deal. I went home with a well used and moderately worn Model 70 Colt in .45 ACP (just what I DON'T need) and I left a well used but very nice Ruger lever action and a couple hundred bucks behind. A good deal? Maybe. I don't really care. I'm not disappointed and the old Colt functioned perfectly the next day with 230 gn FMJ/RN. I hope the other fellow is as well satisfied. All in all, a pretty good day.
But I really missed Russell.
Waddison
