What is the most cherished gun in you collection

[USAF_Vet]

I have a few. Start off with my Arisaka type 38, pre WWII manufacture, that my steps dad's father brought home from Japan. Its my only connection to a great man who I never had the opportunity to meet. USAAF Tail gunner on a B-17, shot down over Europe, ended up on a hospital ship. Next time he set foot on dry land, it was on the island of Tarawa to gun for more bombing missions into Japan. After the war, he was stationed as an occupier in Japan, where he acquired the rifle I now possess. He transitioned into the USAF, where he retired as one of the first Chief Master Sergeants to acquire the rank. Story is his retirement was effective the day his son, my step dad, was commissioned as a 2nd LT in the US Army.
The rifle hadn't been fired since the war. But cleaned up nicely (there were cobwebs in the barrel) I bought some ammo, new factory manufacturer hunting rounds, but waited to fire it until my step dad's birthday that year.

The rifle performed flawlessly, and hasn't been shot since. I may, however, allow the wife to take it out deer hunting this year. She's going up north, while I'll be stuck down in the shotgun only zone.



The other guns I have that are not going anywhere are the first respectable pistol I purchased, my S&W 469, my great grandfather's Remington model 11 (sadly now only a wall hanger, broken and missing pieces) and my cheap off brand (Ever Best) single shot 20 gauge.

I stand to inherit several more shotguns and a few rifles and a Single Six, most of which will also stay in the collection.

 

[montanaoffroader]

I have several that are very important to me, including my dad's first gun (Winchester 67), my great-uncle's Colt SAA, and the first handgun I purchased myself (Colt King Cobra 4").

A large portion of my small collection is hand-me-downs from family and friends. So a lot of them come with sentimental attachments.

However, there is one particular gun that stands out. Back in the sixties I went with my mother when she picked out an anniversary gift for my dad. She had to put it on layaway, but she managed to pull it off without him getting wind of it. He was definitely not expecting an anniversary gift like this:



This Winchester Centennial 66 is the most cherished gun in my collection. My dad handed it down to me after my mother passed, and if I have any choice in the matter I will never get rid of it, except maybe to hand it down to the next generation.

 

[david1990]

The early 70s model 94 chambered in 30-30. My grandfather gave me this gun and some important advice when I was 14. I have hunted with this gun for years and it is still in better condition than any other 94 I've seen. I love this gun and wouldn't part with it for any amount of money.

 

[mountainpharm]

I have three:

First is a Rossi .38 Special that my dad and uncle bought for my grandfather in 1971. I recently inherited it after he passed away subsequent to a stroke. Unfortunately it spent about 35 years in a closet and was never maintained so some of the finish is chipping around the barrel. Need to have it repaired. It has some dark history in our family as well that I won't detail here other than to say it took a life. To my knowledge it had not been cleaned since that incident so that was a weird feeling when I did it; kind of spooky yet kind of satisfying. I still cherish it because it was his.

Second is a Remington 550-1 .22 rifle that also belonged to my grandfather. He bought it new in 1954 for $34.95 -- still have the receipt. Like the Rossi above, it spent most of its life propped against the wall in a bedroom closet and it developed a bit of rust on the barrel. I got it off when I inherited it but the bluing still has the scar.

Third is my 1st gen Walther P99 9mm. This was the first gun I ever bought on my own. I absolutely love shooting it; it's comfortable and the only other gun I have that can match its accuracy is my Walther PPQ M2 Navy.

 

[whiskycut]

My great grandfathers winchester 1873 ...32/20

 

[C.R.]

It is hard to pick only one . In my modest collection I have a couple of wall hangers that are old family relics , a couple that were grand fathers and still can be shot, and some that I bought myself that have some kind of sentimental value . I kind of think most will be part of my estate . I ought to wright up the family history on the old guns and include it in with the old guns so folks realy know the story

 

[tarosean]

Glennfield Mod 60.. Had it since I was wee high to a grasshopper.

 

[traveler106]

My Ruger 77/22 is my most cherished firearm.

My dad bought it for me when I was a baby and it sat in his closet, amongst his personal armory for 13 years until it was time to give it to me. He gave it to me for my 13th birthday.

It's incredibly accurate. It's a bolt-action rifle with a small scope. I hit nearly everything that I want to hit with it up to 150 yards.

