Your Most Cherished Firearm, and Why -

KenK/84Bravo

Mine would have to be the 1942 Izveshk, M38 Carbine, in the white, unfinished stock, (no varnish etc.) Rough tool marks that my Dad picked up and brought back. He saw a lot of Combat WWII, Korea,Vietnam, and only picked what he thought were Militarily significant pieces.

I would Love to know the History behind this rifle. Where it has been, the conflicts it has seen, etc.

Got me in to the whole 7.62X54 round, and subsequently collecting M38's/M44's.


What do you have? Why is it important to you?


Please share.

wpageabc

Pops old 1911. In rough shape but like the fact that he held it and enjoyed it.

Feel the same way about useing some of his old tools inherited.

Its a comfort and a good feeling to know.

hillbille

I have an old winchester model 67, my grandfather gave me, said he got it from the sears catolague for $5, it is a definate keeper, it has taught each of my children and both grandkids to shoot.....

KenK/84Bravo

wpageabc wrote:

Pops old 1911. In rough shape but like the fact that he held it and enjoyed it.

Feel the same way about useing some of his old tools inherited.

Its a comfort and a good feeling to know.

Never knew your Dad was a Ranger in WWII, Brother.

Much Respect.



Most of my best friends are Rangers, I'm not sure how that happened. (?)

William81

This was my great grandfather's revolver, mechanical pencil and a business card. He was a judge in South Dakota in the 1940's and 50's. It was my understanding he kept the revolver in a small pocket in his robe when he was on the bench. He passed away a year before I was born. I would have certainly liked to have known him. I have several of his personal items including fishing lures. pocket knives, duck decoys, his writings on bird watching and other personal papers.


My Grandmother kept the revolver under her pillow until she passed away...it was given to me in 1984...it has little monetary value, but it is priceless to me.

gearheaddad

My Dads 720 Remington 30-06 with a Mannlicher Maple stock made, checkered, colored with a blow torch, and varnished by my Dad. It has taken countless moose, caribou, deer, bear, etc. It was his go to hunting rifle, and I brought it out of retirement and shot 2 beautiful Wisconsin 8 point Whitetails with it.
Simply a priceless rifle.
I have a number of "close seconds". I'm lucky enough to have most of my Grandfathers guns, so his A5 Light 12 Browning, 99 Savage 30-30 take down, and Czech made custom 16 ga. double engraved, along with an inexpensive old H&A 32 pistol a former Chicago Police Chief gave my Great Grandfather, who gave it to my Father on his 35th Birthday(with a personal letter), who gave it to me on my 35th birthday(with a personal letter), and I'll give it to my Son in just over 4 years along with both letters and a new personal letter. We all share(d) the same first name.........
I also have an old Bernardelli 25 Auto my Father in Law gave me just after I got married. He bought it in Italy in 1944. It's in the original box and a box of ammo missing 2 shells. He made me promise I'd never take it to Italy!
Any gun that was given to me by a relative or very close friend is cherished and treasured. PRICELESS!

KenK/84Bravo

I also own a 1915 (made in Berlin) Gewehr 98, reconfigured in a Nazi Arsenal in 1943 to a K98. Taken on trade.


Although I said I would never trade it, a 1940 Nambu model 14, (another bring back from my Dad.) That was a Safe Queen. 300 rounds of hard to come by ammunition, a reproduction leather holster, (very nice.) Couple magazines. One SS original, two Triple K blued/aluminum. (Waited 5 years for a production run.) Traded it for an Essential Arms AR-15. Stripped/sandblasted, Cerakoted in flat OD green, black magpul furniture, Muzzle brake, Sig-Tac CP4 BDC illuminated reticle scope, 4X. Aftermarket Trigger (Timney ?) 3.5 lbs. set up.

20" Heavy, Chrome lined barrel.

Very accurate configuration. Although I hated to part with the Nambu, it made sense, as it was a Safe Queen. (And) My Ranger Brother wanted it for his collection.

