The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: bafsu92 on November 29, 2010, 12:06:38 PM
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So in spending Thanksgiving with my dad I picked up a nice new toy. My grandpa recently moved into a Veteran's home after a couple bad falls and the broken bones that went with them. When he went in the home we moved his entire gun safe to my dad's house. He has me in his will to get all his guns but for the time being it was much easier to get the safe to my dad's house. When we went to visit my grandpa the last time he told me the next time I was at my dad's to go in the safe and pick out whatever I wanted. In a way I like getting them one at a time much better since I can have time to get to know each one on its own. For many years after my grandpa was no longer healthy enough to shoot I was the only one to take out all his guns and clean and oil them while I was visiting. I didn't want to take any of the real collector pieces including his war trophies at this point, I really wanted a shooter. The thing is I for got the "shooter" I had in mind was a 2 3/4" barrel Speed Six still new in the box from 1982.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/nvssurf/IMGP2048.jpg)
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/nvssurf/IMGP2049.jpg)
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/nvssurf/IMGP2051.jpg)
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/nvssurf/IMGP2050.jpg)
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/nvssurf/IMGP2052.jpg)
In the receipt it shows he paid $317.99 for it in Jan of '82 and they threw in a box of ammo and a Raven Arms .25 as a buy 1 get 1 free special. I didn't realize until I pulled it out of the safe that the plastic protector had never even been removed from the cylinder. So the $64K question is.... do I shoot it? Obviously I would never sell this or any of the other guns I'll inherit but do I keep it in its unfired condition or do I enjoy it? I mean it's a Ruger, it's meant to be shot right? The funny thing is I wanted this since I didn't have a .357 at present but then this week I traded for a 2.5" barrel round butt Model 19 and a 4" barrel Model 19 so I have both of those as shooters right now.
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bafsu92 - Congrats on the present!
Given its family significance ... and the fact I have so many other guns to shoot, I'd leave it unshot ... a safe queen Damn! I can't believe I just typed that.
It looks like a nice gun, and it has a lot of family meaning. One side says shoot it and remember grandpa everytime, the other side says put it in a shadow box with memories of grandpa.
You're the only one that can really make the call, but that was my two cents.
Either way - Enjoy it!
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Only since you asked in the title of this thread. Yes, I did get myself a Thanksgiving present. I tried the gun show Saturday, but ended up getting it new from a local gun store for much less. Since my Glock 19 has been begging for a little brother for some time now, I got a 26. I'd post pictures, but it looks just like every other one out there.
Now, your present is much prettier and much more significant. Congrats, and take care of it. I agree with m58's opinion of what you should do with it.
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Basfu
Either sell it or trade it (there's nothing sacred about inheiritance). or just shoot the thing and enjoy it. Heirloom is a fancy word for "stuff you don't need and feel guilty about selling". Me? I'd shoot the hell out of it and enjoy it. If you won't sell it, why not shoot it? It does no one any good sitting in the safe. Just my .02.
FQ13
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Nice gun .............. run the serial number and if there is no significant collector's value or anything like that associated with it then shoot the hell out of it and think about your grandfather every time you take it out to shoot it.
Just because he didn't shoot it (I guess you could always ask him why he didn't shoot it) doesn't mean it shouldn't be shot.
JMHO.................FWIW
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Of course, please bear in mind that this reply comes from a guy who has never owned a 'safe queen' and everything in his safe (except for the two non-fire-able double barrels of his great grandfathers) is a gun that gets shot.
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I'm with Peg...and FQ (sort of), unless it has measurable collector value SHOOT IT! Or you could send it to me as a little buddy for my 1980 vintage Security Six. I promise to say a thank you prayer to your Grandpa every time I shoot it. I've been looking for both a Service Six and a Speed Six for awhile so I can have a "set" but so far haven't found any in a reasonable price range.
Just my, not always so humble, opinion.
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[color=maroonI HATE you, I hate you... :(][/color]
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Shoot it. It's a Ruger!
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I agree with Haz.....
You can shoot the heck out of it for years and It'll only get better. Grandpa bought it to give to you (or so it would appear), ask him what to do with it. I'd bet he'll say enjoy your new toy!
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There are only 3 reason not too shoot a gun you own.
1 no ammo, lets face it, some ammo is just damn hard to find.
2 the gun is unsafe to shoot/not functioning.
3 you can shoot it do to medical issuses
there are no other expectable reasons not to shoot a gun.
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Actually, something that old should be checked out first. Send it to me and I will check it out for you. Oh yes, send a case of the ammo you plan to shoot in it and I will make sure it will work. No thanks necessary! LOL
Like they said....SHOOT H..L OUT OF IT!
Richard
PS: Yes, I did get something for Thanksgiving from someone whom shall remain nameless.....a Krispy Kreem Doughnut calander! Thanks heaps!!!!!!! or blobs whatever.
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I'm getting strongly out voted on my don't shoot side, even after I dismiss FQ and TAB, so I now say do what ever you want ... As long as you enjoy it!
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Run the numbers, see what you find out w/ Ruger, and if it's just a nice sweet, regular Ruger, well,.....you have to make sure it "still" works and functions properly,...... ::)
After a range trip, it will clean up just fine.... 8)
Congratulations! Now you'll be getting coal for Christmas,... ;)
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If you're not going to use it as a carry or SD gun, I'd just put it aside. If it is a real "collectable" so much the better. If not you've got a heirloom to pass on. On the other hand, what the heck, enjoy it.
