Your Father?
- Thread starter boredelmo
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Nitrogen
Member
My parents are antis, but my Dad taught me to think for myself; to view both sides of a discussion, and make decisions based on facts; not emotional arguments.
My Dad is somewhat of a hippie, but he's also one of the most open-minded people I know. My mom, however, is your classic socialist, as is the rest of her family. I'm a liberal, but not a socalist.
Eventually, I took my dad's advice, thought for myself, and became pro-gun.
My Dad is somewhat of a hippie, but he's also one of the most open-minded people I know. My mom, however, is your classic socialist, as is the rest of her family. I'm a liberal, but not a socalist.
Eventually, I took my dad's advice, thought for myself, and became pro-gun.
ACP230
Member
My Dad was a hunter, not a competitive shooter. He had a sporterized 8mm Mauser deer rifle and a Model 12 Winchester 12 gauge. One box of Remington-Peters 8mm ammo lasted him years. I think there's still a couple rounds left somewhere.
He supported me when I got interested in Bullseye pistol, and then other competitive shooting disciplines, but it was always hard to get him to step up to the line and shoot while I was plinking, or practicing.
Dad bought me my first gun, a Crosman .22 caliber air rifle. My first deer rifle, a bubbaed 1917 Enfield, and for high school graduation he bought me a Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge. I still have all the guns.
Dad thinks I have too many guns now, but doesn't make a fuss about it very often.
My 14 year-old son is starting to shoot Bullseye pistol matches now. I think Dad gets a kick out of seeing him starting out like I did.
He supported me when I got interested in Bullseye pistol, and then other competitive shooting disciplines, but it was always hard to get him to step up to the line and shoot while I was plinking, or practicing.
Dad bought me my first gun, a Crosman .22 caliber air rifle. My first deer rifle, a bubbaed 1917 Enfield, and for high school graduation he bought me a Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge. I still have all the guns.
Dad thinks I have too many guns now, but doesn't make a fuss about it very often.
My 14 year-old son is starting to shoot Bullseye pistol matches now. I think Dad gets a kick out of seeing him starting out like I did.
My dad and I have been hunting together for 40 years. He gave me my first firearm for Christmas when I was 9 it was a little 410 bolt action shotgun. We used to spend our Christmas time out in the woods hunting and I used to open my gifts in hunting camp. I don't know how much hunting time we have left together, he is almost 80 and does not get around as well anymore but I will take him a long as he wants to go.
My dad has given me several guns over the years, some that are worth quite a bit. The nicest one is a Colt peacemaker that belonged to my grandfather. The gun is in excellent condition with all matching numbers and resides in my gun vault. I don't shoot it but it does get a good oiling once in a while. He has always had a lot of guns around and I'm not sure how many he has now. His were always hunting type rifles and never anything weird but he did bring one rifle back from Viet-Nam an old M-44 Nagant along with several other war trophies.
My dad has given me several guns over the years, some that are worth quite a bit. The nicest one is a Colt peacemaker that belonged to my grandfather. The gun is in excellent condition with all matching numbers and resides in my gun vault. I don't shoot it but it does get a good oiling once in a while. He has always had a lot of guns around and I'm not sure how many he has now. His were always hunting type rifles and never anything weird but he did bring one rifle back from Viet-Nam an old M-44 Nagant along with several other war trophies.
geegee
Member
Both of my parents were anti-gun ownership. My mother was British, and my father from Serbia. My father was taken by the Nazi's from Serbia as a teenager, and sent to a slave labor camp, where he spent the entire war. His comment on guns was always the same dismissive answer "I've seen enough guns in my life and what they can do." When I was a kid, that answer made sense.
As I got older, it occurred to me that guns in the hands of the American and British soldiers that defeated his oppressors and eventually liberated him and others in those camps, really wasn't something to be feared as much as celebrated. We've disagreed on so many things in our lifetimes that this is one point of contention that I just left alone. I know the truth, and he's too old to change his mind. Needless to say, my son's response to this question when he gets to my age will be far different from mine.