Custom work done on the Essential Arms, by a good friend Ranger Brother. (Armament Specialist.) Up in NY State.

KenK/84Bravo

William81 wrote:

This was my great grandfather's revolver, mechanical pencil and a business card. He was a judge in South Dakota in the 1940's and 50's. It was my understanding he kept the revolver in a small pocket in his robe when he was on the bench. He passed away a year before I was born. I would have certainly liked to have known him. I have several of his personal items including fishing lures. pocket knives, duck decoys, his writings on bird watching and other personal papers.


My Grandmother kept the revolver under her pillow until she passed away...it was given to me in 1984...it has little monetary value, but it is priceless to me.

.32?

William81

Yes.....

badchris

Anything from my dad. I?ve passed most of them to younger family but a few are still with me .

wpageabc

Thanks Ken,
You are certainly keeping good company...
Rangers lead the way. Past present and future leaders.
Carry on.

KenK/84Bravo wrote:

wpageabc wrote:

Pops old 1911. In rough shape but like the fact that he held it and enjoyed it.

Feel the same way about useing some of his old tools inherited.

Its a comfort and a good feeling to know.

Never knew your Dad was a Ranger in WWII, Brother.

Much Respect.



Most of my best friends are Rangers, I'm not sure how that happened. (?)

truthful

My Dad's Winchester 1894 30WCF special order carbine. As far back as I can remember it hung on a wall in my bedroom (imagine that today!). Made in 1921, it has a 3-shot button magazine, saddle ring, and a rifle style crescent butt. Dad swapped a double barrel shotgun for it around 1929. Many friends and neighbors would borrow it for deer hunting in Vermont. They would return it along with a quarter of venison. In the spring I used to hunt woodchucks with it before I "upgraded" to a scoped .222 Remington. These days it resides in my gun room accompanied by about 100 other model 1894s. I have no idea what will happen to it after I am gone, maybe it should be buried with me.

select-fire

Dad's .

11b6r

47 years ago, my bride bought me a cheap Brazilian 12 g sxs. It was what she could afford with funds she had saved from her lunch money. It was for our first anniversary. Still got it, still got her.

gearheaddad

truthful wrote:

My Dad's Winchester 1894 30WCF special order carbine. As far back as I can remember it hung on a wall in my bedroom (imagine that today!). Made in 1921, it has a 3-shot button magazine, saddle ring, and a rifle style crescent butt. Dad swapped a double barrel shotgun for it around 1929. Many friends and neighbors would borrow it for deer hunting in Vermont. They would return it along with a quarter of venison. In the spring I used to hunt woodchucks with it before I "upgraded" to a scoped .222 Remington. These days it resides in my gun room accompanied by about 100 other model 1894s. I have no idea what will happen to it after I am gone, maybe it should be buried with me.

Maybe you have a friend, relative or even a distant relative that knows and appreciates how special that old '94 is.
Would make one hell of a gift, and its wonderful old legacy would continue........Ed
Thanks for sharing your story.

pulsarnc

Easy enough to answer 3 guns from my grandfather . The first gun I ever got , a Winchester model 37 in 16 gauge ,then a j.c.higgins 20 gauge single shot .Both gifts from Gina at age 10 or so . Final is his 12 gauge Ithaca flues double . He was a big time bird hunter in the day . The 20 and 16 go to my kids . The Ithaca will go to my first cousins son to keep it in the family lineage.

thunder9158

Model 12CS remington pump. chambered in 22 special(22WRF). belonged to my dad,granddad, both passed away. Not n the best shape but special to me. Once i got it, i cleaned it all up and found the date code--it was made the same month and year as my dads birthday?

sharpshooter039

I have several of my Dads guns I cherish but my most cherished is a Davis double barrel derringer in 25 auto. It belonged to a close friend that was killed when his scooter was hit by a Mack truck,, His widow gave it to me as a keepsake,,

jwb267

dad was a simple person. be believed you only needed 3 firearms. a 22, a 30-06 and a shotgun. my most cherished would be his Mossberg model 152 . 22, his Winchester model 12 12 gauge and his Remington model 760 30-06
moms EIG 22 lr derringer

ruger41

My Grandfathers 5? 1905 Colt Army Special in .38 Special. He used it for decades to put down cows and hogs on his ranch. I don?t shoot it much but it?s a great handgun.

