Why do people embed coins in their rifle stocks??

[indy1919a4]

So over the years I have seen where folks have embedded coin in the stocks of their rifles.

I suppose I understand it when you got an older Milsup rifle that has a empty spot in the stock for a unit identification disk. It can seem a good idea to fill that hole with something round (AKA a coin).

But I have seen a few sports rifles where people have gone out of their way to embed coins in the stocks...

So I ask ... WHY does someone do that.??? For what purpose.. ??

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Some people have differing taste.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

To pay the boatman?

 

[1911junkee]

Just think Velvet Elvis.

 

[Bfh_auto]

To pay the boatman?

Been a long time since I heard that one.
I don't do coins. But I have imbedded diamond shaped pieces of clam shells. There was a huge gouge in a spot in the middle of the forearm. So I put one on each side.

 

[indy1919a4]

Some people have differing taste.

I guess I am looking for why coins .. Why not action figures or jewelry???

 

[George Dickel]

Same reason guys put decals, custom wheels, wings, etc. on their motor vehicles.

 

[aarondhgraham]

For the same reason that a cat licks it's own behind,,,

Because they can.

Our wood shop teacher had us inlaying coins in all kinds of projects,,,
Mainly because it was an easy to do decorative effect,,,
All you needed was a spade bit and some epoxy

Aarond

 

[lysanderxiii]

Less "tacky" than tacks?

 

[indy1919a4]

That is awesome on so many fronts, I like that Great photo, I like that gun... And I love that pun.... It was a pun right

 

[WestKentucky]

Perhaps they select a coin with a year That’s important to them. If I were to have a rifle built as a wedding gift or perhaps an anniversary gift then I would want something indicating or representing what the important years were. I got married in 2011 so maybe have a 2011 dime in a 10 year anniversary gun, or a 2011 half dollar in a 50th anniversary gun. A 1984 half dollar in a few years for my 50th birthday might also be of interest. I suspect a lot of the coins have some hidden meaning such as these examples do.

Or some jack leg banged up an otherwise gorgeous stock and it’s an attempt to hide the blemish.

 

[Buzznrose]

So over the years I have seen where folks have embedded coin in the stocks of their rifles.

I suppose I understand it when you got an older Milsup rifle that has a empty spot in the stock for a unit identification disk. It can seem a good idea to fill that hole with something round (AKA a coin).

But I have seen a few sports rifles where people have gone out of their way to embed coins in the stocks...

So I ask ... WHY does someone do that.??? For what purpose.. ??

I’ve never seen this. Do you have a pic of one? What kind of coins? Thanks!

 

[indy1919a4]

I’ve never seen this. Do you have a pic of one? What kind of coins? Thanks!

 

[Buzznrose]

View attachment 943828

that’s kinda neat. Guess it’s a “making it mine” type of deal not unlike engravings.

I’m personally not much for non-functional “pretty” stuff, but I see that others do.

 

[GBExpat]

Thank goodness that folks seem to have gotten off of the old habit of crudely scratching their name, SSN or old military serial number into their firearms. Seems that it was almost de rigeuer until about the late '60s.

 

[LoonWulf]

I like them when they are done nicely and have a patina. I'd assume decoration, or personal significance. I've never heard of a specific reason for it.

The last few front sight blades I made were coins, and I made a point of leaving the visible faces alone, so you could tell.
Why? Simply because it amuses me.

 

[Nature Boy]

I've never see one or heard of it like it was a trend or fad

 

[M1key]

Colt commemorative lever rifles had medallions often.

M

 

[SW351C]

I think I would have bent the coin to match the stock to make it flush. There is an old story about 244 years old that they don’t teach in schools anymore about liberty and in God we trust that had an awful lot to do with guns. The picture gave me the chills.

 

[Steve S.]

Embedding a coin in a rifle stock is a psychologically subconscious desire to “spend” more time with that rifle (oh boy, do I crack myself up)!

 

[Rexster]

Folks used to carry “lucky coins” in their pockets. Maybe this was just another way to carry one’s lucky coin? Luck for the hunt?

 

[Officers'Wife]

Perhaps it's the same reason people mark the date in fresh concrete. Or perhaps it's like a guy in a book I read long ago that buried his dog with a coin attached to the collar. Should someone accidently dig up the remains they would know by the collar and coin the dog was special to someone and hopefully the remains would be treated with respect. In short a plea to the next owner not to "bubba" the rifle.

 

[SW351C]

Ever since I shortened this mare’s leg up even more then it came I’ve I have been pondering doing a tack job to it.

 

[Sav .250]

That question has way to many different answers, from way to many folk who do things ;like that.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I've personally never seen an embedded coin in a gunstock, but when I converted my old Martini action to .44 Magnum and reused the original buttstock, I had the ID disk engraved to resemble a cartridge headstamp:

To pay the boatman?

I spent some time once trying to track down a proper ancient Greek obol as a pocket piece. Eventually I rationalized that, unless the crossing was an exclusively Greek thing like the original Olympic games, the ferryman would be happy with any denomination.

The one coin I specifically associate with a firearm is the enormous old British penny, which is just the right size for the cylinder latch screw on my Webley pistols. I keep one of those in my gun cleaning box.