As I got older, it occurred to me that guns in the hands of the American and British soldiers that defeated his oppressors and eventually liberated him and others in those camps, really wasn't something to be feared as much as celebrated. We've disagreed on so many things in our lifetimes that this is one point of contention that I just left alone. I know the truth, and he's too old to change his mind. Needless to say, my son's response to this question when he gets to my age will be far different from mine.
My dad sold his house back east and is becoming a full-time RV guy. He's handing down HIS father's handgun to me. He doesn't want any hassle while travelling across state lines. He's replacing it in the RV with a Winchester model 12.
It's a WWII Browning HP with Nazi markings made after the Germans rolled through Belguim. My grandad brought back it on the troopship.
It's a WWII Browning HP
with Nazi markings made after the Germans rolled through Belguim. My grandad brought back it on the troopship.My father doesn't really care for guns. When I lived with him way back when he told me a story about one of his brothers having a pshycotic breakdown when he returned from vietnam (6 of my uncles went over). One of them went hunting with him and had a flash back, then started shooting at things that were'nt there. This being his first and only hunting trip I think its a given that this made him scared sh*tless of guns. My mother grew up in the country and knew gun culture. So when I became interested she supported my hobbie. The rest is history.
History Prof
Member
I love and admire my dad, and was fortunate to be there when he passed. My first memory of guns in general was at the age of 9, watching my dad blow a tree stump to pieces with his Ruger Blackhawk .44Mag (he had taped his target to it). Thanks to this great man, I've been a shooter since age 12. He was never really a collector until late in life. He couldn't afford them. He retired from the AF as an E-5 in 1971 and raised 8 kids on those nickle and dime wages the military pays. It wasn't until the commercial electronics boom of the early '80s that his AF training began to pay off in the civilian market (and kids leaving the nest helped). About 1983, he went to work for a company that built telecommunications satellites and by the time I left home, he had both time and $$$ for collecting. I think *my* collecting spurred him on. By the time he passed away, he had sold everything but his gun safe, the Ruger .44 and a 9mm pistol. I got the safe and my daughter got the 9MM pistol. My GI brother got the Ruger.
Wesson Smith
Member
I too feel fortunate to have been by my Dad's side when he passed last year, History Prof.
Pop was a decorated WWI vet (2 Bronze Stars & a Purple Heart) but never showed any interest in weapons as we were growing up. I gathered that he saw some pretty ugly stuff fighting in The Ardennes, and just preferred the absence of the sound of a muzzle blast. Pop never objected to my early interest in guns, but it never became a father-son type of thing. One of my later recollections before Dad passed was his amusement regarding my "growing arsenal". By the time we were discussing these things, Pop was too frail to participate. Man. I sure would have loved to have been able to take him to the range for a little session before he left us. Water under the bridge, so to speak. Sure do miss ya, Dad.
Pop was a decorated WWI vet (2 Bronze Stars & a Purple Heart) but never showed any interest in weapons as we were growing up. I gathered that he saw some pretty ugly stuff fighting in The Ardennes, and just preferred the absence of the sound of a muzzle blast. Pop never objected to my early interest in guns, but it never became a father-son type of thing. One of my later recollections before Dad passed was his amusement regarding my "growing arsenal".
By the time we were discussing these things, Pop was too frail to participate. Man. I sure would have loved to have been able to take him to the range for a little session before he left us. Water under the bridge, so to speak. Sure do miss ya, Dad.M2 Carbine
member
My father died when I was young. I don't know what he thought about guns or anything else but I got my love for guns from somewhere I guess.
Rich K
Member
I spent a lot of time with my grandad and my uncles. Grandpa and uncle Ralph never showed me much interest in guns, but that probably had to do with Ralph's service in WWII. They never bought me any guns, but never tried to discourage any interest on my part, either. I really got into guns after I joined the Marines at 17, and it has been a great addiction ever since.
10X
Member
My grandfather died when my father was 11 years old. My father grew up during the depression and the family had nothing. He helped a farmer put up fence for three days. There was no money so the farmer gave dad a Winchester 06 22 as payment. Dad hunted pheasants with that 22 to feed the family. He told me stories of not having enough money to buy a full box of 22 shells, so the hardware store sold him half a box. He never would eat chicken because it reminded him of those days.
