death of a family member - The Firearms Forum

gun-nut · 11-23-2011, 03:14 PM

Well i just put to rest my grandfather. (aka Papa) 85 years of age. I sit here and remember all the things he told me and taught me over the years. The sound i love the most is the sound i hate. Thats the sound of a gun, love it, but when they do the 21 gun volly it hirts the most. Papa was in WWII. He was on the USS John Rogers. This boat was one of the most decorated ships in US history. Papa taught me most of what i know today about guns. He was a jack of all trades but a master of none. My mother has the 45 Kentucky long rifle that he built. Still to this day it has yet to be fired. It will stay that way.I have a cherry stock that he sent out years ago to weatherby to have shaped to fit an 1903 springfield rifle. He did about 6 of thease gun over the years. I remember a day that i went to visit him about 4 years ago ... He asked me if i had an 03 rifle . I said yes. He reaches on the top shelf and pulls down this stock all rough cut.Blows of years of woodworking dust. Looks at me and tells me that "it was a cherry tree they had in the back yard." Then looks at me and asks " how much something like this go for thiese days?" I replied a few hundred $. Looks down at the stock then at me and with a grin he tell me "Give me the $20.00 i spent to have it done back in the day and its yours." I handed that man that 20 with pride! I had started on it but long sence put it away. I was wanting to have it done before he passed but time just never let me. So i now will make that time!!! I have a gun that he did some stock work to. He was very proud of it. As well as i am!! I have that gun and still shoot it. I will say this... I am very happy that i did make the time 3 weeks ago to go see him. But i did not spend the time i should have. But as i get my butt in gear to do the stock and fit the gun i will post it here for all to see. But as well to all them dads, grandfathers, and grandsons please spend as much time as you can teaching and learning. I missed out on more then i can bare to think of.

geds · 11-23-2011, 03:19 PM

Very well said. I am sorry for your loss. He sounds like a terrific guy and a great role model! The best memorial for someone like him is to pass on his teachings to someone else.

JLA · 11-23-2011, 04:18 PM

Condolences gun-nut. Finish that stock and dedicate it to him. Your papa sounds like he was a top notch individual. I am sorry for your loss.

Double D · 11-23-2011, 04:23 PM

We lost another american hero. I pray for you and yours to be comforted thru this time. Remember the good times. God bless.

armedandsafe · 11-23-2011, 04:56 PM

Just a suggestion: Engrave his name and dates in the forearm well, under the barrel. I did that to Dad's Mauser that Curly Francis built to his order. It doesn't detract from or add to the stock appearance and yet is there. They used to put the information under the butt plate, but that is too easy to loose when the butt plate is replaced.

Pops

Dennis C · 11-23-2011, 06:23 PM

I am very sorry to hear about your Grandfather. He fought the good fight in WWII and I am certain that the Lord is watching over him now.

Bobitis · 11-23-2011, 06:30 PM

My condolences gun-nut, to you and your family.

Rest in Peace Hero. I never knew you, but you have my utmost respect.

pickenup · 11-23-2011, 11:20 PM

May he R.I.P.

flyingtiger85 · 11-24-2011, 01:26 AM

Sorry to here of your loss.He sounds like a great guy.

Woodnut · 11-24-2011, 04:53 AM

Sorry for your loss, sounds like a great guy.

Pops is right on engraving the name in the barrel chanel. Of all the custom stocks I built years ago, I put my name along with the owners name and date under the barrel. Does not take away from the firearm, yet it is there.
God Bless

Silencer · 11-24-2011, 05:10 AM

Sorry for your loss.

gun-nut · 11-24-2011, 10:26 AM

Thank you all! Here is just 1 of the many things Papa did for me when i was a kid. If my 38 year old mind remembers right i got this when i was 11 years old. All hand carved. The wheels were done on his lath. Sorry for the pick quality.

