Buying heirloom firearms

[TheDoubleD]

Going for the definition.

a valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations.
"the violin was a family heirloom"

Several years ago my dad gave me his Model 94 Winchester 30-30. He bought it new in the late 40's in a gunstore in Roseburg, Oregon. He carried it for the next 60 years hunting-he killed a number of deer with it. When I was a kid and old enough to hunt in late 50's early 60's I carried that gun also. I never killed a deer with it, but I did shoot a lot of rounds through it. In 2010 he came to Montana to hunt with me. He had a new Savage 30-06. He gave me the the 30-30. I told him I was going to pass it to my son-which did. Dad was pretty happy with that Idea. Just heard from my son a few minutes ago. They were going to change his area where he lives from muzzle loader/ shoot gun only deer hunting to centerfire-rifle pistol. He was looking forward to using his Grand-dad's old rifle. But they made it straight walled cartridges only. So if dad had bought a 94 in 38-55 my son would be hunting with dads rifle this year.

Actually this topic has me reminiscing about my dad. Dad died last year age 93. That is what a heirloom is for, bringing back great memories and passing them on.

So now you have me thinking. I have a good number of guns, but ones that have memories attached, not so much.

 

[Cowbaby]

I have a lot of heirlooms.

One of my favorites is an old model 12 1926 model. It belonged to my dad who was a collector. I remember in the 60s us going to Turkey shoots where the object was to get a pellet closest to the center of an x on the card at 40 paces with a target load of number 8 for a dollar a shot. This crazy thing throws a load of number 8 in clumps of 4-5 pellets in wads. This particular Turkey shoot gave the winner your choice of a smoked ham, a turkey or a giant thick slab of smoke cured bacon 2ft long.

If you could get one of those clumps to hit in the center of the card there was no more question on who won as one of those clumps would cut the whole center out of the card. This happened about every forth shot. It got to where some people would not even shoot when we bought a card. It was a gun club of friends. We did not get too greedy and did not shoot every round to give the other guys a chance. I can still hear my Dad laughing all the way home about his buddies with 50 or 60 pounds of premium meats in the trunk of that car.

That is my own definition of an heirloom. One that makes you smile.

 

[turkeyrun]

Heirloom is meant to bring back fond memories.

Papa bought a Remington Model 11, when he was 14. Picked cotton to get money for it.
He later moved on to a Browning Sweet 16, because that Remington kicks like a mule
I carried that Remington several times, before I finally shot it.

Still have it. Take it out and shoot a few doves, every year. It still kicks like a mule.

Dad had a Western Field 20ga SxS. It was my first shotgun. Grandson started going to Cowboy Shoots with me. He loves that old SxS. 2 older grandsons have 870s, care nothing about that old twice barrel. No doubt who I will give that one to.

 

[tRidiot]

I remember my grandfather's double barrel Husqvarna Damascus steel coach gun... I found out he sold it to some guy for $900 about 10 years ago - hell, I woulda given him the $900 and let him keep it if he'd leave it to me in the will.

He killed himself a couple weeks ago, means even more now.

 

[OKCShooter]

Somewhat along those lines...I got 3 consecutive Seekins lowers and put our Family crest on each and me and my 2 boys initials on each. Makes a good “forever” piece as they only need to keep lower as an “heirloom” but can use it for anything from their first .22 to a full blown 5.56 or .300

 

[ttown]

One of the "I will never sell" guns I own is an old 500 Mossberg my dad bought for his dad new in 1969 or 70. Not much to look at, but the memories of following Dad and Grandpa around chasing quail puts it on the list.

My 500 was purchased by me in 1975 at Service Merchandise for $79.95 plus tax. No vent rib modified choke. That gun was used for everything, gave it to my oldest grandson on his 18th birthday, as he started hunting with friends and their dads. Brought him a screw in choke barrel as he was duck hunting. Although not steel shot approved that gun had hundreds of rounds o steel through it as it’s all I had or could afford. I always got a loan from a friend though their parents as my dads prize gun is a shot out RG22 9 shot revolver

Used the 500 until I purchased a browning O/U in 1982 at the Tulsa Gun show for $650, use it today never taken it apart man this thing a glock, clean and shoot easy breakdown, ability to adapt to shoot long to short range birds as they fly in and out or visa versa. The auto 5’s are great but i felt I had to empty the gun on a covey or flock and never really retrieved more than a couple birds anyway, no telling how many really died latter.

 

[doug1949]

My grandfather gave me his Winchester Model 12 40 years ago and I recently gave it to my son. Thegun is special to me because of my feelings for my grandfather, father and the stories I was told about how grandpa acquired the gun, how the nicks, dings and blemishes occured and the hunting stories that involved the gun

 

[D. Hargrove]

1956 Winchester 30/30, 'ol man gave it to me years ago, it will forever live in the house and eventually one of my sons will get it. Took it's first deer in New Mexico in 57 from as I have been told at least 25 times from 150 yards and uphill ..... The 'ol man passed Feb 28 of last year, now he is knocking off deer in the big hunt in the sky!!

 

[MacFromOK]

I still have my first firearm, a .410 bolt-action like my Dad had. Got it for Christmas (from Mom & Dad) when I was 12.

But there would be some other hard choices as well, so I don't really want to go there either. :/

 

[surjimmy]

I have said this 100's of time. I would rather have a gun with no finish on it, that my Dad. GrandPa, etc has used and shot his whole life then a $50,000, $100,00, etc mint firearm that he bought and put in the back of his safe and saved.