He first took me hunting when I was 5 years old. First with a pop gun, then a BB gun, then a 410. He tought me to shoot with the 06. Eventually he bought me a Model 29 Remington pump for $20.
The Winchester 06 became the first of his collection of over 60 Winchester 22 pumps. Hunting and gun collecting became a father and son thing. The best days I ever had were with dad. Ten years ago I held his hand as he died.
I kept a few of his guns, including the 06, that had the most memories to add to my own.
He first took me hunting when I was 5 years old. First with a pop gun, then a BB gun, then a 410. He tought me to shoot with the 06. Eventually he bought me a Model 29 Remington pump for $20.
The Winchester 06 became the first of his collection of over 60 Winchester 22 pumps. Hunting and gun collecting became a father and son thing. The best days I ever had were with dad. Ten years ago I held his hand as he died.
I kept a few of his guns, including the 06, that had the most memories to add to my own.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Air Gun
My first piece was a Crosman air pistol.
Dad gave it to me on my 12th birthday.
House burned down, pistol was destroyed.
When I turned 16, I got job, earned bux, bought air rifle. He never really got very involved with that.
[ . . . 40 years . . . ]
Talked to him on the phone last month, as I do every year on his birthday -- he's now 87 -- and told him I finally had something I could call a hobby. Told him I was into shooting; told him I had an M1 Carbine. Suddenly, he was a wealth of knowledge on Garands, M1 Carbines, 1911 pistols, and the Johnson M1941 rifle. Described their operation, told me he trained on all of those, mostly carried a carbine, but preferred the Johnson.
I was staggered. What the hell? All those years. He never brought it up. He wasn't "anti" he just wasn't real interested after the war. He complemented me on my choices and how much I'd learned in a short time.
I nearly cried. Like now.
All those years.
My first piece was a Crosman air pistol.
Dad gave it to me on my 12th birthday.
House burned down, pistol was destroyed.
When I turned 16, I got job, earned bux, bought air rifle. He never really got very involved with that.
[ . . . 40 years . . . ]
Talked to him on the phone last month, as I do every year on his birthday -- he's now 87 -- and told him I finally had something I could call a hobby. Told him I was into shooting; told him I had an M1 Carbine. Suddenly, he was a wealth of knowledge on Garands, M1 Carbines, 1911 pistols, and the Johnson M1941 rifle. Described their operation, told me he trained on all of those, mostly carried a carbine, but preferred the Johnson.
I was staggered. What the hell? All those years. He never brought it up. He wasn't "anti" he just wasn't real interested after the war. He complemented me on my choices and how much I'd learned in a short time.
I nearly cried. Like now.
All those years.
My dad never owned a gun but was fully supportive of my "right" as a child to run around with a bb/pellet gun and harass the local wildlife that ravaged my mom's garden. When I showed him my SKS he commented on how old it was and even the rifle he used when he was in the Taiwenese army 40ish years ago looked newer than that. Of course, he was a doctor in the army so he couldn't even remember what the rifle was called, but he said he did enjoy carrying his pistol slung low on his hip like John Wayne.
sm
member
Fella that sired me first, then 3 others, don't speak about him much, haven't spoken to him much all these years either. I was the eldest male of the household.
Now he spent 32 years in Nat'l Guard and was supposed to have gotten medals with a M1 carbine and pretty good with a 1911. This fella only took me out to shoot twice, and these were because other fellas invited me, and kinda shamed him into bringing me along.
First time, some fella trying to show off doing quick draw, shot himself in the leg with a .22 revolver.
Second time I went squirrel hunting, and I got my butt chewed out for shooting so well and being honest when asked where I learned to shoot by telling the hosts Mentors & Elders had passed on to me.
Years later, I was competing in skeet, this fella showed up and wanted to know where I was, got wind I was there, I had to be pointed out. Mentors and Elders told this fella - to stay back and not distract me, I was favored and needed to concentrate.
I won, and was going to be in the shoot-off. Mentors and all suggested he leave, not real right he just show up unannounced , and only because he was shamed into coming.
He left for a bit, but did with Mentors permissions stay in the shadows to watch this shoot-off. We went almost 4 boxes, and I won. Fella that sired me was asked to leave, he saw what he come to see, was told a few things he asked about - and not told nothing about many others.
