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Guys,

I just got back from the Dallas area after attending my wife's grandfather's funeral. Last night after the service the subject of guns came about with one of my wife's uncles (super nice, cool guy). He was just floored to discover that she was a CHL and loved to shoot. He took us into a bedroom and pulled out 2 rifles and a shotgun from under the bed; I thought it was just a "gun show and tell", which I am always up for.

Turns out they were her grandfather's guns and her uncle and cousin were going to take one each and they needed a 3rd that could be trusted to keep, use, and maintain such a treasure. There was a 30 30 deer rifle with a scope, a pre-1950 single shot .22 bolt action rifle, and a Winchester 1200 12 gauge (sorry, I don't know rifles and I was too emotionally caught up in the moment to find out what brand the rifles were). We had a tough time because he didn't want to tell us what gun he and the cousin wanted so we would have first pick (Uncle Mike is that kind of guy). It turned out that they wanted the rifles and we had been wanting a shotgun to kill clay pigeons at Eagle Peak, so everyone was happy.

Her grandfather was one of those quiet, strong, kind WWII vets that buit his own house with his bare hands, took care of his family, and worked every day until the cancer stopped him a few months ago; and always had a sweet grin on his face. I can't imagine a better way to remember a loved one than with something that will bring joy to me, and my wife, and eventually our 8 year old for the rest of our lives.

Embalmo

Thanks for sharing this. Almost all of my long guns have been given to me either by my Dad or my FIL and they all are very special to me. I hope to pass them down to grandkids one of these days. (got to get some of those first though :)

-davidtx

Sorry to hear of your Grandfather's passing. Prayers with you guys and your family.

As for inherited guns, I have my Dad's Savage 30-30. While it is not a high-end rifle, it is priceless to me. I know how much he loved the gun and was so happy to get it back in the late 50's when they didn't really have a lot of money. The gun will hopefully never leave the family for generations to come!

As for the Winchester 1200, I own own and they are a good solid workhorse of a shotgun. Always have been happy with mine.

My son is just settin' around waitin' for me to die. Seriously though, that is pretty cool. My very first firearm was the old 1911 I inherited from my dad.

I have two guns I can't imagine selling, a Winchester 22 and a Browning 16 gauge. I can't imagine selling either because I inherited both from my Dad. I had a third gun, a Stevens 20 gauge, that I wouldn't consider selling. But I did give it to my son on his 12th birthday just like my Dad gave it to me on my 12th birthday.

Sympathy on the passing of your grandfather.

I have a number of guns I inherited from my Dad . . . somehow, they mean more to me than any of those I purchased for myself.

Guys,

Thanks for all of your kind words of condolence. My family's a little screwy, so I've been adopted by my wife's family. My family has never been into guns, nor shoud they, so the idea of of remembering someone you love with a gun that will last forever, and provide years of pleasure is a new, and nifty concept for me. I've always considered an heirloom to be something lame like china, or silver platters that get forgotten in the attic; but guns bring friends and families together.

Embalmo

Use it in loving memory! My sympathy to you and your lady. I too have heirlooms from my Dad that I would never sale or trade!

My favorite gun in the world is a model 1897 12ga shotgun that my great-grandfather gave me. Kicks like a mule, but if you hold down the trigger, you can rack the slide and continue shooting. Devastating in dove season (it also has a _very_ long barrel so it's quite accurate.)

Sounds like your wife's grandfather was a very special man. My sympathies to you and your wife for his passing. From what you said, I would imagine he would be honored to know that his guns have found good homes with family members who care.

Thanks for sharing!

Guys,

Thanks again for your kind words of condolence. I just had the time of my life trying it out at Eagle Peak. Shooting clay targets is just as much fun as I remembered 18 years ago. I killed half of a box of 90, and the other half died from the fall; often because I forgot to chamber a shell. I don't think the gun had been fired in 32 years, and the ammo was also 32 years old, but it all performed flawlessly; except the 39 year old shooter.

I heard the song "I thought he walked on water" today on the way to the range, and it made me wish that I'd grown up with the old guy-My wife was lucky. Like I said before, it's nice that we'll always think of him when we use it, it'll never grow cobwebs.

Embalmo