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Marlin “Golden” 39A, my dad bought it for us back in the day. Times were tough. I remember him saving money every week until he could afford to buy it for my brothers and me. I’ve put thousands of rounds thru it but never fail to recall how hard he worked to provide for us kids.
I have been enjoying the comments and pictures. Thanks jj.
Model 02 Winchester
One Sunday, in the fall of the year, when I was twelve years old, we loaded the car and drove the long 30 miles to my Aunt's house in Wytheville, VA. She was elderly and had lived alone since her husband passed away a year prior. They had no children.
Sunday dinner (what we now call lunch) was always quite an affair when family came to visit. Along with home-made potato salad, corn bread, and fresh green beans there was always a large platter of fresh, wonderfully-crunchy fried chicken.
After asking the blessing, my Aunt explained why there was so much fried chicken on the table. The night previous she was awakened by a ruckus in her chicken coop. From experience, she knew there was a varmint in there desperately trying to steal himself a chicken dinner. So she grabbed her 22 rifle from the kitchen and ran into the back yard. When a fox exited the coop with a dead hen in his jaws, she took quick aim and fired. The fox escaped unharmed but dropped the chicken in his haste to avoid a bullet. Another hen flopped nearby with a 22 caliber hole through her body. “So in addition to the hen I butchered earlier in the day I had two more chickens to add to the pot,” she laughed. “I want yall to take some of this chicken home with you.”
"That ole gun never was very accurate." She went on. "And if it’s OK I'm gonna give it to this boy to practice with."
I was thrilled, because for a couple of years I had been hunting with Dad's pump 22 and had been yearning for a 22 of my own. But, we couldn't afford it.
Upon returning home, we learned my aunt had been right about the lack of accuracy with that old gun. But what a great evening I had with my very own 22 rifle. Dad produced a brand-new box of .22 caliber ammunition while I set a row of tin cans on a log then we took turns until we “wasted” the entire 50 rounds. That little Model 02 Winchester shot way to the left and empty shells had to be pried out of the chamber with a tiny screwdriver. I enjoyed shooting it but was frustrated with my inability to hit a tin can from a dozen paces. Upon closer inspection we discovered the stock was badly cracked and brittle. The little rifle had spent many years behind the kitchen door where it experienced daily cycles of drying from the cook stove which over time produced extreme brittleness. Dad said he suspected the barrel was bent as well.
The stock soon broke apart and the rusty little barrel was put away in a box, never to be seen again. My father passed away when the winter was coldest.
Many years later, while on a government detail in Washington DC, I visited a gun shop in nearby Alexander, Virginia where I discovered a Model 1902 “Winnie” on a rack of used guns. I did not hesitate for a second. Out came the wallet and my Curio & Relic license. Holding the tiny rifle in my hands, it exhibited a thin layer of rust and wear from years of handling, but the stock was in great shape.
For now, my aunt's old (replacement) Winchester is tucked securely away in my gun safe where it is protected from the ravages of time until one day it will go to my grandsons…along with this story.
Now that I’ve thought about it, I may take the 02 out on a nice day and shoot it. After lining up a row of cans on a log, I’ll open a band-new box of ammunition and relive that feeling I shared with my father over 50 years ago. I’m halfway hoping the little Winchester shoots way to the left.
It's hard to pick one. For accuracy my Weatherby XXII bolt action made by Anshutz. For hunting and plinking, my Winchester 9422. For fun, a custom 10/22. Handgun, my S&W 617 6 shot full target model.
of the ones I have I know ,I know ,but the ruger 10-22's are the ones I shoot 99.9 % of the time , some I have changed stocks triggers barrels on some just as they left the factory
best looking I will have to go with the remington 552 and 572 to me they are handsome rifles to be a 22
I am a .22 addict. There is no way I could pick just one. I have a real admiration for Winchesters, but I'll give them all a home. My first .22 was a Stevens Favorite It was worn out shaky and had gone through a flood. I lusted for a Winchester hammer .22, like a a 1906, 62A or an 1890. I have fulfilled my dream.
...Easy...an old 514 single shot...that looks better than new. I bought it for $10.00 30 years ago in a junk shop, had a perfect barrel. Had it reblued, drilled & tapped, and iron sights removed. Friend that was on these forums years ago that lived in upstate NY re-worked the stock...put on a Birds Eye Maple forend cap, and pistol grip cap & re-finished the entire stock, BEAUTIFUL!
Three shots (LR's) at 50yds can be covered with a dime with room left over...🏈
Comments
Rifle---My Marlin Golden 39A "Mountie" my Dad bought me in 1961.
Handgun---My Browning Buck Mark UFX Target 5 1/2" SS Camper.
Marlin “Golden” 39A, my dad bought it for us back in the day. Times were tough. I remember him saving money every week until he could afford to buy it for my brothers and me. I’ve put thousands of rounds thru it but never fail to recall how hard he worked to provide for us kids.