"Where'd he learn to shoot a shotgun like that?"
"For damn sure not from you - time for you to leave mister".
I got more from maternal grandma until she died when I was a bit over 5 years old than I got from the fella that sired me.
Life is Life - I did / do the right things and pass forward as passed to me.
I got that from Mentors & Elders, both men and women - not from the fella that sired me.
Run with what you brung young'un Mentors & Elders
Now he spent 32 years in Nat'l Guard and was supposed to have gotten medals with a M1 carbine and pretty good with a 1911. This fella only took me out to shoot twice, and these were because other fellas invited me, and kinda shamed him into bringing me along.
First time, some fella trying to show off doing quick draw, shot himself in the leg with a .22 revolver.
Second time I went squirrel hunting, and I got my butt chewed out for shooting so well and being honest when asked where I learned to shoot by telling the hosts Mentors & Elders had passed on to me.
Years later, I was competing in skeet, this fella showed up and wanted to know where I was, got wind I was there, I had to be pointed out. Mentors and Elders told this fella - to stay back and not distract me, I was favored and needed to concentrate.
I won, and was going to be in the shoot-off. Mentors and all suggested he leave, not real right he just show up unannounced , and only because he was shamed into coming.
He left for a bit, but did with Mentors permissions stay in the shadows to watch this shoot-off. We went almost 4 boxes, and I won. Fella that sired me was asked to leave, he saw what he come to see, was told a few things he asked about - and not told nothing about many others.
"Where'd he learn to shoot a shotgun like that?"
"For damn sure not from you - time for you to leave mister".
I got more from maternal grandma until she died when I was a bit over 5 years old than I got from the fella that sired me.
Life is Life - I did / do the right things and pass forward as passed to me.
I got that from Mentors & Elders, both men and women - not from the fella that sired me.
Run with what you brung young'un Mentors & Elders
Wesson Smith
Member
sm ~ Man, that's a heartbreaking story. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who had a Dad that cared. Hope it all ended up OK for you.
sm
member
*shrug*
Ain't no thang
One can do anything they want, no matter what Life tosses at 'em. Always remember - there will always be those worse off than you and those better off than you.
Attitude of Gratitude, One day at a time, Run what you brung...
One cannot choose family - one for damn sure can choose true friends.
I had/ have some Mentors & Elders - I miss 'em that have passed on. They ain't gone, hell I keep passing forward as they passed to me in a sense - eternal.
Grateful for that - always will be.
I did not miss out - instead the fella that sired me missed out. His choice , not mine.
We each gotta run what we brung - I come out w-a-y ahead of this deal.
Folks I have assisted with - continue to say they are getting the better end of the bargain.
Nope, sorry, it is I that thanks them, and I thank 'em on behalf of Mentors & Elders not around to thank them themselves.
Now for too many years I have been this "Adopted Uncle" don't matter if a kid, single lady, single mom, Married couple ( or for how long) , younger, older, single fella, black, white, green blue and whatever else.
Human rights are Human Rights - period end of story.
Don't much give a whit what .gov says, or some TV or Movie says - Right is Right. Moral Law is Moral Law.
Never been about me, never will be.
Get the hankering for a new firearm for me and ...dang there is a single shot .22 rifle, or a shotgun kid sized. Maybe a handgun, like a .22 revolver/ semi..., or Used Police trade in Model 10.
Some old used Case knife with yellow handles and Chrome Vanadium blades with a bit of Patina looking kind of lonely...
I don't need that firearm I had a hankering for...
Now having something for someone else to learn to shoot on , or passing on how to whittle, or cut rope, or cut an apple - that is more important.
Down the road - these folks do the same thing. They in turn spend that money on a .22 single shot rifle that fits a kid and a brick of ammo.
They don't have kids - still they will run into one, or maybe nieces and nephews will come to visit when they get bigger - who knows? Don't really matter, got that .22 single shot - "just because"...
Same reason they keep a few copies of The Old Man And The Boy by Robert Ruark handy - "Just Because"...
How raised - what you do.
Ain't no thang
One can do anything they want, no matter what Life tosses at 'em. Always remember - there will always be those worse off than you and those better off than you.
