Dad's Old Gun

[doc540]

Had coffee with him this morning.

He turns 91 in November.

Says he got this one when he was 12 and could strike a kitchen match with it.

Who am I to doubt my dad? He was piloting a B-17 at age 24.

[ffemt300]

Beautiful rifle. I wouldn't doubt a word he says! Cherish him and get every story you can from him while you can! Write them down! Especially the ones about B-17s! My grandfather was born in 1920 and was in WWII as well. Pattons 3rd in Bastogne. He passed along several guns to me and my brother. I had the honor of listening to his entire Army experience one night around the dinner table. My wife wrote everything down and by the end of the night we were all in tears after hearing about his weeks in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. The guns he gave me are priceless to me and I will never get rid of them.

[77346]

That's a very beautiful rifle... nice wallhanger/family heirloom, although I would occasionally take it to the range to keep it in top condition.

[ClarkLZeuss]

Great looking rifle! I have one that looks almost exactly like that, passed down from my grandfather. I don't think I'll ever have to / want to sell it, but I have wondered at times what these old .22LR rifles are worth. I plan for this to be the first firearm I teach my kids to shoot with one day.

[TexasGal]

Treasures, both your dad and the legacy he has left for you. As others have said, write down his stories and preserve them. We have so few of the Greatest Generation with us now. When they pass in to history, we will not see their like again. They knew struggle and hardship and the fear of losing our great nation to a foreign invader. They defended not a political viewpoint, but our very way of life. They fought for their wives, children, and parents back home. I am always amazed when I have the privilege to talk to one how proudly upright they are in their dedication to doing what is right and good and the love they have for our country. He obviously has cared lovingly for his old rifle and has raised a good son to pass it to.

[Blindref757]

Thanks for giving me salty coffee this morning. It's been 3 years since I lost my dad and I'd give anything to sit and drink coffee with him while talking about guns just one more time!

[doc540]

I hear ya. Mine's past the "sunset" of life and is deep into "dusk".

We're arranged that I get what guns he has left including his old Daisy Model 40 like this.
And it still shoots hard!

[WildBill]

I hear ya. Mine's past the "sunset" of life and is deep into "dusk".

We're arranged that I get what guns he has left including his old Daisy Model 40 like this.
And it still shoots hard!

Even though it's been many years, I still miss my dad. To all of the younger members of the forum - Talk to your dad [and mom] before it's too late.

We have an unwritten rule in our family about guns that were owned by our parents. After my father died, but before my mother gave me any of his and her guns, she made me promise that I ever decided to sell any, I had to first give family members the first right of refusal. I still have all of the guns that my mother gave me.

Doc540 - That's quite a weapon you have. I didn't know Daisy made assault rifles back then.

[The Annoyed Man]

Can I have it?

[puma guy]

doc540,
What a treasure. I wouldn't doubt he could strike a match with it. I have a Winchester single shot .22 of my dad's with an old 4X Wollensak-Rochester external adjustment scope. He used it squirrel hunting in the Adirondacks. I'm with WildBill regarding talking to your parents before it's too late.

[RPBrown]

Like was said before, cherish every story he tells you.

I have one almost exactly like that. It was my Dad's then he passed it down to me when I was 8. Thats what I learned to shoot with. Ah, the stories that he told me about him and that rifle.

[Rex B]

+3 on Talk to Dad

My Dad was a D-Day veteran, also was at the Bulge. By the time I realized we needed to get his story down, his memory was affected and we got very little.
Take the time, if you still have it.