What guns should a father give to his children?

[kamagong]

I once knew a man who believed that one of a parent’s most important duties is to prepare his children to face the world. In addition to making sure that his kids grew up strong, he saw to it that they were educated as well as exposed to the real-world. He taught his children the value of a good knife and gave each one of them a Chris Reeve Sebenza. Most surprisingly, he gave each one of his kids a pistol and rifle of his or her choosing. I’m not sure of the pistols but I know that at least one of his kids chose an AR, while another chose a Springfield M1A.

I didn’t pay much attention at the time because I was still young and foolish (I did not yet exercise my 2A right), but now that I look back I see a lot of wisdom in that man’s words. Maybe it’s the fact that my wife is pregnant with my firstborn, but I’ve been thinking quite a bit about which guns I should set aside for my children. I’m not talking about family heirlooms, I’m talking more about a basic battery of guns that I want my children to have.

I think that I will give each of my future children at least a 1911, and an AR. More than likely I’ll also get them a .22. That should be a good start I think, I know that it’s not much, but it’s more than my father started me out with. If my kids want to build a collection someday that’s fine, but they’ll have to do that with their own money. I just want to make sure that my children are equipped to face any physical dangers they may encounter.

Thoughts?

 

[KarenTOC]

My suggestion, for what it's worth:

Get yourself a good gun, one you enjoy. Use it now, enjoy it, shoot it a lot and have fun with it. Later, when the time is right, teach your kid how to shoot your gun. Let your kid shoot it a lot, and learn from it, and have fun with it. Then, one day, give your kid your gun. Now the kid not only has a gun he or she knows how to shoot, but it's one that's wrapped up in memories of time well spent with dad.

The downside is, each time your wife gets pregnant, you'll have to add a gun to your have-fun-with-dad collection so you'll have a gun to pass on to the new kid. It's a sacrifice, I know, but that's what fatherhood is all about

 

[si vis pacem]

This is a terrific thread. My father gave me one of his 1911s right before I got married. It was my first handgun and the gesture really meant a lot since that was one of his first firearms, too.

That 1911 will never leave the family. It is a treasure.

 

[Yo Mama]

I plan on giving each child a shotgun, and handgun. Which will be up to them.

 

[DFW1911]

I received a shotgun from my father and a BHP from my grandfather (he picked it up in WWII).

Yes, I'll be hanging on to both.

 

[gbran]

I have 4 kids, 8 grandkids. As they were old enough, I taught them safe gun handling, introduced them to both hunting and shooting sports, as well as the need for self defense.

I've equipped them all with various guns.

They will have to deal with each other whenst I die for mine.

 

[ezypikns]

Well,..........

I've got ten grandsons and one grandaughter.

Suffice it to say they'll each get at least one firearm.

 

[rgwalt]

I don't have kids, and I'm not married, but I can see why a man would want to do this for his children. Think carefully about the weapons you choose, and go for quality above all else. I like the idea of a 1911 and a .22 of some sort (one for defense, the other for practice). I would be inclined to substitute a .357 revolver for the 1911 though. What would the core utility be of an AR? Defense? Investment in case of AWB pt 2? Instead of the AR, why not think about a more traditional rifle for marksmanship and hunting? I would also add a shotgun to the list. I would pick a quality over/under from Beretta or Browning. Something that could be used to go hunting, or shoot clays.

The choices I've made are for longevity and reliability of the equipment more than anything. A revolver over a semi-auto (even a 1911, which should last a lifetime if maintained). A traditional rifle over a more whiz bang cool AR. A over/under shotgun over a semi-auto or a pump. I suppose my goal would be to leave a set of guns to each of my children (at least the interested ones), who could then pass them on to their grandchildren, etc.

 

[Encoreman]

My .02 as I have 2 grandkids who both own guns although they don't know it yet. I say at least a .22 rifle and pistol, shotgun, hunting rifle. After that you can splurge for the AR or AK or whatever, that is if they are still available at that point it time. And make sure to have the ammo for the guns you give as that too may be unavailable. You know, 50 years ago I bet nobody had this kind of a conversation. Times have changed, and not for the better.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

A shotgun, a 22 rifle, a handgun in at least 357 and a Rifle in a deer caliber 243-up.

 

[TCB in TN]

Sentimental value is important IMHO, BUT not every gun you pass on needs to have it. I have a couple of guns from my Grandpa, and a couple my dad bought for me, they do have more value to me, and eventually they will be passed on to my kids, along with the guns that I have bought for them. Each has a .22 rifle, and pistol, and shotgun, and a hunting rifle. They both do have a real interest in guns and so their "collections" are growing now as well.

 

[JCisHe]

.22 rifle and handgun. That way, if they aren't shooters you haven't spent entirely too much on something they hate, and if they are shooters they have something to practice with and then they can purchase the big guns of choice later. Don't forget to teach them the value of hard work to get the things you need and want!

 

[cmfireman]

I am still young, but I have a Ruger P89 my grandpa gave me, a CZ 452 .22 LR my wife bought me as a wedding present, and a Remington 870 Express that my Mother bought me when I was 13.

I will never sell any of these guns, and will pass them down to keep them in the family.

 

[GodGuns&Guitars]

This hits pretty close to home for me right now. I was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma back in January and had to have my right kidney removed and I have a place in my neck that is still there with it. I go through the drugs etc., and seem to be holding my own for now. God willing He'll give me a few more years to make up my mind. I don't have any children of my own, but through the relationship I have now there are three kids, adults, and seven grandkids. My plans at this point are to give my brother one of my 1911's with his name etched on it. My closest friend will get another 1911. The seven grandkids will each get a 22 of their own. Their names will also be laser etched on them. What they do with them after I'm gone is up to them, but I hope at least some of us get to go shoot before I have to leave early. As for my other weapons, I have some ideas. One will go to a New Mexico state trooper, another to an Arkansas state trooper. I have made no decision on what will happen to the others.