To answer your question, I worked the gun auctions over the holiday's. A 6" S&W 586 unfired, a 6.5" S&W 624 and a 4" S&W 66. Yes the wife was very agreeable. I'll post porn as they come in.
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I think Peg summed up my thoughts on it the best. I'm going to run the serial number and if there's nothing special about it I'll be shooting it. The reason my grandpa never shot it was due to his health. Not long after buying it he had some major vision issues along with a small stroke. While he continued to go to the range a few times a year into the mid 90's he mostly shot rifles or 22 pistols due to his issues. I know he wouldn't have any issues with me shooting it and probably just assumed I would. I've taken some of his other never fired guns to the range (he continued to buy the occasional "deal" when they came up even though he didn't intend to shoot them). He used to enjoy going to lunch with me and then to the range to watch me shoot after he had to give it up. I'm thinking the only reason this didn't get in there is that it was in the safe for so long it was pretty deep down and I had to get past a few series 70 1911's to find it. And Twyacht, he already told me to take another at Christmas so no coal, most likely one of those series 70's, the Delta Elite or maybe the 4" Python next. ;D
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If you're not going to use it as a carry or SD gun, I'd just put it aside. If it is a real "collectable" so much the better. If not you've got a heirloom to pass on. On the other hand, what the heck, enjoy it.
To answer your question, I worked the gun auctions over the holiday's. A 6" S&W 586 unfired, a 6.5" S&W 624 and a 4" S&W 66. Yes the wife was very agreeable. I'll post porn as they come in.
Sounds like some good pickups. I had a wheelgun trifecta myself. Before I do shoot it though I think I'll be investing in some different grips, these are way to far on the small side for my gorilla paws. Here's the other two I picked up over the holidays, both model 19's.
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/nvssurf/346xj0n.jpg)
(http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u236/nvssurf/2010-11-25001.jpg)
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And Twyacht, he already told me to take another at Christmas so no coal, most likely one of those series 70's, the Delta Elite or maybe the 4" Python next
at this rate, you will be joined by kilopaparomeo, and billt, as well,........."hated"...(affectionately, of course).... 8)
I hope to do the same with my son, and his future offspring. It's certainly a family tradition to pass down "stuff", a NIB almost 30 year old Ruger, makes it special.
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PS: Yes, I did get something for Thanksgiving from someone whom shall remain nameless.....a Krispy Kreem Doughnut calander! Thanks heaps!!!!!!! or blobs whatever.
;D
bafsu,
I think it's a wonderful thing that you got to spend time at the range with him, even if he couldn't shoot due to health reasons, you knew he was there for you and you shared that time. Enjoy the guns.
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+1 Peg, My Grandfather passed down his Mauser, and an old Ward's Western Field bolt action .410 (actually a Mossberg),...and although he was not strong enough to shoot them anymore, our first/last trip to the range, with those guns, is one I'll never forget.
He told me my eyes would get as big as silver dollars after one shot with that Mauser. As he stood behind me, I fired it for the first time (at 16), and turned to his already smiling face, and my eyes were as big. He knew the rifle and shotgun would be in the family, and taken care of.
I told my 15 year old son the same thing, when he shot that Mauser for the first time, and sure enough, he had the same reaction, and I was already smiling. I hope to take that rifle to the range with my future Grandson, one day.
It's important, it's tradition, and our RIGHT, to own, enjoy, and eventually pass down our shooting treasures to our family.
Sorry for the sentimental rant, but family firearms strike a chord when handed down. As they should be.
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I do have some great memories with him for sure. I remember him bringing out guns and teaching me about them starting when I was about 6. There are a few that I just can't bring myself to formally take possession of until he's gone. I remember the stories about the Luger and Beretta he brought back from WWII, both taken off of dead officers. For years the Luger was in a box that also contained a partially burnt nazi flag and a blood stained SS arm band. There are quite a few things along those lines he put up for me. Some day I plan to build a nice display case for all the war trophies but I'm in no hurry to get them.
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I do have some great memories with him for sure... but I'm in no hurry to get them.
No need to be in a hurry. I'm pretty young (especially for this site ::)), but I have already lost both my grandfathers and 2 out of 3 uncles.
All of my inherited firearms come from one side of the family. One of my granddads gave my brother and I a lever action 22 several years before he died. It's fun to shoot but doesn't get brought out much. His son (my uncle) died when I was 8 or so. I can only imagine what kind of guns I would have now if he was still alive. Before he died, he gave my brother a single shot .410 (we've never shot it) and me a BB gun. My aunt planned to give my brother and I each a handgun but, as fate would have it, didn't actually get around to doing it until the Christmas my grandad (his father) died several years ago. We've shot both of them.
I pretty much wore out the BB gun, but it's still around. The others, I don't see going anywhere for a long long time.
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There are a few that I just can't bring myself to formally take possession of until he's gone. I remember the stories about the Luger and Beretta he brought back from WWII, both taken off of dead officers. For years the Luger was in a box that also contained a partially burnt nazi flag and a blood stained SS arm band. There are quite a few things along those lines he put up for me. Some day I plan to build a nice display case for all the war trophies but I'm in no hurry to get them.
That. Is. Cool.
As for the Ruger, I'd shoot it and remember Grandpa with every trigger pull.