Attitude of Gratitude, One day at a time, Run what you brung...
One cannot choose family - one for damn sure can choose true friends.
I had/ have some Mentors & Elders - I miss 'em that have passed on. They ain't gone, hell I keep passing forward as they passed to me in a sense - eternal.
Grateful for that - always will be.
I did not miss out - instead the fella that sired me missed out. His choice , not mine.
We each gotta run what we brung - I come out w-a-y ahead of this deal.
Folks I have assisted with - continue to say they are getting the better end of the bargain.
Nope, sorry, it is I that thanks them, and I thank 'em on behalf of Mentors & Elders not around to thank them themselves.
Now for too many years I have been this "Adopted Uncle" don't matter if a kid, single lady, single mom, Married couple ( or for how long) , younger, older, single fella, black, white, green blue and whatever else.
Human rights are Human Rights - period end of story.
Don't much give a whit what .gov says, or some TV or Movie says - Right is Right. Moral Law is Moral Law.
Never been about me, never will be.
Get the hankering for a new firearm for me and ...dang there is a single shot .22 rifle, or a shotgun kid sized. Maybe a handgun, like a .22 revolver/ semi..., or Used Police trade in Model 10.
Some old used Case knife with yellow handles and Chrome Vanadium blades with a bit of Patina looking kind of lonely...
I don't need that firearm I had a hankering for...
Now having something for someone else to learn to shoot on , or passing on how to whittle, or cut rope, or cut an apple - that is more important.
Down the road - these folks do the same thing. They in turn spend that money on a .22 single shot rifle that fits a kid and a brick of ammo.
They don't have kids - still they will run into one, or maybe nieces and nephews will come to visit when they get bigger - who knows? Don't really matter, got that .22 single shot - "just because"...
Same reason they keep a few copies of The Old Man And The Boy by Robert Ruark handy - "Just Because"...
How raised - what you do.
Lonestar.45
Member
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2004
- Messages
- 1,077
I could probably fill a whole page in here about what Dad taught me about shooting and guns. He's forgotten more about shooting and hunting than I'll ever know, probably.
Dad was in the Marines in Vietnam (3rd Batt. 5th Marines) 66-67. He then got out and was a police officer for 30 yrs, retiring in '98. He's an avid deer hunter and hunted nearly every season, and took me on one of his first hunts back when I was 6 months old, if you can believe that (I got the pictures of me sitting next to a dead spike and a turkey to prove it).
Got my first BB gun, a Red Ryder, at age 7. That got me hooked, and dad took me deer hunting every time he went out.
He's pretty much handed over his entire collection to me now (not a lot of guns, just three deer rifles a shotgun and a Ruger Mark I), with the exception of his old 9mm service pistol and a .22 mag we gave him for Father's Day that he keeps around to pop gophers. I've expanded the collection, and between his guns and mine my son will have a nice big gun collection passed to him one day. Once he's old enough, I'll start him on a Red Ryder, and so it continues. I was fortunate enough to have a gread Dad, I'm trying to be the same way for my son.
Dad was in the Marines in Vietnam (3rd Batt. 5th Marines) 66-67. He then got out and was a police officer for 30 yrs, retiring in '98. He's an avid deer hunter and hunted nearly every season, and took me on one of his first hunts back when I was 6 months old, if you can believe that (I got the pictures of me sitting next to a dead spike and a turkey to prove it).
Got my first BB gun, a Red Ryder, at age 7. That got me hooked, and dad took me deer hunting every time he went out.
He's pretty much handed over his entire collection to me now (not a lot of guns, just three deer rifles a shotgun and a Ruger Mark I), with the exception of his old 9mm service pistol and a .22 mag we gave him for Father's Day that he keeps around to pop gophers. I've expanded the collection, and between his guns and mine my son will have a nice big gun collection passed to him one day. Once he's old enough, I'll start him on a Red Ryder, and so it continues. I was fortunate enough to have a gread Dad, I'm trying to be the same way for my son.
Well from a young age my father took me shooting and hunting.. He never did hide guns from me not even the loaded ones in the house. He showed me where they are and told me they are loaded incase of emergency. Being open about guns and guns in the house and letting me shoot and look at his unload guns anytime I wanted kept me from being curious about them...