11-23-2011, 03:14 PM	#1
gun-nut Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: ohio Contributor Posts: 931	death of a family member Well i just put to rest my grandfather. (aka Papa) 85 years of age. I sit here and remember all the things he told me and taught me over the years. The sound i love the most is the sound i hate. Thats the sound of a gun, love it, but when they do the 21 gun volly it hirts the most. Papa was in WWII. He was on the USS John Rogers. This boat was one of the most decorated ships in US history. Papa taught me most of what i know today about guns. He was a jack of all trades but a master of none. My mother has the 45 Kentucky long rifle that he built. Still to this day it has yet to be fired. It will stay that way.I have a cherry stock that he sent out years ago to weatherby to have shaped to fit an 1903 springfield rifle. He did about 6 of thease gun over the years. I remember a day that i went to visit him about 4 years ago ... He asked me if i had an 03 rifle . I said yes. He reaches on the top shelf and pulls down this stock all rough cut.Blows of years of woodworking dust. Looks at me and tells me that "it was a cherry tree they had in the back yard." Then looks at me and asks " how much something like this go for thiese days?" I replied a few hundred $. Looks down at the stock then at me and with a grin he tell me "Give me the $20.00 i spent to have it done back in the day and its yours." I handed that man that 20 with pride! I had started on it but long sence put it away. I was wanting to have it done before he passed but time just never let me. So i now will make that time!!! I have a gun that he did some stock work to. He was very proud of it. As well as i am!! I have that gun and still shoot it. I will say this... I am very happy that i did make the time 3 weeks ago to go see him. But i did not spend the time i should have. But as i get my butt in gear to do the stock and fit the gun i will post it here for all to see. But as well to all them dads, grandfathers, and grandsons please spend as much time as you can teaching and learning. I missed out on more then i can bare to think of. __________________ Don't retreat just reload. -->

11-23-2011, 03:19 PM	#2
geds Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 3,706	Re: death of a family member Very well said. I am sorry for your loss. He sounds like a terrific guy and a great role model! The best memorial for someone like him is to pass on his teachings to someone else.

11-23-2011, 04:18 PM	#3
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: death of a family member Condolences gun-nut. Finish that stock and dedicate it to him. Your papa sounds like he was a top notch individual. I am sorry for your loss. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

11-23-2011, 04:23 PM	#4
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,068	Re: death of a family member We lost another american hero. I pray for you and yours to be comforted thru this time. Remember the good times. God bless. __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder.

11-23-2011, 04:56 PM	#5
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	Re: death of a family member Just a suggestion: Engrave his name and dates in the forearm well, under the barrel. I did that to Dad's Mauser that Curly Francis built to his order. It doesn't detract from or add to the stock appearance and yet is there. They used to put the information under the butt plate, but that is too easy to loose when the butt plate is replaced. Pops

11-23-2011, 06:23 PM	#6
Dennis C Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: South Dakota Posts: 789	Re: death of a family member I am very sorry to hear about your Grandfather. He fought the good fight in WWII and I am certain that the Lord is watching over him now. __________________ "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms. . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. . . Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson

11-23-2011, 06:30 PM	#7
Bobitis Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 6,612	Re: death of a family member My condolences gun-nut, to you and your family. Rest in Peace Hero. I never knew you, but you have my utmost respect. __________________ ^.^ A point in every direction is the same as having no point at all

11-23-2011, 11:20 PM	#8
pickenup Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains Posts: 6,837	Re: death of a family member May he R.I.P. __________________ The gene pool needs chlorine

11-24-2011, 01:26 AM	#9
flyingtiger85 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Nevada Posts: 744	Re: death of a family member Sorry to here of your loss.He sounds like a great guy.

11-24-2011, 04:53 AM	#10
Woodnut Forum Sponsor Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Diamondhead, MS Contributor Posts: 2,172	Re: death of a family member Sorry for your loss, sounds like a great guy. Pops is right on engraving the name in the barrel chanel. Of all the custom stocks I built years ago, I put my name along with the owners name and date under the barrel. Does not take away from the firearm, yet it is there. God Bless __________________ Carl Never doubt the beauty of wood. Carl’s Album www.cwgrips.com Web site Updated 01/01/2013 NRA Life Member

11-24-2011, 05:10 AM	#11
Silencer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southern California: Inland Empire Posts: 1,294	Re: death of a family member Sorry for your loss. __________________ War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. Skeet Shooting Game! Don't Shoot Your Eye Out!

11-24-2011, 10:26 AM	#12
gun-nut Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: ohio Contributor Posts: 931	Re: death of a family member Thank you all! Here is just 1 of the many things Papa did for me when i was a kid. If my 38 year old mind remembers right i got this when i was 11 years old. All hand carved. The wheels were done on his lath. Sorry for the pick quality. Attached Images __________________ Don't retreat just reload.