 

[tuckerdog1]

I have four. And because they were all gifts.

My 1st firearm, a gift from my late Father.A Winchester model 55 I was 14 yrs old.

A Colt Woodsman made around 1933. A gift from my late Great Uncle. He said he bought it in a pawnshop on the 50s for about $50.

A Freedom Arms model 83 ( 454 ). A 50th birthday gift from my Wife.

A STI Trojan ( 9mm ). A 60th birthday gift from my Wife.

Tuckerdog1

 

[rugerman]

My Ruger #1 .270, its killed a bunch of deer, it was my go to rifle for many years. Both of my kids killed their first deer with it, and I was there both times. The youngest was 7 and the oldest was 12 (late bloomer). It has been loaned to several of my friends for their kids first deer (due to it being a single shot with a great trigger and really accurate). I have a 7mm mag #1 but the .270 is my favorite.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

For me, its my grandpa's Marlin 60. Its really nothing special, I added tech-sights and a sling, so its a fun shooter, but the fact that it was his is the important part.

Otherwise, I have lots of guns in the safe and enjoy them all for one reason or another, but nothing irreplaceable, or even difficult to replace honestly.

 

[lilguy]

My first gun, a Ruger Security Six. Bought it new 42 years ago.

 

[Uncle Richard]

A couple but one stands out....

My uncle bob gave me a colt 1911 used in ww2 that was previously his brothers, my uncle Richard whom is now deceased. Brings tears to my eyes thinking about him. Never asked for it nor said I wanted it. They are the best men ive ever had the pleasure of knowing, my dad being the greatest.

 

[Gladius]

I have a few cherished guns. I'll discuss a couple of them:
1. A Kar98K (I think it's a Gustloff Werke rifle, I'll have to check later). It's pretty run of the mill, as far as military rifles go. Except this one was shipped home by my father following WWII. This rifle was never issued, and still packed in cosmoline when he got it. It has still never been fired.
2. A Smith & Wesson Model 60. First gen, no dash. Dad's "Two Little Friends". He carried this gun almost to the day he died. After his death, I unloaded it and placed it in a safe, but one day I will fire it again, maybe even carry it (he kept his spare ammo in a dump pouch, which I unloaded as well. Good thing too, the ammo was turning green...).
3. Wards-Western Field pump action .22 rifle. The first real firearm I ever shot. Yep, also dads.
4. Colt 1911. This WWI-vintage .45 belong to my brother-in-law, who found it in a box of things belonging to his father, who, like my dad, was also a WWII vet. He didn't want it in the house, and didn't even know what he had. I told him what it was, what it meant, and what it was worth, but instead of selling it, he gave it to me -- along with a Sauer 38H (Nice!) and some various cheap "Suicide Special"-type revolvers (not so nice, but they were free, so what the heck). Cannot beat that at all.

 

[Agsalaska]

Well, my grandad brought home a Luger he ripped off of a German the week Hitler offed himself. He got old and senile and sold it, in 1992, to a gunshop for $200. My dad was devastated and never forgave him.

On the other side of the family, my other grandad was already an old man when he and grandma had mom. He was an officer in WW1. When he was discharged in 1921 he ended up with a Colt 1917. I don't know if he bought it from the PX or if it was issued to him, but it is a 1919 manufactured. He died in 1950 and in 1985, after Grandma died, my dad found it still loaded in the top of his closet.

Unfortunately my mom and siblings had a 20 year fight over the will, so everything froze so it went back in the closet(now unloaded). Finally last year my mom said to hell with it and, knowing I was the only grandkid that would appreciate it and not sell it, went over there and snatched it. She called me and told me she had a surprise for me.

It is in 99% condition. I am having a presentation case made for it with a picture of him in his uniform. It will go in my safe but come out for special occasions and holidays(as long as my mom's siblings are not around).

 

[Agsalaska]

In 1968 my grandfather gave me his Rem. mod. 510. He said i should keep it 'till he asked for it. He died in 1970...never did ask for it.
My dad gave me a Win. '94 in .30-30. Got my first deer with it.

Those would be last to go.

However, I will , in the not too distant future, give up all of them. I'll be handing all of them to my sons and grandson. Its about time.

Mark

I am 37 and think a lot of this moment. Unfortunately all of the guns I grew up shooting were stolen out of my uncles barn in 1995 when someone broke in with a pallet jack and took the safe. But I do have the 1917 from the post above and a few others from my wife's side.