That being said, I plan on fighting this tooth and nail all the way. So far things look pretty good and have an oncology appointment tomorrow. Last scan they did showed no growing and no spreading. Please, no "I'm sorrys" and all that kind of stuff. If you want to do anything just say an extra prayer if you have one laying around.

 

[Quoheleth]

I like this thread and I like the idea. I inherited a couple of dad's guns (had to share with my brother) and a couple of his dad's guns (ditto, the sharing). None are golly-whopper storied guns (i.e., WWII battlefield weapons), but they have family stories. Best of all, Deo volente, they will one day be 3-generation weapons. The old Winchester '97 12 gauge doesn't get much play time anymore, but it stands next to the Savage 15A that both Dad and I learned to shoot with. Dad's first full-time paycheck bought him a Winchester 250 leveraction .22 which stands next to my Browning BL22 that I bought in 8th grade with lawn mowing money.

If I were to pick "heirloom" guns, I might suggest Ruger Single Six or a .357 Blackhawk, the 1911 (any manufacture of good reputation), Smith Model 10 or 15, Browning HP, possibly a CZ 75 or 85 (not quite the history, but still a damn fine firearm), a Marlin or Winchester .30-30, any nice O/U shotty.

The list is endless, but those are some that pop to mind.

Thanks for the walk down memory lane.

Q

 

[AirplaneDoc]

My dad gave me a US Springfield trapdoor 45-70. Then felt bad about it and gave me a 1903 Springfield because he thought it more practical. Both the same day about 6 hours apart.

I would pass on what ever firearm my son or daughter really enjoyed shooting with me.

 

[benEzra]

A 1911, an AR, and a .22 sound like a good plan to me.

 

[halfbreed808]

I think about this subject every week. At first I was going to divide the collection between my boys. The older one messed up and can't possess any firearms, so now the girls get their share. Which is how it should've been in the first place. Guess my fathers old school thinking got in the way of my better judgement. Heck, the girls shoot better anyway.
They've already picked what they want, and I have their wish lists.

 

[NC-Mike]

My oldest child and only son is 18. I bought him a Mosin Nagant 91/30 in 06 and a No 4 Mk1 in 08.

After he turned 18 we drove down to the CMP South Store and I got him a very nice M1 Garand and equally nice M1 Carbine.

He's a very good kid, never in trouble and in process of signing into the service. His guns will stay secured with me for the time being but they are his rifles.

 

[huntsman]

I gave each of my sons a .22cal rifle and a 12 gauge shotgun.

 

[cchris]

The key is teaching them to responsibly own a gun, and not to talk about shooting it in any manner other than intended (i.e. only at a person who is threatening your life).

I don't have kids, but I plan on teaching them (if I do have any) that guns are for killing game or shooting at targets - until they're old enough to need one for personal protection. For my parents, this was the point where I lived on my own.

IMO, the guns should be kept locked away and not accessible. The reason I say this is because a 17 year old kid who I recently dismissed from work for sleeping on the job spent three years in jail for shooting someone. He offered me money for my guns, then said he was going to get a "choppa" (street slang for AK-47, since most street people don't know of any other assault rifles). He shot someone once, and talked about "shooting up" people at work. This is the kind of crap I want to keep my kids (again, if I have any) from ever speaking of.

 

[NC-Mike]

The key is teaching them to responsibly own a gun, and not to talk about shooting it in any manner other than intended (i.e. only at a person who is threatening your life).

I don't have kids, but I plan on teaching them (if I do have any) that guns are for killing game or shooting at targets - until they're old enough to need one for personal protection. For my parents, this was the point where I lived on my own.

IMO, the guns should be kept locked away and not accessible. The reason I say this is because a 17 year old kid who I recently dismissed from work for sleeping on the job spent three years in jail for shooting someone. He offered me money for my guns, then said he was going to get a "choppa" (street slang for AK-47, since most street people don't know of any other assault rifles). He shot someone once, and talked about "shooting up" people at work. This is the kind of crap I want to keep my kids (again, if I have any) from ever speaking of.

This 17 year old you speak of has SERIOUS issues. That is not just a kid who hasn't been taught correctly, that is a ticking bomb.

If your kid doings even remotely resembles that kind of behavior, you need serious professional help.

 

[22-rimfire]

I'd give them each a 22 rifle. From that point on, it's on them. Young people appreciate things more if they have to work for what they have. I feel it is really important to start them on the right path as best you can, but ultimately, they choose their own path.

 

[KenWP]

I pondered this a few years ago. My Grandfather gave me a 22 when I was a kid but now with the stupid gun laws we have in this country if I gave my grandchildren a gun I would make a criminial out of the both of us. Me for giving a gun to a minor among other charges and my grandchild for haveing a gun in his posession that he's not legally able to own due the the registration problems. Most I could do is have it in my posession and say its yours when you get old enough and get a gun license and then we can transfer it over to you. Takes all the fun out of being a Grandfather and a kid.

 

[AWorthyOpponent]

While I don't have any kids, this thread made me think of the handgun that my father gave me before he died. It has been passed down 5 generations (including me) and I will one day pass it down when I have kids. Now ill be looking at it for the next hour, remembering all the good times, giving it its bi-monthly bath...