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What gun do you have that's like a family member?

3K views 40 replies 31 participants last post by  goofy 
#1 ·
I own a few, but the one that stands out is not the most expensive, or the most valuable. It is a Marlin 22 mag. That gun, named Maggie- has been with my family about 22 years. I have had to pawn it for money for bills, gas and groceries from time to time. I always went back for it.
Well, a couple of Christmases ago, my daughter really had taken a shine to it. My wife asked me if I would be willing to give it to her for Christmas. I had to think long and hard on it. I did it. Before I gave it to her, I told her that she had better not ever consider selling it. I don't have a son to pass mine to, so the feeling was the same. She loves that gun. I expect that some time down the road, her kids will be holding it.
How about y'all? Any special ones to you?
 
#28 ·
I have 2 of them the 1st being "ole faithful" that's a Old Henry 22LR Repeater witch is my 1st rifle. The 2nd is "maggie" witch is the Ruger M77 MKII chambered in 7mm Rem Mag that my dad gave me. It's glass beaded, floated, has a 3lb Timony Trigger in it, and a Zeiss Conquest 3.5-12x44 scope on it.
 
#29 ·
I have several but the two main ones are the original 1887 Winchester 12 gauge I grew up hunting with and a Winchester model 12 12 gauge that was dads favorite gun and the first shotgun I ever fired when I was 11. He bought it new in 53 and I got it when he passed. I don't know the history of the 87 but its been in the family for as long as I can remember.
 
#32 ·
I have another. It is an old Colt .38 that fires the long colt ammo. In need of repairs and a restoration. Since it will always be in the family, I want to get it restored, value be hanged. It was my grandfather's. He died in '35 at age 35 from a ruptured appendix.
 
#33 ·
I hear what you're saying. I to have an old Colt except mine is a 1911 built in 1914.
It certainly dose show it's age and if I restore it, it will lose half of it's value.
But as you say" value be hanged" . It's an old family member and sometime in the near future I will have it restored to it's former glory.
 
#34 ·
Among others, my dads sweet 16 Browning, he bought it after I was born to be able to take me duck hunting. Just like family it ain;t pretty but it is there when you need it.
I learned to shoot auto shotguns with it, never learned a pump gun so when I use one it is not unlikely I forget to cycle the gun.... I expect it to do it for me.
 
#35 ·
Interesting thread, equally interesting firearms too. Hawg, for me I believe yours takes the cake!!! I'd still like to have an '87.

I have my Grandpa's Eastern Arms 12 bore single shot. It's relegated to safe queen status. Last time I shot it at a splatter board match it came apart. It didn't burst, it just came apart like those old single barrels do. The barrel hit the ground, no damage, and I was standing there holding the forearm and buttstock. Picked up the barrel, put it back together and took it to the truck....30 years ago and I haven't fired it since.

The dearest piece is the Savage made #4, Mk1 SMLE which was my late Fathers that I have since passed on to my oldest son. Nothing special just an old SMLE that I remember when Dad bought it in 1963. Of the firearms I've bought two come immediately to mind. My Shiloh Sharps Montana Roughrider in 45-90 that I bought in '85 or '86. No rifle I own has killed as much game as that one....barring any of the antiques I own which I know nothing of their previous lives. The other is my first double rifle. An E. Goldmann in Erfurt in 11.15 X 60R
 
#37 ·
My Pop's (Grandpa's) old Winchester 67A .22 single shot. Having it is almost like having Pop around - he loved to hunt. It has small blemishes from 70 years of hard farm use, but it will never be refinished as long as I'm alive - then it goes to MY grandson.

If you were to ask do you have a gun that reminds you of a co-worker? I'd have to say a broken Colt .25 pocket pistol I gave away years ago. It was like a guy who worked for me when I was a Lead before I retired. This guy wouldn't work and I couldn't fire him. We were Union.
 
#38 ·
Reading these great posts I realized I have a couple even older (than the Win mod. 42) family members in the house. They are a pair of American Bulldog revolvers, one in .32 and the other is in .38. I am the third generation to possess these revolvers. The story that has passed down with them is that they were purchased as "his and hers" guns, one to be carried by the husband and the other left at home for the wife. It seems that my grandfather chose to carry the .32 and leave the .38 at home. Both are in good mechanical condition and the .38 shows no signs of wear since it spent most of it's life in a drawer while the .32 went to work on the railroad with my grandfather. Since neither shows any caliber markings and only the name American Bulldog on the barrel top I have always assumed they were black powder guns and have not fired them. I used to have them openly displayed along with some inert dummy cartridges but they now reside in the gun safe where no one gets to view them. I am guessing they are of late 1800's manufacture and possibly made by Iver Johnson retail price $2.50.
 

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#39 ·
When my son was born in 1979, I bought a Ruger stainless .22/.22mag. single-six convertible. I told him it would be his one day. When my grandson was born I told my son I was ready to give it to him so he could teach him how to shoot when he was old enough. The gun is still in the original box & wrappings & has never been fired. I open it once a yr. & clean & oil it, then put it back in the gun safe. Now my son's wife says there'll be no guns in her house loaded or otherwise. Wouldn't you know he'd marry a liberal Democrat. Well, back to the safe. After I'm gone they'll have to decide what to do with it.
Ah, just wait until he's had enough and divorces her ;)
Then you can peeve her off some more when you teach the Grandson how to shoot!
 
#41 ·
This is easy for me.
It's my Ithaca 37. 12 gauge.:)
I have had it sense I was 13 and got it from my dad when he said "This hits to hard if you can handdel it it is yours":D
Dropped ALLOT of deer with it I used it up to a few years ago.;)
Now I SAY "It hit's to hard".:eek:
It has a hastings rifeled barrel and when you pull the trgger YOU KNOW IT:rolleyes:
Mike
 
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