The goal is for my grandkids to think I am the coolest person ever to die the day they open my safes.

 

[Inebriated]

There are a handful of guns that I will never part with...

Two 870's, one Express, one Wingmaster. The Express was the first gun I ever bought, the Wingmaster was a gift from my dad.
One AK, a Saiga that I bought to build into a Rifle Dynamics RD-700. Turns out, I didn't save very much money over just buying a Jim Fuller build, and it didn't exactly happen a lot quicker than Jim's lead times anyway, but it was a ton of fun to work on, and I do take pride in it.
A G26, because, well... why would you sell a perfectly good carry gun?
A Marlin Model 60, The first rifle I ever shot... my uncle had let sit and get rusty in the years since, so I cleaned it up.
Oh, and a Crosman pump BB gun that my parents gave me when I was young. That one will stay.

On the upside, if I ever did have to sell everything, I'd still have all the basis covered; A .22, a fighting rifle, a carry gun, and a couple shotguns.

 

[Fast996]

that is hands down my 300 Weatherby that my Mom bought for me because I was 13 years old. it's a German with a Weatherby 2.5x10 scope that came with the rifle. It cost 370 bucks and I paid for it from my paper route money in 1966.

I also have a high standard military that my Dad gave me.

 

[Gun Geezer]

A 12ga Citori. Field grade, 26" barrels.

Nothing fancy. Mom gave it to me last February when Dad passed. It busted a limit of dove on the opener this fall.

 

[jinjyr]

Not my favorite to shoot but my dad and his twin brother were in NYPD from 1951-1980, I have their carry revolvers. A Smith Model 10 (dad) and Colt Official Police (uncle)

 

[WestKentucky]

It's a tough call. They almost all are sentimental at this point. I have 2 single shot 22lr a marlin 336, sportsman999, 410 single shot, marlin .256winmag, 20ga pump, 2 32swl revolvers...all that came down from my grandparents. Then I have my rem 11 that I cleaned up the internals with a jewelers file and stoned it to perfection but kept it's 80+ years of abuse. My rem 700 is the first gun I bought. My phoenix hp22 was a gift from my parents in high school...everything else that I currently own either is an abnormally good gun for what it is, or was a gift from my wife. If I had to pick a most cherished I guess it would be my grandfathers 336...I shot a bunch of deer with it and he taught me to hunt with it. My grandma's 32swl rg revolver is close since she taught me how accurate a snub can be. Next on the list is her 22 that she fed her mom, 9 brothers and 2 sisters with while they worked to pay the bills. Another good one is my mom's bb gun that my uncle tried to forcefully take away from her and in the mix they shot my grandfather in the eye socket with (he grabbed my uncle and hurled him through the dairy barn face first through several cowpies for that one....yeah, guns really are just metal bits but the memories and stories are priceless.

 

[Captcurt]

I'll be buried with it.

The old Winchester model 60 was my Grandfather's. The wood has a gouge out of the stock where I wrecked with it on my bicycle. The blueing is worn and what little that is left is a gray patina. The Old Man loved to squirrel hunt and many times I have seen him headshoot a gray. He would get me out of bed on opening day of the season and take me to the woods. Then he would drive me to school. He did this from the time I was 8 until his death when I was 15. God knows that I miss him. I doubt if the gun would bring $15 on GunBroker. Probably couldn't give it a way if I wanted to, but I wouldn't take a million dollars for it. I will go to my grave with it.

 

[Normandy]

I have "a few" rifles and handguns that are worth upwards of $2K each, but honestly, the one firearm that I truly have a bond with: Winchester model 72 .22LR rifle. It once belonged to a big game hunter, and I bought it from his collection. Has the adjustable peep sight, a military-style leather sling (probably at least 50 yrs old, but nice), and very well cared for. If I can see a target, I can usually hit it dead center with this rifle. It makes me smile every time I take it to the range. Cost me $300.

 

[herrwalther]

My most cherished rifle isn't mine yet. My grandfather has a Marlin 1936 30-30 that was bought new by his father. I am next in line to receive it since my father doesn't like firearms. We do not have many heirlooms or traditions in my family, but I am glad that is one of them I will continue.

 

[AABEN]

All of them !!