I do the same thing with my kids. Except the loaded guns at the house are in safes. I carry and my 6 year old daughter and 11 and 15 year old sons know I do and know not to say anything to anyone. When I get home from the range I sit in the livinging room and watch TV with the family while I clean my guns on my daughters play table and chairs. I am hoping to show my kids the same respect for guns that my dad showed me.
J
I do the same thing with my kids. Except the loaded guns at the house are in safes. I carry and my 6 year old daughter and 11 and 15 year old sons know I do and know not to say anything to anyone. When I get home from the range I sit in the livinging room and watch TV with the family while I clean my guns on my daughters play table and chairs. I am hoping to show my kids the same respect for guns that my dad showed me.
J
Wesson Smith
Member
sm ~ Good on ya. God Bless...
robctwo
Member
About 50 years ago I was 5 or 6. Hanging out in parents bedroom while dad changed from work cloths. In the back of a drawer I saw a pistol belt and gun.
Dad had an early model Ruger .22 semiauto. He got it out, explained that it was real and loaded, all guns are always loaded all the time. We went out to grandparents that weekend to shoot. There was a Winchester bolt .22 with scope in the closet by the back door. Down in back of the barn with a piece of plywood and some paper targets. Got to shoot both guns as much as I wanted. Had early gun safety lessons. Rules were i could shoot as much as I wanted with him. Could only show friends the gun with him there. Friends could shoot with parent's permission. Shot .22 until I was sick of shooting. Would rather sit in front of TV with cartoons. Maybe Dad was an early child psychologist?
Hunter safety at age 11 was very common here and boys generally got a .410 or a .22 for 12th birthday. I knew I was getting the shotgun because we had the .22s. Lots of throwing clay birds for each other and pheasant hunting.
Didn' deer hunt until I got back from grad school and a friend got me interested. I had so much fun with Dad's old 30-30 that he got involved and hunted over 20 years with me. He gave it up a few years ago, but wants me to get some venison for him every year.
He still has that .22 Ruger, and the rifle is in my basement. .410 is by my back door.
Dad had an early model Ruger .22 semiauto. He got it out, explained that it was real and loaded, all guns are always loaded all the time. We went out to grandparents that weekend to shoot. There was a Winchester bolt .22 with scope in the closet by the back door. Down in back of the barn with a piece of plywood and some paper targets. Got to shoot both guns as much as I wanted. Had early gun safety lessons. Rules were i could shoot as much as I wanted with him. Could only show friends the gun with him there. Friends could shoot with parent's permission. Shot .22 until I was sick of shooting. Would rather sit in front of TV with cartoons. Maybe Dad was an early child psychologist?
Hunter safety at age 11 was very common here and boys generally got a .410 or a .22 for 12th birthday. I knew I was getting the shotgun because we had the .22s. Lots of throwing clay birds for each other and pheasant hunting.
Didn' deer hunt until I got back from grad school and a friend got me interested. I had so much fun with Dad's old 30-30 that he got involved and hunted over 20 years with me. He gave it up a few years ago, but wants me to get some venison for him every year.
He still has that .22 Ruger, and the rifle is in my basement. .410 is by my back door.
bumm
Member
My father's dad died when he was 9, and he grew up the man of the farm during the dust bowl years and the depression. He was also very intelligent, and raised by very German parents. All this worked together to make him the toughest, most opinionated, hot tempered, demanding, controling, disciplinarian that ever lived. He was a good, honest, man, but I lived in fear of him. I suppose I got my interest in guns from him though, because although he was always too busy to shoot, he collected hundreds of guns. The few that he owned and shot when he was younger I now treasure. He died in '98, and that's all I have of him. I wish I could say we got along, but we didn't, and although I tried hard, I feel I was always a bit of a disappointment to him. But... that's life. I try to do the best I can for my kids, but I guess it isn't easy sometimes.
Marty
Marty
Rich K
Member
sm, good on you. You and I have a bit in common. My uncles and my grandad and great grandad are the men I miss and who mentored me. I just try to pass on what they taught me, to any one who wants to learn.
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