I have been enjoying the comments and pictures. Thanks jj.
Model 02 Winchester
One Sunday, in the fall of the year, when I was twelve years old, we loaded the car and drove the long 30 miles to my Aunt's house in Wytheville, VA. She was elderly and had lived alone since her husband passed away a year prior. They had no children.
Sunday dinner (what we now call lunch) was always quite an affair when family came to visit. Along with home-made potato salad, corn bread, and fresh green beans there was always a large platter of fresh, wonderfully-crunchy fried chicken.
After asking the blessing, my Aunt explained why there was so much fried chicken on the table. The night previous she was awakened by a ruckus in her chicken coop. From experience, she knew there was a varmint in there desperately trying to steal himself a chicken dinner. So she grabbed her 22 rifle from the kitchen and ran into the back yard. When a fox exited the coop with a dead hen in his jaws, she took quick aim and fired. The fox escaped unharmed but dropped the chicken in his haste to avoid a bullet. Another hen flopped nearby with a 22 caliber hole through her body. “So in addition to the hen I butchered earlier in the day I had two more chickens to add to the pot,” she laughed. “I want yall to take some of this chicken home with you.”
"That ole gun never was very accurate." She went on. "And if it’s OK I'm gonna give it to this boy to practice with."
I was thrilled, because for a couple of years I had been hunting with Dad's pump 22 and had been yearning for a 22 of my own. But, we couldn't afford it.
Upon returning home, we learned my aunt had been right about the lack of accuracy with that old gun. But what a great evening I had with my very own 22 rifle. Dad produced a brand-new box of .22 caliber ammunition while I set a row of tin cans on a log then we took turns until we “wasted” the entire 50 rounds. That little Model 02 Winchester shot way to the left and empty shells had to be pried out of the chamber with a tiny screwdriver. I enjoyed shooting it but was frustrated with my inability to hit a tin can from a dozen paces. Upon closer inspection we discovered the stock was badly cracked and brittle. The little rifle had spent many years behind the kitchen door where it experienced daily cycles of drying from the cook stove which over time produced extreme brittleness. Dad said he suspected the barrel was bent as well.
The stock soon broke apart and the rusty little barrel was put away in a box, never to be seen again. My father passed away when the winter was coldest.
Many years later, while on a government detail in Washington DC, I visited a gun shop in nearby Alexander, Virginia where I discovered a Model 1902 “Winnie” on a rack of used guns. I did not hesitate for a second. Out came the wallet and my Curio & Relic license. Holding the tiny rifle in my hands, it exhibited a thin layer of rust and wear from years of handling, but the stock was in great shape.
For now, my aunt's old (replacement) Winchester is tucked securely away in my gun safe where it is protected from the ravages of time until one day it will go to my grandsons…along with this story.
Now that I’ve thought about it, I may take the 02 out on a nice day and shoot it. After lining up a row of cans on a log, I’ll open a band-new box of ammunition and relive that feeling I shared with my father over 50 years ago. I’m halfway hoping the little Winchester shoots way to the left.
It's hard to pick one. For accuracy my Weatherby XXII bolt action made by Anshutz. For hunting and plinking, my Winchester 9422. For fun, a custom 10/22. Handgun, my S&W 617 6 shot full target model.
of the ones I have I know ,I know ,but the ruger 10-22's are the ones I shoot 99.9 % of the time , some I have changed stocks triggers barrels on some just as they left the factory
best looking I will have to go with the remington 552 and 572 to me they are handsome rifles to be a 22
What an awesome story and a fine memory to pass down to the younger generations.
I am a .22 addict. There is no way I could pick just one. I have a real admiration for Winchesters, but I'll give them all a home. My first .22 was a Stevens Favorite It was worn out shaky and had gone through a flood. I lusted for a Winchester hammer .22, like a a 1906, 62A or an 1890. I have fulfilled my dream.
Ad a few S&W .22s
feather inc. at22 3.5 pounds of pure joy
My aunt's Remington model 12. She and a few midwest nurses were waiting for their hospital ship to deploy to north Africa.
They would kill time and ground squirrels in the foothills outside of San Francisco.
In my youth, I would spend a large portion of my time in the Des Moines river bottoms in the endless war with tasty red fox
squirrels. It will go now to a grand daughter who is a nursing student.
...Easy...an old 514 single shot...that looks better than new. I bought it for $10.00 30 years ago in a junk shop, had a perfect barrel. Had it reblued, drilled & tapped, and iron sights removed. Friend that was on these forums years ago that lived in upstate NY re-worked the stock...put on a Birds Eye Maple forend cap, and pistol grip cap & re-finished the entire stock, BEAUTIFUL!
Three shots (LR's) at 50yds can be covered with a dime with room left over...🏈
Ruger Marks