Smitty500mag

I've got quiet a few old guns that I cherish but none more than my Marlin Model 1889 38WCF (.38-40) Lever Action Rifle with an octagon barrel that belonged to my great grandpa who bought it new in 1892. I've posted pictures of it here about a dozen times before so hopefully people don't get tired of seeing it.




The little bottle neck .38-40 round is also one of my favorite to reload and shoot. Amazing how accurate this ammo is in this old 127 year old rifle. I haven't reset the sights since they were last set by great grandpa sometime before his stroke in the mid 1930s about 85 years ago or so. At 50 yards they're dead on.

gearheaddad

Smitty500mag wrote:

I've got quiet a few old guns that I cherish but none more than my Marlin Model 1889 38WCF (.38-40) Lever Action Rifle with an octagon barrel that belonged to my great grandpa who bought it new in 1892. I've posted pictures of it here about a dozen times before so hopefully people don't get tired of seeing it.




The little bottle neck .38-40 round is also one of my favorite to reload and shoot. Amazing how accurate this ammo is in this old 127 year old rifle. I haven't reset the sights since they were last set by great grandpa sometime before his stroke in the mid 1930s about 85 years ago or so. At 50 yards they're dead on.

This guy NEVER gets tired of seeing cool old Lever Guns.
Especially a cool old Lever Gun with some family history!!

asop

Mod. 12, 3" Mag. Killed MANY ducks with that gun both here and in Canada. Been sitting idol since steel shot was instituted.

Okie743

I like ALL of them or I would not have them.

When asked what is my favorite caliber, I like all calibers.

Life is too short to hunt with a ugly gun.

grdad45

Actually, 2 guns. I have my Dad's circa 1937 Colt Woodsman 22 LR, that resides in my safe except when I use it to requalify for my CHL (shooting only standard velocity ammo), and my Marlin Golden 39A "Mountie" carbine my Dad gave me for my 15th birthday in 1960. He paid $68 for it at a wholesale hardware store where he did a lot of business. I have shot literally thousands of round through it. They will both go to my Grandson at the proper time.

Frogdog

Below is my most prized. It is an old Stevens Model 24 .22/.410. It was my Grandaddy?s, and was well used before I got it at age 12 as my first gun. It?s covered in multiple layers of patchy blue (and even a little red) oil-based paint, which I would never dream of removing (which would be near impossible anyway). Combined with the ?Tenite? plastic stock, it?s definitely one of the ugliest in the collection. It was also once stolen from the family farm, and a murder was committed with it. Later, it was returned to the family, and still bears scratched-in markings from the Charlotte Courthouse, VA police department. Despite all it has been through, the gun still is the best squirrel and rabbit gun I have ever had, and shoots like a dream. It will be with me until I pass it on.....or pass on

gearheaddad

Frogdog wrote:

Below is my most prized. It is an old Stevens Model 24 .22/.410. It was my Grandaddy?s, and was well used before I got it at age 12 as my first gun. It?s covered in multiple layers of patchy blue (and even a little red) oil-based paint, which I would never dream of removing (which would be near impossible anyway). Combined with the ?Tenite? plastic stock, it?s definitely one of the ugliest in the collection. It was also once stolen from the family farm, and a murder was committed with it. Later, it was returned to the family, and still bears scratched-in markings from the Charlotte Courthouse, VA police department. Despite all it has been through, the gun still is the best squirrel and rabbit gun I have ever had, and shoots like a dream. It will be with me until I pass it on.....or pass on

11A168CA-DD4F-454A-9FAA-BF1EDD8A7699.jpeg

Wow! Now that's an old gun with some history!
Cool! Thanks for sharing!
"One of the ugliest"?
Seriously? You have something else at that level?

lt496

A Winchester Model 43 in .22 Hornet topped with a period Lyman Alaskan 2 1/2 x Post Reticle scope. Rifle was my Papa's and in my teens I used to borrow it from him all the time to hunt woodchucks. Got to be a long-term banter back and forth between he and I as to where his rifle was.

On a visit with him a few years before he died, he gave the rifle to me. I loved that old man and the rifle will always hold a special place in my heart. It will go to my Son when I pass, along with its history and special meaning which he is already well aware of.

mjrfd99

1/2 of ours are. Family heirlooms fill 1/2 the big safe.
I would say Granddads 1903 boot backup from his Newark PD Motor Officer days. Fits perfectly in my wedding/funeral suit.
I remember when I first saw it. Had a holster sewn in his boot. I thought he was the coolest....and was.

NeoBlackdog

mjrfd99 wrote:

1/2 of ours are. Family heirlooms fill 1/2 the big safe.
I would say Granddads 1903 boot backup from his Newark PD Motor Officer days. Fits perfectly in my wedding/funeral suit.
I remember when I first saw it. Had a holster sewn in his boot. I thought he was the coolest....and was.

I'll see your Granpa's 1903, and raise you my Grandma's 1903!
One of many firearms I'll never part with. It'd be tough to pick just one!

KenK/84Bravo

My second choice would be a Marlin model 81DL, with Oympic quality peep sights, in .22 S,L, LR. (From my Dad's collection.)

It took me 5-7 years searching for and finally locating magazine lifter parts through Numrich.

Bolt action, tube fed, Beaver tail forend, made in the 1940's, understand it was a Military "Training Rifle."

(?)

Extremely accurate. My Son can hit floating leaves in the pond out back at 100 yards, all day long. It will be his.

droptop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJztW9dcpyc

bambihunter

That is a tough one but I think I can narrow it down to 2. One is a 10/22 stainless that my wife bought me our 2nd Christmas. We have shot literally hundreds of thousands of rounds through it. I did replace the barrel but I still have the original too.

The one that I like most that I bought is an HK import Benelli Super Black Eagle. I read about it way back then about how it could shoot 2.75, 3, and 3.5" in any order, without adjustment. I drove over 2 hours to see and hold one. I knew I had to have one but at over a grand to buy, and me at ~20 I had to work a lot of overtime to save for it. I later bought a shorter barrel for it, then after that bought a slug barrel that has sights on it. I then put a 2x7x32 Leupold on it with removable mounts. I have said that if for some reason we can only have one gun, this would be it because it is so versatile, at least with all the accessories.

I use the SBE a lot for hunting, but one relatively 'lowly' gun that while I don't really cherish, it is on me all day, every day and I trust my life to it. It is a Kel-tec P3AT (.380). My wife and I call it my "American Express" because I never leave home without it (even when I carry one of my 10mm's). That is kinda our code word too for her to remind me to take it off if we are going somewhere it is not permitted (post office or concert usually).

Don McManus

We had an old Sears(?) 22 long rifle single shot growing up. That was the only firearm in the house, but it dispatched its share of rock chucks over the years. Do not know what happened to it.

So I don't really have a cherished firearm like most of you folks. Have a few 30-40 Krags that I bought when I found out my great grandpa used a couple to dispatch a band of Zapatas. He died with one in his hands when a group of 100 or so of them came back after the fall of Mexico City.

The last one I will part with is a Ruger SR1911 that was a gift, provided to me with custom machined grips that were machined by a couple of the guys in the shop, so I guess that would be the most cherished.

Alpine

My Perazzi. I won a lot of money and Silver belt buckles with that shotgun.

serf

WWI German Luger DWM, no BATF registration, all original 95% blueing.

serf